Everyone has advice for you when you start taking photos. What “looks good,” what “gets likes,” or what you “have to do” to be successful. But following the crowd isn’t always the best way forward. Sometimes it’s more important to tune out the noise and trust your own direction. Here are five reasons why ignoring advice might be the best advice you ever get.  

Every photographer eventually asks themselves what they want to say with their photography. It’s not about chasing trends or what’s popular at the moment. It’s about you—what you know, what you feel, and what you want to share. Finding your photography theme isn’t something you can figure out overnight—it’s a long process.   

In the world of art, and especially photography, we often hear remarks like “If it doesn’t turn out, pass it off as art.” It might be funny, but if it’s meant seriously, it reveals a misunderstanding of how art is actually made. In our photography, why can’t we just “play the artist”? And why isn’t chance alone enough?

Creating art or just kitsch? What makes something art? When does a photographer become a fine-art photographer? And what exactly is this elusive, sometimes mythical genre? Does it always include nudes? Is fine-art photography still evolving? And what is fine-art photography exactly?

Soňa Šerá is a Zoner Photo Studio ambassador whose specialty is unique portraits with an emphasis on artistic expression. Her work is characterized by black and white photos, interesting poses, chiaroscuro lighting, minimal retouching, and minimalism. However, she doesn’t shy away from color photography, especially when it comes to her own cooking and baking.