Leveling Up: My (Still-Evolving) Guide to Building Authority as a Photographer

Alright, let’s talk about something that has been on my mind lately: building authority as a photographer. Now, I’m not going to sit here and act like I have everything figured out or that I’ve “made it.” because I haven’t and In fact, I still feel like I’m in the middle of it or even still at the starting line, but I’m trying to make sense of things as I go. I’ve picked up a few lessons along the way, and instead of hoarding them like some photography gatekeeper, I figured I’d share what’s been working and what’s still a work in progress.

Why Authority Matters (Even If It Sounds Annoying)

I used to think “authority” was one of those buzzwords that only applied to academics or photographers who walk around with a light meter hanging from their neck. Turns out, it actually matters. But not in the way I thought. It’s not about flexing on other photographers or acting like you’re better than everyone. It’s about:

• Connecting deeper with people who actually resonate with your work.

• Getting hired for the stuff you actually enjoy shooting instead of just taking whatever comes your way or feeling like you have to beg.

• Helping others grow instead of pretending you woke up one day as a photography god.

  

What I’m Doing to Build Authority (And What’s Kind of Working)

So, how do you actually build authority as a photographer? Honestly, I don’t have a perfect answer. Half the time, I feel like I’m just figuring it out as I go. But if there’s one thing I’ve realized, it’s that showing up consistently and actually talking about your work matters.

Focusing (Sort of) Instead of Shooting Everything

Early on, I was shooting everything. Portraits, events, street photography, landscapes. If it could be photographed, I was probably pointing a camera at it. And while that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, I learned a lot but it also meant I didn’t really have a clear direction. If someone asked what kind of photographer I was, I didn’t have a real answer.

Now? I’m trying to lock in on what actually excites me. Not because I think you have to lock yourself into one thing forever, but because when you focus on what you genuinely enjoy, a few things happen:

• You get better at it instead of just dabbling in a hundred things.

• It’s easier for people to connect with your work because they actually know what you do. You start to develop a style and that’s huge in the photography world.

• You stop feeling like you have to compete with every photographer on the internet.

I still shoot different things, but I’m learning to trust what naturally pulls me in instead of feeling like I have to do it all. And that’s been a game-changer.

Sharing More (Even When It Feels odd)

I used to think that if I shared my process, my mistakes, or what I was learning, people would think, "Who does this guy think he is?" But honestly? The more I share, the more people engage with my work. I try to:

• Show behind-the-scenes stuff (even if it's just me struggling to make a bad reel).

• Post tips and my thoughts on living a creative life (even the basic stuff that feels obvious to me).

• Share honest thoughts on gear instead of acting like every camera is the greatest invention ever (But the Ricoh GR is).

  

Creating Stuff That Actually Matters

I used to chase trends, thinking that’s what I needed to do to grow. Now I focus on creating content that actually helps people, whether that’s through a Notes/threads post, my podcast “Between The Frames”, or this substack.

I’ve found that helping people solves way more problems than trying to get more likes. Instead of worrying about what’s trending, I ask: Would this actually be useful to someone? If the answer is yes, I post it. Also in doing this I help myself while reminding myself of the topic i’m talking about. Helping you helps me too!

Being an Actual Person (Not a Brand Robot)

Honestly at the end of the day, people connect with people. If your entire online presence feels like a resume, you’re probably going to get ignored. Especially In today's online world, I feel like being real or authentic has become a huge factor for the online world this year. These are some ways I try to be authentic:

• Let my personality come through in what I post, I don’t like to bullshit people and if you know me in the real world i’m the same as I am here. I care about helping people a lot, in my day job the best I feel is when i’m teaching someone something.

• Engage with people instead of just hitting “post” and walking away. I read every comment, I will also try to reply to almost everyone too. I do this because I know that you took the time to read what I wrote or looked at something I posted and that means the world to me.

• Build real relationships with other photographers instead of seeing them as competition. Being in competition with other photographers is such a stupid thing I see some people do online… Can we honestly just stop that crap.

Admitting When I Don’t Know Something

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that people respect honesty way more than fake confidence. If I don’t know something, I say it. Nobody expects you to have all the answers, and pretending you do makes you look worse.

The Struggles Are Real

Even with all of this, building authority isn’t easy. Here’s what I’m still trying to figure out:

• Imposter syndrome. Every time I share something, I wonder, "Who am I to give advice?". I plan on writing more about this feeling in a future post for sure.

• Time management. How do you balance shooting, editing, finding new places to go and sleeping? If you know, let me know.

• Staying consistent. Some days, it feels like I’m just talking into a wall and staying consistent is super hard.

  

So, Where Are You With This?

That’s where I’m at. It’s still a work in progress, and I’d love to hear from you. How are you building authority as a photographer? What’s working for you? What’s not?

What's one thing you're struggling with when it comes to building authority in your photography niche?

Let’s figure this out together. Becasue half the reason I do this is to connect with you, so lets build authority in this space together while growing together!

See ya later!

Thanks for sticking with me, I know it’s been a few weeks since my last post. Life’s been pretty busy lately with my day job taking up most of my time.

The good news? Summer’s around the corner, and I’ve carved out two whole months to focus solely on photography. No distractions, just me and the camera. So you can definitely expect more content and a whole lot of photos coming your way soon.

If you want to support me with caffeine you can buy me a coffee here Buy Me A Coffee