Hey Reader,
As we enter the last week of the year, now is a good moment to pause and look at what actually worked for you.
What helped you show up more consistently.
What made the work feel lighter.
What moved things forward without burning you out.
So instead of predictions or trends, this is a practical list of what’s worth carrying into 2026, and what’s probably worth leaving behind.
Let’s dive in.
In's...
Content series
This was one of the biggest unlocks for me this year.
Series simplify everything.
What to shoot. What to share. What to talk about.
Instead of constantly starting from zero, you’re building momentum around one idea or one theme.
And that consistency compounds fast.
By shifting your focus to a series, you give your audience a chance to connect more deeply with you and your work through a shared idea.
If content has ever felt heavy or overwhelming, consider a series going into 2026.
YouTube (long-form)
It’s no secret that short-form content is a great gateway into building your photography platform.
But if you’re looking to make a genuine connection with a community, there’s still no better platform than YouTube.
Even with my small community over there, I still have people remembering photography vlogs from four years ago and recognising me out on hikes.
That connection is powerful.
It’s also a place you can grow with.
More space to explain. More room to tell stories.
If you’ve been sitting on longer ideas, or you want to build more of a personality around your photography, this is your nudge.
Community
Being abroad has really highlighted the importance of community for me.
I started my creative journey alongside other artists and took that luxury for granted.
Having people to share work with, learn alongside, and feel understood by matters far more than I realised.
And while I continue to build my network in new places, the fact that a portion of that connection can be rebuilt through online groups is special.
It’s often the thing that keeps you moving when motivation dips.
In 2026, I’m leaning into that more intentionally, and I’d encourage you to think about where your sense of community comes from, too.
Leaning into the wave
This year reminded me that the path rarely looks how you expect it to.
Sometimes photography takes you sideways before it moves you forward.
Sometimes the thing you resist is the thing that helps you grow.
Accepting that has made everything feel calmer.
You can still aim for a destination without fighting every detour along the way.
Outs...
Over-optimising
Lately, it feels like we’ve all been ushered down the path of optimisation.
Perfect morning routines.
Perfect sleep scores.
Rushing to note what we should and shouldn’t be doing when a new “Diary of a CEO” podcast clip drops.
In the pursuit of optimisation, we’ve introduced a lot of unnecessary pressure.
That’s why in 2026, I think we can collectively leave over-optimisation behind.
And instead, lean into things like slow productivity.
When we’re so focused on optimising, we often miss the ideas that show up when there’s peace, and sometimes a bit of chaos.
Waiting to be ready
The longer you work in creative industries, the clearer this becomes.
Not everyone knows what they’re doing.
And that’s normal.
You’ll never feel fully ready to DM the brand you want to shoot for.
You’ll never feel fully ready to photograph your first wedding.
So in 2026, it’s time to drop the idea that one day you’ll suddenly “be ready”.
The people who move forward are the ones who stay curious, keep learning, and allow themselves to be beginners consistently.
Comparison without inspiration
From a personal perspective, this is where I’ll be focusing most of my energy on leaving things behind.
Over time, I’ve learned that looking at others isn’t actually the problem.
The problem starts when comparison drains you.
If someone else’s work motivates you, that’s fantastic.
But if it makes you feel behind or stuck, it’s no longer serving you.
Wrapping up 2025
If you take one thing into 2026, let it be this.
Clarity beats intensity.
It’s easy to write lists like this at the end of the year.
Living them is where the real work begins.
You don’t need a dramatic reset.
You just need to keep stacking small, honest wins and trust that it will all come back to you in abundance.
Thanks for being here this year and reading this newsletter every weekend.
I’m excited to keep learning, shooting, and sharing alongside you.
Catch you in the new year,
Matty 📷 🚀
