Introduction

Over the years, we’ll take thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of photos. Most will get lost in the archive, admired briefly, but then forgotten as we move on to the next thing we want to focus on behind the lens.

But a small handful will always rise to the top; your favourites. And it’s worth keeping these close, because they say more about you as a photographer and your journey than any single “perfect” shot ever could.

So, what exactly makes a photo a favourite, and why does it matter? You don’t need to be a professional photographer or have decades of experience; every photographer has favourite images, even if they haven’t realised it yet. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the reasons why specific images might stick with us, using examples from my portfolio, and also tips on how to find your own favourites.

Read on, and I hope this will help you discover and reflect on your most cherished images.
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Reasons that make an image special, or a “favourite”

Here are some of the primary reasons an image can be a favourite. Here you’ll also see some examples of my favourite shots from over the years. One key thing you’ll notice is that many of them aren’t technically perfect:

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1 You pushed yourself to try a new photography technique or genre and loved the result

There are times when you may have pushed yourself to try something new with your photography, like a new technique that you haven’t tried before, but wanted to give it a go, or something new, and came back with something you loved - you may find that these become firm favourites in your portfolio.

Some of my favourite images are below, from when I first started experimenting with dusky, long-exposure landscape photography during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are by no means perfect technically, and some compositional and balance issues remain. However, I love these images because they remind me of how great I felt when I first tried long exposure photography in my photography career. Additionally, they also reminded me of how much it meant to me, during that tumultuous time, to have my own space outside, by the coast, breathing in the sea air, an escape.
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2 You snapped a once-in-a-lifetime photo

A big one for many photographers, getting that photo that’s once in a lifetime, whether that's from a concert of an artist you wanted to see your entire life, that dream destination, or a chance encounter you’ll never have again. These types of images are solid candidates for being some of your favourite photos you’ll ever take.

I took the two images below in 2008 during an extraordinary excursion to the Chernobyl zone in Ukraine. I know it’s likely I’ll never be able to visit this place ever again, and also in this state (this was before Chernobyl became more available to visit, too). So for me, these are once-in-a-lifetime shots and favourites.
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3 The photo reminds you of a special moment

Sometimes photographs will have powerful positive connotations with a moment in your life.

That could be anything: a particularly exhilarating moment from a backpacking expedition, a road trip with friends, or even just one of those perfect Saturdays you’d almost forgotten about.  Memory wrapped inside the frame becomes just as important as the image itself.

Both of these images below represent special moments on separate occasions, the first was getting up jet-lagged super early on a business trip to New York City and seeing the pastel hues over the city at dawn from the apartment building. The second was getting a "hero shot" of the iconic Solna Centrum station on the Stockholm Metro. It was somewhere I’d been wanting to go for years, and managed to get there when it was empty.
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4 The photo reminds you of a whole period of your life

Sometimes it’s not just about a specific moment when you took a photo, but the entire period it belongs to. I have images from my time studying photography at art college, and before that (below), that bring back everything: being young and the energy it brings with learning, the creative buzz, the challenges and mistakes, and having your peers around you encouraging you along the way.

For me, some of these photos have become firm favourites as they bring me back to a time I truly loved being with my camera and learning all about photography.
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5 The photo that just “works” for you

Some of your favourite images might not tick any of the usual boxes, for example, they could be a bit blurry, have a subject off-centre, or be otherwise technically flawed in one way or another. But sometimes, all that doesn’t matter as there may be something about an image that just works, even if just for you.

These images are also a fantastic reminder that sometimes the emotional impact behind an image can hugely outweigh any technical precision when it comes to crafting an image.

This image below was taken during my very first trip out before dawn to capture a seascape. While it’s blurry, grainy, and the subject alignment could be better, it holds a special place in my heart. For me, it conveys a dark, moody atmosphere that transports me back to that moment when I was breathing in the sea air with nobody else around.
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6 The image represents a turning point in your photography

A favourite photo might be one where things suddenly made sense to you as a photographer. For example, when you feel you have finally nailed a new editing style, or found an aesthetic for your images that really works for you. Or when you’ve finally understood composition (we all have that moment as photographers), or realised what kind of photography you genuinely love. These images stick with you because they helped develop your creative direction, and sometimes that can be in the long run, too. For me, that meant discovering that I love working predominantly in travel, landscape and coastal photography.

Here are some examples:
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7 The picture always gathers compliments

Sometimes, your favourite images aren’t the ones you notice first — they’re the ones other people can’t stop talking about. Seeing others enjoying your photography can be a hugely gratifying experience. And you can find those images that always gather compliments or glowing feedback from others, whether that's friends, family, or even photo buyers, can become your favourites.

I took the photo below during an extended backpacking trip in the summer of 2008. The image was captured at Balaklava Bay in Crimea. At the time, I didn’t think it was particularly special for my portfolio, but my course tutors for my BA in Photography loved it. In fact, it ended up being used to promote the course across the university.
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How to find your favourite images

Sometimes it’s very easy to know what your favourite photos are, as you’ll know them in your mind immediately. Sometimes it may take a little digging.

Start by revisiting your archive, which may be an old hard drive, cloud folder, or camera roll, and scrolling through your collection. A big tip, too, is don’t rush it. Go through all of your images and take not of those that make you pause.

You’ll find that those images might not be your most polished shots, technically speaking, I mean. But they’ll likely be those that spark a memory, a mood, or a sense of pride. It’s best to trust your instincts. If a photo stands out to you, even if it’s been years since you took that image, that’s a perfect indicator it could be one of your favourites.

Why is having favourite photos so important?

Ultimately, I believe that your favourite images are what will drive you as a photographer. They'll remind you why you love photography, and, above all, make you feel great about doing photography, for years to come.

Your favourite images will always be something to look back on when you’re feeling stuck, or when you’re feeling down about your photography. They’ll pick you up and remind you why you started or loved photography in the first place, even if your journey has been chaotic and messy at times.

And it’s not just about photography, either. If some of your favourite images have a strong connection to a memory or a time in your life. Simply looking at them can make you feel grateful to have taken them in the first place.

Your favourite photos can also shape where you go next, and can give you clues about what kind of images you most love to create (which, as discussed in this article was certainly the case with me).

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What to do with your favourite photos?

Your favourite photos should be admired and should also serve as a continued source of inspiration.

Here are just a few examples of what you can do with your favourite images (along with guides on Focus that can help).

- Get them framed and put them around your house

- Create an album, whether that’s a physical album or in your Picfair Store, or anywhere else online. Actually, do both print and online

- Create a photo book or a zine featuring your favourite shots

- Upload them to your Picfair store and/or your social media profiles and write the story behind each one

- So you never lose them, make a backup and keep them in a safe place, both physically and electronically‍

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Final thoughts

It’s easy to get caught up in chasing perfect photos or constantly comparing your work to others. But your favourite images - those that mean something to you - are going to always be at the heart of your photography.

Take the time to review your archive and dig out the shots that still make you smile, pause, or evoke a feeling. Don’t worry if they’re not your “best” in a technical sense, if they matter to you, that’s the only thing that counts. Trust me.

Always revisit your favourite photos, re-edit them, print them, or share them, even if just for yourself. They’ll remind you where you’ve been, why you got into photography in the first place, and where you might want to go next.

And lastly, if reading this article has helped you find some favourite photos in your collection, add them to your Picfair Store, give them a little write-up, and let others see their stories.

Your most meaningful image could mean something to someone else, too.