Why Do Photographers Feel Embarrassed About Learning?
In almost every profession, learning from those who came before you is considered a privilege, even a badge of honour. Aspiring chefs practically beg to chop onions in Michelin-starred kitchens just to say they breathed the same air as their idols. Musicians brag about the legendary maestros they’ve studied under. Athletes spend years being shouted at by world-class coaches, and nobody ever calls them “less of an athlete” for it. In fact, it’s expected - you’d look ridiculous trying to do it all alone!
And yet, in the photography world, things get weird. Suddenly, admitting you took a workshop, invested in personal development, or - heaven forbid - learned from someone more experienced is treated like a dirty little secret. Why? Since when did “I care enough about my craft to improve” translate into “I’m not a real photographer”? It’s a bizarre stigma and, let’s be honest, a pretty silly mindset to hang on to.
Learning in Other Professions Is Respected:
Chefs: It’s not just acceptable, it’s essential for aspiring chefs to train under mentors. The lineage of who you studied with becomes part of your reputation and how you grow your career, and can often determine how successful you eventually become!
Musicians: Students of Yo-Yo Ma, Herbie Hancock, or Itzhak Perlman wear that experience as a badge of credibility. Nobody says, “Oh, you’re not a real musician because you studied with one of the greatest of all time.”
Athletes: Imagine a sprinter refusing to admit they hired a coach, for fear people would think they weren’t talented. It sounds ridiculous - because it is. Coaching and learning are built into the DNA of sports.
Doctors, Lawyers, Designers: In nearly every skilled profession, learning from the best is a mark of seriousness, determination and ambition. It shows you respect the craft enough to invest in your own development and growth.
In fact, in most other professions, without training you don’t get very far at all. Imagine a surgeon waltzing into an operating room saying, “Don’t worry, I’m self-taught - I watched a couple of YouTube videos.” Or a pilot announcing over the intercom, “No formal training, folks, just winging it - quite literally.” In nearly every industry, proper training isn’t optional, it’s the bare minimum. Yet somehow, in photography, we’ve convinced ourselves that skipping education makes us more “authentic.” Cute, but no.
Why Is Photography Different?
Photography seems to live in this strange little bubble where the myth of being “self-taught” is put on a pedestal. So many photographers cling to the idea that “true artistry” can only come from some magical blend of innate vision and raw instinct, as if workshops or mentors would somehow contaminate their purity. Apparently, if you admit to learning - especially if you dared to pay for it - you’re no longer authentic, just a sellout with a camera. Honestly? That’s not noble, it’s outdated. And let’s be real - it’s also just a bit ridiculous.
This stigma likely comes from a few places:
Romanticising the “self-taught” label: There’s this weird cultural badge of honour in saying, “I figured it all out myself,” as if artistry is somehow more authentic when it magically bubbles up from deep within your soul. And let’s be honest - there’s a hefty dose of ego in there too. Making people believe you cracked the code all on your own (whether that’s actually true or not) adds a little extra shine to your so-called “success.” The moment you admit someone helped you along the way, the stigma kicks in - as if that somehow makes the achievement less impressive. Which, let’s face it, is complete and utter nonsense.
Fear of being seen as a beginner: In a world where photographers are often hustling for clients, confessing that you’re still learning feels like admitting you’re not yet “professional enough.” Again, a ridiculous notion. The very best in the world, no matter what your profession, are only the very best because they’ve constantly kept learning and seeking knowledge. Otherwise, they’d have been left behind a long time ago!
Social media pressure: Online, everyone loves to showcase their “mastery.” Social media has become the perfect stage for polished highlights and carefully crafted illusions. Admitting you just invested in a workshop can feel, at first, like lifting the curtain and saying, “I don’t have it all figured out.” But here’s the reality: what it really signals is, “I’m doing what most of my competition won’t—I’m investing in myself so I can leave them in the dust.
Undervaluing photography as a craft: Unlike culinary or musical education, photography is still often dismissed as “just pushing a button.” Which, of course, forces photographers to strike that classic defensive pose - pretending they were born with a magic eye rather than honed their craft through hard work and training.
The Truth: Learning Makes You Stronger
The irony, of course, is that the best photographers - the truly enduring ones, are perpetual learners. They evolve, adapt, and seek inspiration from others. Personal development is not a weakness, but a strength.
Every photographer who takes the leap to learn from a mentor or invest in a workshop or some training is saying:
“I care about my craft.”
“I’m humble enough to know I don’t know it all.”
“I’m serious about growth.”
That’s not embarrassing. That’s powerful. That’s a proven way to become the very best at what you do.
Breaking the Stigma
Imagine if the photography community treated learning the way chefs, musicians, and athletes do. Imagine if instead of hiding it, photographers proudly said:
“I learned lighting from X.”
“I took a workshop with Y.”
“I’ve been studying under Z, and it’s transformed my career.”
Normalising education wouldn’t just make learning less awkward - it would strengthen the craft itself across the board. The truth is, every leading creative, entrepreneur, or professional - whether they admit it or not - learned from someone else along the way. Business leaders study mentors, designers take workshops, athletes hire coaches, and doctors train under experienced practitioners. Investing in personal development doesn’t make you less talented; it makes you sharper, more skilled, and more formidable in your field.
Final Thought
Photographers shouldn’t feel embarrassed about learning. They should feel embarrassed if they stop learning.
Because let’s face it - photography, like every creative field, never sits still. Cameras get smarter, styles evolve, clients get pickier, and the way we tell stories keeps shifting. Standing still isn’t really standing still at all - it’s quietly sliding backwards while everyone else does laps around you.
So no, the embarrassment doesn’t come from raising your hand and saying, “I want to learn.” That’s called ambition. The real cringe is clinging to the exact same skillset you had five years ago, still calling yourself a “professional,” and pretending the industry hasn’t moved on without you. Learning isn’t a weakness. It’s the boldest way of saying, “I plan on sticking around.”
Learning is not an admission of weakness - it’s proof of ambition.
