Success in photography isn't just about having an eye for light or mastering technique. It's about choosing the difficult path when the easy one is right there, tempting you. Every photographer we admire has a story of leaving something comfortable behind.

By Way Up NorthUpdated 13 October 2026

Header photo by Ines Futterknecht

The Hard Path

Success in photography isn't just about having an eye for light or mastering technique. It's about choosing the difficult path when the easy one is right there, tempting you.

Every photographer we admire has a story of leaving something comfortable behind. Whether it was quitting a stable job, moving to a new country, or completely changing their approach to photography - the defining moment always came when they chose hard over easy.

Image by Meeri Koutaniemi

Choosing Discomfort

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Comfort is dangerous in our industry. It starts with shooting the same venues, using the same poses, editing with the same presets. Before you know it, five years have passed and your work looks exactly the same. Meanwhile, the photographers who kept pushing themselves, who chose discomfort, have evolved into something remarkable.

Taking the hard path doesn't get easier - the challenges just become more interesting. But that's exactly the point. When you're used to doing difficult things, you get to choose which difficulties are worth your time.

Photo by The Caryls

Running to Stand Still

The trick isn't just working hard - it's knowing when to push and when to rest. Build your tolerance for discomfort gradually, but purposefully.

Because in the end, it's not about how many weddings you shoot. It's about how many times you chose to grow when you could have stayed still.

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