Burning out this year was honestly one of the best things that happened to me as a photographer and videographer—because it forced me to see what I’d been chasing. For a long time I was stuck in the “more” mindset (the ego’s favourite mantra), pushing hard to grow YouTube fast, taking on the influencer game, brand deals, and the constant pressure to keep posting. In May, on a trip to Japan, I burned out properly. I took a month off social media, posting, and even communicating much with people—not because of anyone else, but because I hit a real existential wall. Japan was the mirror. The first time, it felt like pure inspiration—community, creators, events, that sparkle in my eye. The second time, I felt the emptiness: the influencer side didn’t align with me ethically or morally, friendships felt transactional, and the whole pursuit started to feel like a game I didn’t even want to win. On the flight back to the UK I knew I needed stakes in the ground and a rebuild. So I detoured. I’m less interested in telling you to buy gear you don’t need, and more interested in helping you build a real, sustainable business with your camera. Brand deals are a small minority and they can disappear overnight. What lasts is becoming a creative problem solver—getting clear, building self-belief, and having a system that turns you from “just a creative” into a business.