Why Simplifying Your Photography Process Will Make You a Better Photographer
What’s poppin’, people? It’s Dante.
This morning I want to share why simplifying your photography process will make you a more joyful photographer.
Over the past 12 years I’ve been photographing out in the streets, exploring the world, photographing in both color and black and white.
One thing I’ve realized is that the process itself can become the biggest obstacle.
Sometimes photography creates more chores than creativity. More burden than flow.
When you simplify the practice, photography becomes something you can seamlessly integrate into your everyday life instead of something that constantly demands your attention.
The simpler the process, the easier it becomes to simply live—and make photographs along the way.
Keep Your Camera Simple
The first practical suggestion is to simplify your camera and editing workflow.
I personally use the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome.
My settings are incredibly simple:
- AV or P Mode
- Automatic exposure
- JPEG only
- High-contrast processing baked directly into the file
I simply point and shoot.
No second guessing.
No endless menu diving.
No RAW files waiting to be processed later.
Cull Your Photos on an iPad or iPhone
When I get home, I transfer everything to my iPad Pro using the built-in Photos app.
I organize everything using simple folders based on the date the photographs were made.
As I scroll through small thumbnails, I simply tap the Favorite icon on the images I want to keep.
That’s it.
The only accessory you need is:
- USB-C SD card reader
- Lightning SD reader (depending on your device)
I genuinely think:
Compact cameras + JPEG workflows + mobile devices are the future of keeping photography simple.
Removing Lightroom from my workflow has completely transformed how I experience photography.
I don’t have to think about:
- Which camera
- Which lens
- Which focal length
- Which preset
- Which RAW settings
Everything is already finished when I make the photograph.
Print Your Work Immediately
The next step is printing.
I’ve developed an entire system around making physical books at home.
Every body of work becomes its own zine.
Each issue is titled with the dates the photographs were made.
The photographs are stored inside simple manila folders.
Each page is printed on ordinary 8.5 x 11 copy paper using an inexpensive monochrome Brother laser printer.
Every photograph includes:
- Photographer name
- Time
- Date
- Automatic sequencing
At the back of every publication is:
- Contact sheet
- Manifest
- QR code linking to the complete online archive
Everything flows automatically.
I Actually Prefer Cheap Home Prints
I’ve experimented with print-on-demand services like Blurb.
They’re enjoyable.
But honestly…
I don’t enjoy making those books nearly as much as I enjoy printing my work at home.
Waiting for shipping.
Using extra software.
Exporting files.
Formatting layouts.
All of those little steps introduce friction.
I’d rather come home, print the work immediately, and have a finished book in my hands within the hour.
The imperfections of a monochrome laser printer have become part of the aesthetic.
I actually love them.
Why I Left Color Photography
This collection contains nearly seven years of photographing around the world.
Looking back, I realized something.
Color photography demanded much more from me.
Lighting became critical.
Time of day mattered.
The colors themselves could either make or break the photograph.
Most of my strongest color photographs were made under beautiful light.
Golden hour.
Interesting color relationships.
Everything had to align.
That isn’t necessarily bad.
It taught me discipline.
But it was also much harder.
After seven years, I produced only around fifty photographs that I truly felt belonged together.
That realization changed everything.
Black and White Made Photography Infinite
When I switched to high-contrast monochrome, something unexpected happened.
Instead of documenting reality…
I became curious about abstraction.
Light and shadow began revealing things I couldn’t predict.
The surprise inside the frame became the reason I kept going back outside.
Now I’m photographing:
- Inanimate objects
- Landscapes
- Quiet moments
- Ordinary gestures
- Mundane scenes
Things I probably would’ve walked past before.
Color often made me dependent on finding something interesting.
Black and white made everything interesting.
By stripping away color, I found infinite potential.
Curiosity Is Everything
The most important part of my process isn’t the camera.
It isn’t the workflow.
It isn’t even the prints.
It’s curiosity.
Photography should continually make you want to go back outside.
Every evening I look through my photographs wondering:
“What surprised me today?”
Then I wake up wanting to experience that feeling again.
That’s why simplifying my process has been so powerful.
I’ve reduced photography to:
- Light
- Shadow
- Instinct
Nothing else.
Photography has become a visual diary.
Instead of searching for photographs…
I’m simply living my life.
The camera just comes along for the ride.
Remove Decision Fatigue
Today I photograph:
- Vertical
- Horizontal
- Portraits
- Objects
- Landscapes
- Street scenes
Everything feels open.
Everything feels possible.
The goal is no longer to think.
The goal is simply to move.
To shoot.
To become immersed in flow.
When you remove decision fatigue, photography starts feeling effortless.
My Current Everyday System
This entire workflow is intentionally minimal.
Equipment:
- Ricoh GR IV Monochrome
- iPhone or iPad
- USB SD card reader
- Brother MFC-L2820DW monochrome laser printer
- Third-party toner cartridges
- Standard office copy paper
That’s it.
No complicated studio.
No massive archive of hard drives.
No endless software.
Just make photographs.
Print them.
Enjoy them.
The Flux System
I’ve created over thirty Flux publications using this workflow.
On flux.dantesisofo.com, you can:
- Generate your own Flux issue
- Drag and drop 36 photographs
- Add your title
- Add your photographer name
- Automatically generate your publication
- Submit it to the Flux archive
You can also browse my complete archive or create your own zines using my photographs for inspiration.
The goal was simple.
Reduce friction.
Increase creativity.
Carry a Tiny Sketchbook
Another simple suggestion.
Carry a tiny passport notebook.
I use a Muji Passport Memo.
Inside I keep miniature photo prints made using the Canon Selphy CP1500.
Eight photographs fit onto one 4×6 sheet.
I simply cut them out and paste them inside.
Instead of handing someone your Instagram…
Hand them your little sketchbook.
People remember physical photographs.
Photography Should Feel Effortless
At the end of the day, I don’t think photography needs to be complicated.
We do this because we enjoy doing it.
If the process gets in the way of living your life…
Simplify it.
If something stops you from wanting to photograph…
Remove it.
For me that meant:
- Removing color
- Removing RAW files
- Removing Lightroom
- Removing unnecessary decisions
Now all that’s left is:
Light.
Shadow.
Instinct.
Curiosity.
Photography has become effortless.
And because it’s effortless…
I photograph more.
I walk more.
I notice more.
I become more curious.
The goal isn’t making better photographs. The goal is building a process that makes you want to keep making photographs for the rest of your life.
Hopefully something here inspires you to simplify your own process and ultimately find more joy in your everyday photography.
Thanks for watching.
Peace.