Would You Still Take Photos if You Could Not See the Results?
What’s popping, people? It’s Dante here, reflecting on a question that’s been haunting me lately. Photography has become such a part of my life, and most of the time, I’m just out there photographing to remember the day. There’s something deeply satisfying about coming home, importing the images, and seeing those moments I captured. But here’s the question:
Would you still take photos if you could not see the results?
Photography as a Lifelong Pursuit
At the end of the day, you don’t need an audience for your photographs. If you truly love photography, you’re doing it for yourself, not for validation. Photography becomes a lifelong pursuit—it’s not about likes, comments, or followers. It’s about collecting memories, fulfilling your life through experience and adventure. And as you get older, those photos become a way to look back, to relive the days you’ve captured.
“The goal is to please yourself, to come home, look at your own photographs, and think, ‘That’s something new, something different.’ That’s where the magic is.”
The Process Over the Product
If I couldn’t see the results, I’d probably still shoot, but it wouldn’t carry the same impact. Reviewing my photos, seeing them as a sort of personal diary, adds a layer of satisfaction to the process. It’s like scratching an itch—each day, each image adds to an endless pursuit of curiosity, a way to dig deeper into my own experience and explore what I find fascinating about the world.
“If you’re truly in this for the right reasons, then pleasing yourself should be enough. The moment of capturing the shot, the curiosity, and the process—it’s all part of the goal.”
Ignore the Audience, Focus on the Process
In today’s world, having an audience can be one of the biggest distractions. Publishing photos on social media for validation is not worth the time or energy. Organizing sets of images to share on Instagram or Flickr dilutes the real value of photography. Your best work shouldn’t be compressed into a low-quality file, blurred by algorithms, or controlled by a third-party platform.
Instead, focus on building something you truly own—a website, a portfolio, your own digital real estate where you curate your work on your terms. Let your firstnamelastname.com be the home of your photographs, a place where your art lives without compromise.
The Freedom to Keep Creating
Imagine if you couldn’t see the results. Would you keep going? For me, the answer is yes. I’d still capture life, still chase those moments. Photography is an itch that demands scratching, an instinct to document and explore. And the beauty of it is that each day offers a new start. It’s a journey where I keep pushing forward, not for validation but for the love of the process.
“Hoard the photos for yourself, build your own space, and just keep going.”
In the end, photography is for you. It’s not about the outcome; it’s about the daily pursuit, the journey of seeing life in a way that’s uniquely yours. So keep shooting, keep collecting memories, and let your work speak for itself.