I’m often asked how I learned photography — and more specifically, how I became comfortable shooting in manual. The honest answer is simple: practice. A lot of it. I forced myself to shoot in manual no matter the situation, and spent months backpacking around the world with a camera in hand, experimenting constantly.

That time gave me the freedom to explore new places while refining my craft, without the pressure of missing once-in-a-lifetime moments (like a bride walking down the aisle). The more you practice in different lighting conditions and environments, the more intuitive it becomes to achieve the look you want in-camera. Over time, you start to recognize which small adjustments create the biggest impact, and that’s where your personal style really begins to take shape.

As for education, I never relied on one specific resource. I leaned heavily on Google and YouTube, and today there are countless Instagram subscriptions offering helpful tips and tricks. Most of my learning, though, came from immersing myself in certain lighting scenarios while traveling — adjusting settings, observing the results, and later turning to the internet when something didn’t quite make sense.

If you’re ever feeling stuck or in need of inspiration or help with camera settings, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Vietnam was one of the earlier stops in my journey where everything truly began to click, and I can’t imagine a more beautiful place for that breakthrough.