27 Aug The Gear Trap: Fuji Photography and the Myth of “Not Good Enough”
How the gear trap works
Have you noticed how, no matter where you look, someone is trying to tell you that your photography isn’t good enough?
It’s always the same: your photos aren’t sharp enough, your images don’t “pop,” you’re using the wrong focal length.
And then comes the inevitable “solution”: buy more gear.
It’s everywhere—YouTube, Instagram, photography blogs. The message is always the same: success is one step away, and that step has a price tag.
But here’s the truth: it’s not about the gear. It’s about convincing you that you are not enough as you are.
My personal struggle with the gear trap
I’ve fallen for it too. Even after years of writing about capturing experiences, not specs, I sometimes doubt myself.
When photos don’t turn out as I imagined, I catch myself thinking:
- maybe I need a sharper lens,
- maybe a better camera would have nailed the shot.
The pressure creeps in, whispering that I’m not good enough.
And the funny thing? I don’t even make my living from photography. If I feel this weight, I can only imagine how intense it is for photographers whose income depends on selling photos, workshops, or prints.
The weight of comparison
This isn’t just about photography—it mirrors life.
Fitness, fashion, lifestyle—it’s always the same cycle: you buy the latest thing, feel a rush, then crash as soon as a newer model is announced.
In photography, we refresh our feeds, see “perfect” images, and start believing our work is less:
- less sharp,
- less professional,
- less worthy.
And the worst part? We project these pressures onto others, judging their work by the same impossible standards.
Why I refuse to sell you perfection
Yes, I sell things too—eBooks, workshops. But here’s the difference: I’m not here to convince you that you’re broken and need fixing.
I won’t tell you a better strap or a new camera will suddenly transform your vision.
If my workshops don’t sell, I’ll still be okay. I’m not pressured to push you into endless upgrades.
Yet even I sometimes fall into the trap. When the light isn’t right, when the scene doesn’t click, I catch myself thinking:
“I need better gear. I need to improve. Maybe I’m not enough.”
That’s the trap talking.
The danger of not feeling “enough”
This goes deeper than photography. The pressure to buy doesn’t just drain our wallets—it erodes our sense of worth.
It makes us second-guess our art. It turns photography into a race:
- who has the sharpest lens,
- who bought the latest camera,
- who can show off the newest toy.
But that’s not what photography is about. Photography is supposed to reflect humanity—our feelings, our unique perspective, our joy in creating.
Breaking free from the pressure
We live in a world designed to make us feel inadequate. Social media, ads, even tutorials—they all whisper:
If only you had this, you’d finally make it.
But here’s the truth:
- Your art doesn’t come from megapixels.
- Your creativity doesn’t depend on the latest lens.
- Your worth is not tied to your gear.
It’s tied to your ability to see, to feel, and to create.
Conclusion – You are already enough
Stop letting the industry define your worth. Stop letting others convince you that your work isn’t good enough.
Your vision, your creativity, your perspective—these don’t need constant upgrades. What they need is belief.
Believe that you are enough, right here, right now, with the tools you already have.
Because the sharpest lens in the world can’t replace your unique way of seeing.
This article is part of my creative photography series, where I explore the balance between art, gear, and self-worth.
If you want to go deeper into these reflections, check out my book: