Get an experts opinion then be prepared to throw it out

Itands good to get another respected photographerands opinion for 2 reasons. 1. They can help you improve by telling you where your images may fall short. 2. They can help you gain confidence because they may see things in certain images that you did not. They may love what you didnandt allow yourself to for whatever reason. It goes back to that whole ?we are our own worst critic? thing. Be prepared for the criticism, and be prepared to process it in a healthy, productive way. Yet, also be prepared to throw it out. I spent a lot of time vying for the approval of certain respected photographer friends, only to find that sometimes their well meaning criticism hindered my ability to identify and define my own style which is still evolving every day. Now, I have aspiring photographers sending me their work all the time asking me for my opinion, and I always tell them the same thing. ?It doesnandt matter what I think.? And ultimately, that is 100,000% true. I will still give photographers my opinion but I always always try to make sure that they understand that ultimately itands their art. Itands their passion. No one else can define it for them.