How can photographers without degrees build confidence and self-belief? Please share one effective strategy or piece of advice you have for self-taught photographers on building confidence.

Photography has shaped my life since 1962 when Santa brought me a camera. It was my full-time career for quite awhile and it has been part of every part of my career path since. And when it was part of my job role, it still influenced how I conducted my work. Based on those oh-so-many-years, here's a thought or few: 1. Get the idea of a degree out of your head. The overly inflated value of degrees puts limitations on people that shouldn't be there. (Yes, I worked in higher ed for 27 years.) Take that piece off the game table, so you can... 2. Think like other communicators. Public speakers, writers, and other creatives focus on having something to say of value. They develop a voice. They learn how to share that voice. Photographers are hired for their vision, their style, how they see things. (My first photography book is The Seeing, Not the Taking: A guide to seeing for photographers.) Develop how you see to create a vision that is conveyed by a personal style. Clients pay for that. 3. Study the work and lives of a variety of photographers in a range of genres over a number of eras. There are many successful photographers whose work was not at all influenced by a degree. Learn how they used their experiences to shape their vision. 4. Focus your energy on developing ways to market and promote your work. There is only one person on earth who has your voice because of who you are, the life you've lived, the values you hold, etc. Proclaim that in your imagery.

When I was teaching myself photography and had completed one of my very first portfolio building shoots, I went to my grandparents home to how my grandfather, at one point in his life he had been a naval photographer. As I went through all of my photos showing him everything, he stopped me and gave me the single most impactful advise I had ever been told, it changed the way I viewed my work, and helped me gain confidence in my final products. He said "Anyone can take a photo, some will be good and some will be bad. The difference between a professional and an armature is that armature will show you every photo they took, blurry or focused, good or bad. The professional will only show there clients the good photos." Taking photos is not about the quantity of photos you can show a client it is about the quality. If you provide a client with a large quantity of photos, good and bad they will likely walk away from the experience remembering all the bad photos and less of the good photos. If you provide the client with a handful of only the best photos taken from that shoot, they will remember you as an amazing photographer.

Keep sharpening those skills and never stop learning. For photographers who skipped the formal degrees, it's super important to stay ahead of the game. That means you've gotta keep looking for the latest techniques, tech updates, or any shifts in what's trending in photography. This commitment to getting better at what you do and always learning doesn't just set you apart—it builds up your confidence big time.

One effective strategy for self-taught photographers to build confidence is to consistently share their work with the community and seek constructive feedback. Participating in online forums, local photography clubs, and social media platforms not only helps in refining skills through peer critiques but also boosts exposure. Celebrating small successes and learning from the community's insights can significantly enhance self-belief and affirm their development as photographers.