Hey Reader,
As we kick off another year of creativity, new opportunities, and resolutions we’re hoping to stick to, it’s worth reminding ourselves of something simple.
Many of the external wins we chase in our creative journey are a reflection of what’s going on inside.
So today, with the first newsletter of the year, I want to share a way to approach the year from the inside out.
Let’s dive in.
What You Focus on Grows
There’s a quote that always makes me smile:
The grass isn’t greener on the other side; it’s greener where you water it.
I like this saying because it gives you back a sense of control over what becomes your “green”.
Photography is no different.
When you intentionally give one part of your craft attention, it’s surprising how quickly things can shift.
That might look like committing to consistent posting.
Or taking a Skillshare course to finally understand Lightroom editing.
Or shooting on prime lenses for a month, so you really learn the difference between focal lengths and perspective.
All of these work for the same reason. They narrow your attention.
You’re far more effective at watering one backyard than trying to water the whole neighbourhood.
The way I keep my attention on what matters is by breaking goals into focus blocks.
Some seasons I’m sprinting.
Building a short-form series or learning something technical, like bracketing exposures.
Others, like the one I’m in now, are slower.
Time with family. Space to redefine the year ahead.
We’re not robots who can stay locked in on every aspect of our craft all the time.
That’s why breaking things into focus blocks has genuinely helped me stay consistent without burning out.
Your Inner Story Leaks into Your Work
Embracing your personal story is your ticket to a more unique photography style in 2026.
Gone are the days of copying another photographer’s grid, their edits, or even the work they shoot.
When you do that, you’re immediately overlooking your own story.
Potentially the most powerful trait you have as an artist.
If you’ve spent most of your life around sport, playing it, supporting it, living it, it makes sense that movement, energy, or discipline shows up in your photos.
If you love putting outfits together, leaning toward fashion photography is a natural progression.
Problems within your portfolio tend to appear when you start avoiding your inner story or resisting who you are.
This doesn’t mean being locked into your past.
It means letting those traits leak into your work so it feels more like you and stands out naturally.
Your Environment Shapes Outcomes
Last year, my home studio wasn’t very conducive to creative work.
An old table as a desk.
A stack of books acting as a laptop stand.
An Ikea desk chair that had clearly lived a long life.
It did the job, but is creative work about ‘doing the job?. No!
My environment wasn’t helping.
Internally, I convinced myself this bootstrap setup was necessary.
That discomfort was part of the process.
Instead, what happened over time was a lack of inspiration, physical discomfort, and constant comparison to a larger space I once loved working in.
Later in the year, after a small shift in perspective, things changed.
I invested in a better chair.
Did a collaboration for a standing desk.
Received a laptop stand from a kind creator who’s since become a great colleague.
Suddenly, my space felt intentional again, and I could finally enjoy my work time.
Our internal perspective shapes our external environment, and that environment feeds straight back into the work.
So don’t be afraid to upgrade that office chair in 2026.
Your back and your edits will thank you.
Your Work Shows Where You Are...
... Not Where You’re Going
This is easy to forget.
Your current photos and portfolio are not proof of your ceiling.
They’re proof of your current season, shaped by the effort from the one before it.
It helps to think in terms of trajectory rather than positioning.
If last year you couldn’t work an on-camera flash at all, and now you can walk through an event confidently creating clean, detailed flash images, that matters.
Your positioning might not be where you want it yet.
Like shooting a destination wedding this summer.
But the trajectory is there.
That’s where your attention belongs.
Final Thoughts
Over the years, I’ve learned that photography reflects your focus, your environment, your confidence, and your patience.
These are the inputs.
Your work is the output.
By slowly adjusting those inputs, the work you want will naturally begin to follow.
So, as you move into this year, remember that your photography is a mirror of you, so be sure to take care of yourself.
It’s great to have you here for another year.
Catch you next week,
Matty 📷 🚀
