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Episode 28 - Being Popular vs Being Yourself in Nature Photography

How photographers can balance social media trends, iconic locations, business pressure, and authentic creative vision



In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey are joined by photographer Brenda Tharp for a thoughtful conversation about one of the biggest creative tensions in photography today: the pull between making popular work and making work that feels true to who you are. From iconic locations and social media trends to workshop marketing and print sales, the discussion looks at the many ways photographers can feel pressured to chase what gets attention instead of what brings real creative fulfillment.


Brenda brings decades of experience to the conversation and offers a grounded perspective on how photographers can build a business without losing their passion. The result is a candid discussion about authenticity, artistic voice, intimate landscapes, grand scenes, and why following trends too closely can slowly disconnect photographers from the reason they picked up a camera in the first place.


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Episode Summary


The topic is simple to describe but difficult to live out: how does a photographer balance being popular with being authentic?


It is a question that touches almost everything in the photography world right now. Social media rewards trends. Certain locations appear everywhere. Some compositions feel unavoidable. And for photographers trying to make money through prints, workshops, or education, the pressure to create work that attracts attention can be hard to ignore. Brenda brings a long-view perspective to that tension and offers a refreshingly honest look at what it means to stay true to personal vision.


The Pressure to Follow What Is Popular


One of the strongest themes in the episode is how easy it is to get swept up in popular locations and repeating trends. Brenda talks about seeing the same places fill social feeds in waves, from Colorado to Caddo Lake to the Wasatch Range, and feeling both part of that cycle and tired of it. The point is not that iconic locations are bad. The point is that photographers can start chasing what is popular so aggressively that they lose touch with what actually excites them.


That pressure becomes even stronger when photography is tied to income. A photographer who wants to sell prints or fill workshops may feel pushed toward recognizable scenes, broad vistas, and images that immediately signal a destination. Michael speaks directly to that problem, noting the challenge of showing both the place and the soul of the place. A workshop needs images that communicate the larger experience, but a photographer also wants to create something more personal and less expected.


There Is Nothing Wrong With Photographing the Icons


One of the best parts of the discussion is that it avoids fake purity. Brenda is clear that there is nothing wrong with photographing iconic locations. Tunnel View in Yosemite is still powerful. Oxbow Bend is still beautiful. Famous places become famous for a reason.


The issue is not whether photographers should make those pictures. The issue is whether they stop there.


Brenda encourages photographers to get the obvious shot if they need to, but then keep going. Stay longer. Look around. Search for a different story inside the same place. That shift matters because it turns a standard location into a personal challenge. It asks the photographer not just to record a view, but to discover something within it that feels genuinely their own.


That is a much healthier way to think about iconic landscape photography. The goal is not to reject it. The goal is to move beyond the default version of it.


Social Media Can Distort What Matters


The conversation also takes a hard look at the role of social media in shaping taste. Brenda describes how easy it is to feel small in a huge visual world, especially when photographers are constantly exposed to dramatic scenes, perfect conditions, and highly polished work from all over the planet. Michael and Jeffrey clearly relate to that pressure.


Rather than offering a cliché answer about ignoring social media entirely, the discussion acknowledges how deeply these platforms shape perception. They influence what photographers think they should shoot, how they think success should look, and what kinds of images feel worthy of sharing.


That creates a dangerous loop. A photographer sees what is performing well, starts chasing it, and slowly moves away from the work that feels most meaningful. Brenda pushes back on that by arguing that photographers need to believe in their own craft and trust that the right audience will eventually respond to work that comes from a genuine place.


That is not a quick fix. But it is a much more durable approach than constantly trying to outpace the latest trend.


Small Scenes, Grand Landscapes, and Personal Truth


Another valuable point in the episode is that authenticity should not be confused with one specific kind of picture. Right now, many photographers talk about intimate landscapes and small scenes as if they are automatically more thoughtful or more artistic than grand views. Michael and Jeffrey both push back on that idea.


Small scenes may be where one photographer feels most alive. Grand landscapes may be where another photographer feels that same connection. Waterfalls, wildlife, intimate abstracts, quiet forest details, and broad scenic overlooks all have value. What matters is whether the work is coming from real curiosity and real connection instead of imitation.


A trend is still a trend even if it is dressed up as something more refined. Photographers do not become more authentic just because they move from iconic vistas to small scenes. They become more authentic when they stop photographing according to what they think they are supposed to like.


Building a Photography Business Without Losing Yourself


The episode also gets practical about business. Brenda openly talks about the challenge of making a living through photography without turning the entire creative process into a product strategy. That may be the hardest balance of all.


Some images may be better for selling prints. Some photographs may be better for attracting workshop clients. Some pictures may resonate more strongly with the buying public because they reflect places people remember or dream about visiting. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that.


But Brenda makes an important point: if photographers stop making the work that matters to them, burnout is almost inevitable. Michael echoes that idea directly near the end of the conversation. If the work becomes only about sales, algorithms, and marketable images, the passion will eventually disappear.


That is why the balance matters so much. A photographer can make practical work and personal work. A photographer can build a business and still protect space for self-expression. The problem comes when one completely consumes the other.


Why This Episode Matters


Episode 28 stands out because it treats this subject with honesty instead of easy answers. There is no simple formula for staying authentic while also trying to grow an audience, build a business, or get noticed in a crowded photography world. But the discussion points toward a more sustainable approach.


Photograph the icons if they move you. Explore lesser-known places if they energize you. Make the broader views that help tell the story of a location. Make the smaller, quieter images that feel personal. Learn the business side. Pay attention to what sells. But do not let those outside pressures completely redefine what your photography is for.


Popularity can come and go. Trends can flip quickly. But a photographer who stays connected to what genuinely matters to them has a much better chance of building work that lasts.


If you have ever felt torn between making images that perform well and making images that feel true, this episode is worth your time. It is one of the clearest conversations yet on authenticity, artistic voice, and the challenge of building a meaningful life in nature photography.



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Michael Rung

Michael is a nature and landscape photographer based in Texas, with a deep appreciation for quiet forests and the unique character of trees. His photography often explores the subtle beauty in overlooked scenes, capturing atmosphere and emotion through careful composition and light. Michael brings thoughtful insight, honest reflections, and a grounded perspective to every episode of Shutter Nonsense.




Jeffrey Tadlock

Jeffrey is a landscape photographer from Ohio who finds inspiration in waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and the ever-changing light of the natural world. He enjoys sharing stories from the field and helping others improve their skills through practical, experience-based tips. With a passion for teaching and a love of the outdoors, Jeffrey brings clarity and encouragement to fellow photographers at all levels.


 
 
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