Hey Reader,
As we wrap up 2025, it’s impossible not to reflect on the year that’s been.
The ups, the downs, the shrugged-off tackles and the three points we try to collect each week like a hungry football club.
And so today, I want to share a grounded way to look at your photography journey over the past year.
One that gives you perspective, not pressure.
Let’s dive in.
What Actually Moved the Needle
When we look back on a year of work, it’s easy to zoom in on the big moments.
The shoot you never thought you’d land.
The summer images that somehow feel very “you.”
The new presets or gear that felt like a turning point.
These moments matter. But they’re rarely the full story.
James Clear talks about this in Atomic Habits.
Real change comes from small actions repeated over time. The kind that feel boring while you’re doing them.
So what if it wasn’t the standout moments that got you here?
Maybe it was posting consistently, even when no one seemed to notice.
Perhaps it was shooting more and gradually learning how light behaves without consciously thinking about it.
Maybe it was editing faster, trusting your first instinct, or knowing when to stop.
When you take the focus off big milestones, you get control back.
Because small actions are repeatable. And repeatable things compound (what we want).
The Shots You Couldn't Take in 2024
Another way I try to measure a year is through capability, not output.
Each year, I open a new Milanote board and drop my favourite images from the past twelve months into one place.
No ranking. No pressure. Just everything together.
It’s one of the clearest ways to see growth.
You start noticing things you would have missed otherwise.
Cleaner edits. Better use of light. More confident framing. Bigger projects. Different clients.
You don’t wake up one day suddenly “better.”
You slowly stop second-guessing. You make decisions quickly. You know when a photo works and when it doesn’t.
That’s capability.
Even if your output didn’t explode this year, your ability probably did.
And that matters far more long-term.
The Pivots You Made
As photographers, learning how to shift matters as much as learning how to focus.
This industry moves. Platforms change. Opportunities dry up. New ones appear where you didn’t expect them.
That's why the people who last aren’t the most rigid. They’re the most adaptable.
This year, my work shifted more than I planned.
Less of the traditional shooting I’d done before. More retouching, assisting, brand work, and creator-style roles.
It wasn’t the plan for 2025. But it was the path that kept things moving.
Your pivots may look similar, or they might be more subtle.
A new lens. A different edit. More video. New connections. A quieter season.
They still count.
Every pivot requires trust. And accepting that creative paths rarely move in a linear direction.
Keep What's Pulling You
After reflecting on the small habits, your capability and the pivots you made, the next thing to sit with is this:
What’s pulling you now?
A lot can change over a year of photography.
The work you want to make. The spaces you want to shoot in. The tools you enjoy using.
Often, the things that excited you at the start of the year don’t match where you’ve landed by the end of it.
You might notice it’s been a few things pulling you this year:
- A different medium
- A different pace
- A different type of work
- Or even a different reason for creating
You don’t need to label it or lock it into a plan.
You only need to notice it.
If something keeps nudging your attention, that’s worth respecting.
For example, if you found yourself gravitating towards events, portraits, video, or storytelling this year, that might be a quiet clue for 2026.
Stack Personal Proof
To finish off this reflective process, go back to that moodboard and add a simple list.
Write down your wins from the year.
For me, that looks like growing an online community, travelling for work, and writing 51 newsletters, including this one.
As you write yours, don’t only list the outcomes.
Do yourself a favour and include your effort and your consistency.
Include the things that didn’t get applause.
This list is for you. For those moments next year when doubt creeps in and starts to rewrite how things actually went.
It’s a quiet reminder that you showed up.
That you followed through.
That progress happened, even when it didn’t feel obvious at the time.
Big or small, write it down.
Because seeing your own effort clearly is often what gives you the confidence to keep creating.
Final Thoughts
Before the year wraps up, give yourself half an hour to do this properly.
Grab a coffee.
Pull your favourite images into one place.
Write the list.
Notice what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and what’s pulling you forward.
You don’t need massive goals or a full reset.
You only need a clearer picture of where you actually are after 2025.
That clarity makes 2026 a year you’re ready to ride 🐎
If you feel like it, reply with your list or board. I’ll reply to every response.
Catch you next week,
Matty 📷 🚀