Photography is Not Reality

Think about some of the common things we've seen in photography that
we never see in reality.

I've never  seen a cotton-candy waterfall or streets with taillights

illuminating every inch of the way. We don't see our portrait subjects frozen
in time where we can peep at every single flaw on their skin.

Why do we soften wrinkles in portraits or eliminate fly away hair? We do we

change the shape of eyes, noses or cheeks? We pump up the volume of
hair and push in waistlines and clothing wrinkles in post processing.

Is any of that reality?

No, but its intentional because the stark nature of a frozen portrait just isn't
how we remember a person we saw face to face. Those imperfections don't
catch our eye when we're interacting with someone, so why would we
include them in the final portrait?

If you accept that photography is not reality, but rather a representation of

who your subject is, then you change the away you approach your
photography. You're in charge.

Once you take charge, you can start to create rather than capture. That's
when you take a big step in your photography.