It's safe to say I'm obsessed with photography.

When I see others taking more and more photos with their phone cameras, I get so excited seeing them discover their new photography skills.

But why does photography matter?

Photography is one of the most powerful and effective forms of communication. It's our ticket to connecting with people on a deeper level and getting in touch with our creativity. It's what I love the most about it.

Here's the backstory on how my obsession with photography started.

When I was a kid, I did a lot of drawing.

I won contests, met politicians, and earned a bit of money in the process.

When I was a teen, I did a lot of documentary filmmaking.

I won a prize every year I submitted a film at our provincial high-school film festival.

Bolstered by these winnings, and knowing that I wanted to dedicate my life to deepening my creativity, I considered pursuing a career in the arts or in the film industry.

But by the time I graduated high school, those ambitions started fading and the careers felt unattainable.

For 7 years, I avoided going to university or college because I was afraid of paying for an expensive arts or film program that would never convert into an actual paying job.

Instead, I worked entry-level jobs in the design and film industries while I tried to figure out what to do next.

Quietly, my love and passion for photography grew.

It had been been a side hobby since I was 13, a form of self-expression, of creative discovery. A way to connect to the world around me and to share my interpretation of what I saw.

But never once did I consider pursuing it as a career. (Note: this was when digital photography did not exist and professional photographers weren't commonly seen/hired. Not like it is today!)

But in 2005 I switched from film to digital photography and suddenly a whole new world opened up for me.

Digital photography made two huge changes for me:

1) no more having to buy expensive film to take photos

and

2) the ability to instantly see my photo after taking it.

This meant:

• it became a cheaper hobby
• it became faster and easier to improve my photos

I loved loved loved the quick and easy convenience of this art form.

I 10Xed the amount of photos I was taking. It didn't cost me more and I was quickly improving my photos due to this.

My learning grew, my trial and error turn around time was instant, and before I knew it, people were starting to hire me to take more and more photos.

That's when it clicked in my brain.

What I had been searching for all along was a creative practice that could be done solo, quickly, easily and one that could earn me a living.

When digital photography arrived, that's when I realized this could become a real career.

I was so excited about the idea of doing something that creative, that fulfilling for the rest of my life.

My path then led me to obtaining a diploma in professional photography and starting my business.

But what I've discovered over the last 15 years of running a professional photography business is that the quick, easy and accessible nature of photography is what still delights me the most about this creative practice.

Every time I choose to use my iPhone camera over my big, expensive Nikon camera with my $10,000 worth of lenses, it's a reminder that photography, first and foremost, is a creative act.

Sometimes photography is the building of a perfectly crafted work of art that requires years of education, deep technical knowledge and expensive equipment.

But often, good photography isn't all of that.

Photography, at its core, is just a creative act using any camera available.

It's about responding to a feeling, an idea, a creative instinct, and simply taking a photo.

No matter if you have years of technical expertise or not.

No matter if you have a fancy camera or not.

It's about creating a photo exactly when inspiration strikes and connecting with others on a deeper level.

And this is why photography can be done by anyone.

Although big projects like weddings, professional portraits and commercial shoots need professional equipment and years of expertise -- everyday photos don't need it.

If you have a camera on you, and inspiration strikes, take the photo.

Keep in mind: iPhone cameras aren't perfect and can't take photos like my Nikon can.

>>> But their limitations are a good thing.

The limitations of my iPhone camera pushes me to work past the frustrations of its constraints and to find solutions for taking better photos.

And this produces growth.

Your creativity deepens and develops the more you push past barriers, limitations and frustrations.

My iPhone camera strips away my ability to take a perfectly polished, professional photo. But it allows me to make a photo in its purest form by relying on:

☀️ capturing good light

🖼️ using compositional rules

📖 storytelling skills

❤️ connecting to the emotion.

And that's all you need to create a good photo.

When you learn how to take good photos despite the limitations of a camera, you become a true photographer.

This is proof that good photography really is about the head, the heart and the eye (and not the gear).

What a beautiful creative practice photography is. Our phone camera is a gateway to developing our creativity and connecting on a deeper level.

It's not that hard. It's a matter of wanting it and trying it.

Photography started in the 1820s, but it has grown exponentially in the 2000s. More than ever, it's becoming a huge part of our lives. We get to be a part of this wave, thanks to our phone cameras.

How lucky are we!

-Gabrielle

PS: If you're ready to learn how to take better photos with your phone, join my online photography course. Learn how to use the camera you have to create stronger photos that connect on a deeper level. -->Get access to the course here.​

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