This is why your photos are boring.

All Gear:

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00:00 - 00:48 Boring Photos?
00:48 - 02:28 Over Reliance on Subject Matter
02:28 - 04:42 Lack of a Clear Subject
04:42 - 07:17 Depth
07:17 - 10:05 Editing Mistake
10:05 - 11:48 Not Planning
11:48 Over Planning

[king_of_twins]

I learned a lot in those 10 min, this why I love YouTube, it's people like you that give knowledge instead of showing thier life like other platforms, great shots by the way.

[razerone]

The reason some of us still use very shallow depth of field is the fact that many of us don’t have the luxury of shooting in places where the background is something we’d even want in the photo. I for example shoot many of my portraits of my son in our backyard that is busy and just not very interesting. I want as much of that ugly background out of focus as possible. Your shots are in beautiful or interesting locations so I get why you don’t shoot wide opens I wouldn’t either. Point is, there is a place for 1.4 shots. It’s not just about decision to use it or being a new photographer with a new 1.4 lens.

[EastbounderMike]

I feel like the lack of a clear subject concept pushed by other photographers in the past might be bs. Just look at painted art; there are many famous or beautiful paintings where you don’t know where to start looking. When visiting a panoramic mountain range, the views are epic even if there isn’t a specific “anchor point” to hold things together. Anchor points just help simplify compositions

[triplstan]

This is the first time I've come across your channel and I am blown away. You are next level talented. Those shots are all killer!

[ChrisMarpe]

I agree that is often more interesting to have a person in a photo, but I live in Germany and any photo with a recognisable person in it must not be published without written consent from that person. So unless you take a friend with you everywhere and place them where you want them, you have to wait until there is no-one there, or they are so far away even zooming in keeps them Only at a public event like a concert can you include people but there are also rules, a group rather than an individual, nothing that they would find embarrassing or would get them into trouble.

[BenSussmanpro]

Your best point was shooting the same photos that everyone else shoots. For this reason I refuse to look at any more photos of Eiffel Tower, Brooklyn Bridge, Tower Bridge, that Singapore “boat’ building, most pictures shot in Italy, Prague, London, NYC, Toronto (if I see 1 more CN Tower pic I’ll scream), Seattle (for crying out loud Pike Market isn’t the only thing to see!), Chicago (enough with the Chicago River already!). Thanks for your video 😆.

[FinnishSuperSomebody]

Thank you, these tips were actually very good! 

Didn't except much (haven't seen your videos before I think) since most of the YouTube videos about photography is too much about technical things, not that much about actual art of photography, composition etc. so I was happy to see that you actually talk about photography, not gear stuff. 

Also when you showed photos it was much easier to believe your tips since those photos were excellent so you really seem to know what you are talking about - good lightning, good composition etc. so not good only in "technical level" but as a photography what as an artform. Gotta appreciate! Keep up good work :)

[zahrahalili]

i love this, really makes me want to get creative and not hold back on that. I always go the safe route and my photos look basic. Thanks!

[mauriciolee]

Thank Sean for such an INFORMATIVE video. I agree with you that OVERPLANNING makes my photos look boring. Photography is half art, and half science. With art, there is NO FIXED RULE. If I just photograph exactly what I planned, then my photos become monotonous! On the other hand, if I don’t plan my shoot, my photos will be all over the place! It sound PARADOXICAL, but it’s true.

[mizzdee]

I just recently bought my first film SLR camera and slowly getting serious about making photography as a new hobby. I feel like my photos lack creativity and are starting to feel stale already. Your video is very helpful and informative. I'll keep all these tips in mind. Thank you!

[olivernalen]

First video of yours I've watched. I'm a total amateur, so everything in this video was fantastic. Great advice and great photos too. Liked and subbed.

[shessudar]

You’re talented Sean.You make your photos interesting 👏🏼

[kevindonnelly]

Minimalist compositions are a really great way to think of capturing compelling shots. Try find a story within each frame

[MorriganJade]

I own a Sony DSC-H50 from 2008, and am still learning photography. But when you mentioned the "too perfect edit" (mind you, I can't shoot raw in this compact camera), it's one of those things I now like about my camera.

It has flaws (chromatic aberration for example), so I'm now making use of it, while still learning how to become better at it.

I realize that this old device can still shoot better pictures than my Samsung Galaxy A52 from only a few years ago when using it well. Just at the cost of a few things. Like max iso, megapixel, or other things I don't mind as much.

[kultyurgeym]

I love how you say imperfections made the photos beautiful, because it is raw. Not too much, just alive

[jamesamoh]

Congrats on the 100k subs. Cheers to the next 100k. I’m guilty of over planning and things didn’t go as planned. Thanks for the tips and as always, great content.

[irakurmaz]

The most interesting and useful video i have seen recently. Other photographers repeat all the same in their videos but here i have heard smth really new and helpful that I want to try. 😊

[profitglen]

Good tips overall, but I am never going to add a dust overlay to an image, unless I am creating a marketing graphic and need it.

[lite]

the timing on that bali photo is insane

[jimaguilar]

Thanks for the reminders and tips. Especially the “too perfect” advice. I’ve become so intent on learning Lightroom and some of the other editing software options that I’ve forgotten this tip. Great video…