Delete Instagram to Enjoy Photography Again (Do This Instead)
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante.
Today I want to share with you some practical tips on how to find more joy in your photography practice.
Step 1: Delete Your Instagram
Yeah.
Delete it.
Go into the settings, find that button, and just remove your account.
If you care about the people on there—your friends, your family—reach out to them directly. Text them. Call them. FaceTime them.
But get rid of the platform.
Because once you move beyond:
- Likes
- Comments
- Feedback
You remove the noise.
And now you can actually focus on making.
Build Your Own Space
Instead of renting space on social media, build your own.
- Buy a domain with your name
- Set up a site using WordPress
- Avoid cookie-cutter templates
Now you have a place that’s yours.
A space without metrics.
A space without validation loops.
Just you and the work.
This is where the joy starts to come back.
Treat Photography as a Visual Diary
What I enjoy about photography is simple:
It’s a way to express my internal state.
I do that by:
- Always carrying my Ricoh GR
- Shooting in automatic mode
- Pointing and shooting throughout the day
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just documenting life.
I’m not worried if the photos are good or bad.
Enter the Flow State
When you’re photographing every day, something happens.
You stop thinking.
You start responding.
Your instinct builds.
And over time, through consistency:
Photography becomes effortless.
The flow state is the peak human experience.
You’re present.
- No past
- No future
- Just now
The sights, sounds, and energy of the street carry you.
And you feel alive.
Stop Hunting for Photos
Don’t go out looking for something great.
Don’t chase moments.
Detach from the outcome.
Because the truth is:
When you stop trying to make a great photo, you often make one.
Let life come to you.
And just respond.
Make It Frictionless
This is everything.
I never want to burn out.
So I reduce friction at every step:
- Camera always in my pocket (Ricoh GR)
- Shooting in program mode
- High-contrast JPEGs baked in
- No post-processing
When I get home:
- I use the iPad Photos app
- No Lightroom
- No complexity
Because it’s easy…
I stay consistent.
And because I stay consistent…
I improve.
Curiosity Is the Goal
The real outcome isn’t great photos.
It’s curiosity.
What did the camera see today?
That question alone keeps me going.
The way light renders on the sensor…
The mistakes…
The surprises…
That’s the magic.
Follow What You Care About
Curiosity comes from care.
What are you drawn to?
What pulls you in?
Through daily practice, you start to discover:
- What you notice
- What you feel
- What matters to you
And that becomes your voice.
You wear your heart on your sleeve when you make photographs.
Make Something Physical
The final step:
Turn your work into something real.
Use print-on-demand:
- Sequence your images
- Create a photo book
- Hold your work in your hands
Now it’s tangible.
Now it’s yours.
Final Thought
Reorient everything.
Stop chasing validation.
Start playing.
Start documenting.
Start showing up every day.
Because when you wake up with enthusiasm—
it’s inevitable.
You’ll practice.
You’ll improve.
You’ll find joy again.
If you’re serious about this:
Take the 7-day challenge.
Make one photo a day.
Sequence it.
Send it in.
Let’s build something real.
Peace.