Photographers often hear that they should “shoot with intention.” I agree with this for the most part, but thought it might be a great topic for today’s episode of the Perceptive Photographer (episode #586). Like I said, I do agree that there is some intention always at play, but I don’ think we always know that intention before we pickup the camera. Sometimes, we learn about that process when editing, processing or writing about our work and more important than that, intention doesn’t always begin as a fully formed idea.

More often, it starts as curiosity or awareness of something we like to photograph and then moves to intention. You know, you get a feeling, a subject that keeps drawing your attention. You may not know why you’re photographing something but you know that it matters enough to return to it again and again.

We make photographs because something catches our eye, and only later, through editing and reflection, do we discover the themes, questions, and emotions that connect the work. What initially felt random often reveals a deeper intention over time. This is why it’s important to trust the creative process. Not every photograph needs a detailed plan behind it. Sometimes the act of photographing is how we uncover what we’re trying to say.

It is in the work that we sometimes find our intention. As we become more aware of it, we can move more and more towards using it as an active part of our process rather than a passive approach. Intention matters, but it isn’t always a map, and eventually it can move us towards a deeper understanding of our work.