The first few years as a beginner photographer are often exciting, and everything feels new. But eventually, as you become more skilled, you risk forgetting about the traits that got you to where you are.

Many intermediate and advanced photographers can become complacent and avoid continuing to get better at their craft. But the good news is that while you’ll probably encounter this problem at some point, you can do numerous things to get out of this phase.

1. Taking the Same Pictures on Autopilot

One of the surest signs that you’ve become complacent as a photographer is that you’re not making much of an effort to evolve your picture-taking. When you find a style that you like, it’s easy to start capturing your shots on autopilot. And in addition to not trying new things with your photos, you could also sacrifice the storytelling aspect.

A good way to figure out whether you’re on autopilot is to simply go through your most recent photos on your computer or SD card. You’ll know in an instant if those are creations that you’re proud of or not.

Taking pictures on autopilot could also refer to not adjusting your in-camera settings, such as using Aperture Priority Mode or Manual Mode all the time.

2. Not Taking the Time to Learn New Skills

Mastering any craft requires adopting a student mindset and continuously learning new aspects. In this respect, photography is no different.

Another clear sign of complacency is that you’ve taken your foot off the gas when it comes to picking up new skills and making an effort to improve. The same applies if you own a photography business but aren’t thinking about how to provide better value or simplify your processes.

Sometimes, you might not be taking the time to learn new skills subconsciously. But in other cases, you might think that you don’t have anything else to learn. That’s a dangerous game to play because your competition can easily overtake you with that mindset.

3. Your Edits Have Become Sloppy

Photo editing software like Lightroom and Capture One have made it much easier to achieve a unique style. These programs (along with Photoshop) have a steep initial learning curve, but eventually, you’ll likely find your favorite set of sliders. There’s nothing wrong with using some of them more often than others, but the big danger is that you let your edits become careless.

Perhaps the most common sign of this is that you’re applying the same preset without thinking about any other aspects of your picture. Overusing automatic adjustments, such as Auto Tone and Auto Color, are other possible signs to look out for.

4. Not Putting in Any Effort When You Share Your Pictures

Social media can serve as a useful tool for growing an audience as a photographer, but only if you use these platforms intentionally. Whether it’s because of burnout or something else, not putting in effort when you share your images is a potential sign that you’ve become complacent.

You don’t need to write huge paragraphs, but posting because you feel like you have to—and using lazy captions—is often counterproductive. You might want to consider taking a social media break if your uploads are like this.

How to Overcome Complacency

Now that you know some of the warning signs that you’re resting on your laurels as a photographer, let’s look at what you can do to reverse the problem.

Document Your Experiences

If you want to overcome your complacency as a photographer, documenting your experiences is a good idea. You can do this in private with a journal, which will allow you to identify problems as and when they arise. Journaling digitally is also possible, and there are several journaling apps you can use.

You can also share your experiences publicly on a blog or YouTube channel. If you pick the latter, consider checking out our guide on the top reasons why photographers should start a YouTube channel.

Try a Different Photography Style or Genre

As photographers, we all have our favorite genres—and there’s nothing wrong with this. However, it’s sometimes a good idea to branch out and try new things.

If you feel like you’ve become complacent as a photographer, altering your style—or trying a new genre altogether—can help you fix that. For example, if you normally capture shots in sunny locations, consider trying photography in rainy weather.

Overhaul Your Photography Workflow

While it’s important to keep some of the traits that got you from Point A to B, not everything will continue serving you as you evolve. If you feel like you’ve become complacent, it’s worth making some adjustments to your photography workflow.

Look through what you’re currently doing and remove anything that’s no longer useful. If necessary, you can think of outsourcing certain aspects as well.

Sometimes, using new programs and gadgets can help. For example, an iPad can help your photography workflow in many ways.

Find New Photography Resources to Learn From

Sometimes, the reason you stopped learning is because you grew bored of the resources you would typically use. With this in mind, looking for new people to gain ideas from is a good idea. Have a look at those in your field who are where you want to be and go through their catalog of content.

You can consume content in numerous formats, including written and video resources. Consider checking out some of the top YouTube channels for photographers if you feel like you learn better from the latter.

Don’t Rest on Your Laurels as a Photographer

Complacency can result in you stagnating in your craft, and it might also lead to others advancing ahead of you. That means they could secure projects that you wanted, along with taking some of your audience.

If you notice that you’ve rested on your laurels, the good news is that you can try several things to reverse the problem. Documenting your experiences, exploring new opportunities, and changing your workflow can all help.