Why My Best Photos Have Nothing to Do With My Camera

And neither do yours

What Really Matters?

As a photographer, there’s an expectation to deliver a certain standard of work. I completely understand and agree with that. But meeting that standard isn’t just about technical skill. That’s part of it, sure—but the real difference between a good technical photographer and a great photographer comes down to something else: connection.

So, is technical ability as important as connection?

For me, it’s an obvious no. And I have plenty of reasons why.

I’m not the most technical photographer you’ll ever meet. I’m good—I know my cameras, lenses, and lighting. But if you give me the best gear in the world and I can’t make my subject comfortable, that perfect moment will pass me by.

On the other hand, give me an old, average camera and someone I genuinely connect with, and I promise you—the images will be better. They’ll be more creative, unique, and emotionally rich.

Why? Because connection is the real gold. It’s the skill we all strive to master. It’s why we’re natural storytellers, why we crave human interaction, and why, no matter how advanced AI becomes, it will never replace genuine human connection.

We all feel it. We all understand it. You can have a best friend of ten years and a coworker from a terrible job you worked for six months, and the bond with both can be equally strong, just in different ways. Your best friend knows you deeply, but they weren’t in that daily grind with you under the same awful boss.

What really got me thinking about all this was something a friend said in passing last week:

“I don’t value intellect, I value connection.”

That stuck with me. It’s not that intellect isn’t appreciated, but if someone can’t communicate or connect, no matter how knowledgeable they are, the interaction feels different. It’s the difference between being talked to and being talked with.

Ever had a conversation with someone who clearly knows their stuff but makes you feel like you’re being lectured? Not fun, right? Now compare that to someone who draws you into a conversation, listens, and actually engages with you. That’s the difference.

This all clicked for me after a recent shoot.

I was booked for a two-hour session with an artist. We had met beforehand, and I had a clear shot list in mind. When we started, I got all the images I had planned, but none of them felt like the one.

I arrived at 10 am. By noon, we had taken most of the frames I had thought I would, but honestly, we spent most of the time talking—about life, art, and travel. We went for coffee, shared a locally made muffin, and kept the conversation going. By 2:30 pm, I realised I had not only got everything I needed and more, but I also hadn’t picked up the camera for over an hour.

And yet, I didn’t care.

Of course, I wanted to do my best and knew we had created great images. But by the end, the shoot wasn’t just about the photos. The connection made everything better—it brought out something in the work that planning alone never could.

Then there’s another example: a local group I work with here in WA.

In my commercial work, I take pride in not just delivering quality images but also being great to work with (probably some deep-rooted Catholic guilt making sure I do my absolute best).

I know I’m not the best photographer they’ve worked with—some of the people I collaborate with are far more technically skilled. And yet, when a new job comes up, they call me.

This isn’t me saying, “Look how great I am.” In fact, I fully acknowledge that many photographers are technically better than me. But I do know one thing—I genuinely care about the people I work with, not just the work I’m producing. That priority builds trust. They know that if they ask me to get something, I’ll get it—not just because of my skills, but because we’ve built a connection over years.

At the end of the day, I believe this:

Your ability to connect with people will carry more weight than the work you produce, even if it’s the best work they’ve ever seen. Because if you’re difficult to deal with, the experience will always be soured.

And that’s what really matters.

I’m not really a tips person, because when it comes to connection, it’s quite individual. But here are a few things that I think have really helped me:

Make them comfortable. When you’re working with someone who doesn’t like having their photo taken or feels they need to look a certain way, remind them what the photos are for, give them context. It helps ease some of the pressure. If I’m photographing an artist, I get them to make something or paint—whatever they normally do. That’s where the best frames come from so I can observe and see what looks the best.

Wear what feels right. If you don’t wear suits but think you have to for a corporate headshot—don’t. Wear something that makes you feel like yourself. My portrait work has some grit and texture to it because I think honesty and relatability make for stronger images.

Talk to them without a camera. Simple but effective—cameras make people nervous. Greet them without it and chat about anything else first. It makes introducing the camera a lot easier.

If possible, take twice as long. Even with headshots, I usually have everything set up before the person arrives. It often only takes me 20 seconds to get the frame I need, but I take five minutes instead. Why? Because I’ll spend two minutes talking, one minute explaining how to pose, and then two minutes shooting, letting them pick their favourite.

Ever had your photo taken by someone who just points a camera at you and says, “Okay, smile”? Yeah, not great. It’s awkward, unnatural, and you can see it in the final shot. But if you take a few extra minutes to ease into it, everything changes.

These are just little things I do during my shoots to make people feel as comfortable as possible in an often uncomfortable situation.

I honestly believe if you’re a creative and you focus on connection, you’ll succeed far more than the technically better photographer.

Be good, be kind, and I’ll see you next week.

Music recommendation this week
- Stephen Wilson Jr - I’m A Song

Here’s some recent works from recent shoots that I loved
- Artist with her works

Corporate work for a recruitment company (notice outfit differences)

Photoshoot exhibition titled True Colours

Photoshoot for a yoga studio