Welcome to This Week’s Edition of The Carty Method Magazine!
This week, we challenged photographers to Break Barriers within their niche, mindset, and creative limitations.
Why is this matters?
Breaking barriers is essential for creative and professional growth.
Staying in your comfort zone limits your potential client base and keeps your portfolio predictable.
This assignment forces you to expand your skill set, discover new creative directions, and build confidence in tackling challenging projects.
The barriers you break this week become the competitive advantages that set you apart in the marketplace.
Ready to be inspired by this weeks photographers and their photographs that break barriers.
Let’s dive in!
Assignment Brief
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: Breaking Barriers”.
Push your boundaries and photograph something outside your comfort zone.
Break through your mental blocks, technical limitations, or stylistic boundaries to unlock a new technique, skill, or creative approach.
Denise Tuggle
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
The outer barrier I wanted to break in this assignment was lighting.
I’ve always had a basic understanding of it, but I hesitated to try new or complex setups.
This time, I pushed past that hesitation—and discovered I’m more than capable of experimenting with different lighting techniques to make my work even better than I imagined.
This matters because I had been stuck in my head, believing my lack of knowledge was holding me back.
I’ve since learned that if I keep going, keep learning, and keep experimenting, I can grow into the photographer I know I’m meant to be.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
The risk I took was photographing a shiny, reflective object—a wine bottle.
I’ve tried it many times for personal projects and never succeeded until now.
The difference this time was my mindset.
I studied the techniques of other photographers, gathered the necessary information, and executed a clear plan with confidence.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
This shift has boosted my confidence in a big way.
I’m now building my work in mini-series, applying what I learned from the last project to the next.
I’ve found that the more I challenge myself, the more my skills grow.
My self-confidence is increasing, and I’m stepping out of my comfort zone to try new things without hesitation.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
The lighting on the bottle and background is where my breakthrough shines through.
I used soft edge lighting around the bottle, a stronger, direct light for the background to make the bottle stand out, and front lighting to emphasize the label.
I want the viewer to notice the careful attention to lighting balance and the smooth, consistent look across the entire image.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
The best advice I’ve ever received from a mentor is to believe in yourself and push your limits—even when you’re afraid it won’t work.
Do it anyway.
You might just surprise yourself and create something beautiful.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: denisetphotography
Jessica Mendez
Necumba Booker Jr.
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
This was my first time ever shooting in a studio—before this, all of my work had been on location.
I intentionally stepped out of my comfort zone to push myself in a completely new environment.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
The biggest shift was the spacing I felt like a had less space to work focus on controlling the lighting entirely on my own.
On location, I work with what’s naturally available.
In the studio, every highlight and shadow was in my hands, which forced me to think more deliberately and technically about how I wanted the image to look.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
It gave me real confidence to work in a studio again and to trust my lighting skills.
I left knowing I could translate my vision without relying on natural conditions, which opens up a lot more creative possibilities.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
The lighting, without a doubt.
It’s what I set out to master for this shoot, and I think the final image reflects the intention, control, and mood I wanted to create.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
Nobody cares at least, not in the way you might think.
As harsh as that sounds, it’s freeing.
Most people aren’t sitting around judging you, so you might as well do what you want to do (within reason).
Embarrassment is a choice don’t choose it.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: Bynecumba
Website: Bynecumba.com
Malik Brand
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
The barrier I was trying to break was backlighting and also using a strip box as my key light.
I think its important to try new setups because sometimes you might be thrown into a situation and you need to be able to create the look you want no matter what tools you have.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
I usually use a Large softbox as my key light and just blast the background with light.
But I never used a strip box for my key light before and I had to be more accurate with the light placement and it also allowed me to use the hair light to add some depth in the background.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
I think its a lighting setup I'm going to use in a lot of my client shoots.
Its clean simple but effective.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
I would look at the light on her face it creates that Rembrandt light but still has enough shadow to add some drama.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
The only way you can grow is by trying new things and taking risk.
Your comfort zone is where you dreams die.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: MalikBrandPhoto
Website: MalikbrandPhotography.com
Israel Cardona III
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
I try to get out of my comfort zone by taking photos at night and using prime lenses, to try to move my creativity.
Because I was stock shooting with zoom lenses.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
I stepped out of my comfort zone by shooting in a challenging low-light environment, relying solely on the jewelry store’s display lighting.
This forced me to adapt my camera settings and positioning to capture both the subject’s expression and the reflection without losing detail.
The experience taught me to embrace ambient light creatively and trust the mood it can convey.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
This experience boosted my confidence by showing me that I can create strong, impactful images even in challenging lighting conditions.
It encouraged me to experiment more with ambient light and reflections, expanding my creative approach and pushing me to explore new visual narratives.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
The way the subject is illuminated by the warm glow of the shop window at night best captures that breakthrough.
It allowed me to play with shadows, reflections, and depth in a low-light environment, creating an intimate and cinematic feel.
I achieved this even though I missed having the subject look at the camera to capture that expression—thanks to Carty’s review, I’ll now be more mindful of it.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
To Don’t dwell on it; just go ahead and do it.
It’s better to make a mistake and learn from it than to avoid it altogether.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: illuminad.studio
Website: illuminad.studio
Mike Morrison
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
I wanted to push past my tendency to play it safe with familiar still shots and instead experiment with bolder perspectives in motion.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
For this assignment I shot the Nissan Z from a moving vehicle side by side (wife was driving).
With a zoom lens I try to stick to rules of shooting at 35 or 50, but in this case driving right next to this car, had to zoom out to 24mm.
There wasn't another lane to move further away, so this is an area to experiment in and perfect.
I think if this were shot on a back road instead of a high way and I was positioned ahead of the group on the side of the road I could have gotten better perspective on this image as cars passed by.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
The more uncomfortable positions we put ourselves in the more comfortable they become.
I was hesitant about joining up with a group to shoot rollers, where I didn't know anyone, but did it anyway sense this was about breaking barriers.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
Image is clean.
I removed some signage behind the car and their was a Insta360 pole and camera coming off the back windshield I removed.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
Just push through the fear, the more barriers you break, it gets easier.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: morrisonautophotography
Behance: morrisonautophotography
Facebook: morrisonautophotography
Website: morrisonautophotography.com
Samuel Saling
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
It was all about blurred movement during daylight - slow exposure during the day.
I admired pictures that showed motion during the day.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
The biggest risk I took was buying a variable ND filter, I didn't know what the outcome would be as I never tried it and also I didn't know what picture quality to expect at what level of dimming.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
It has added another feature I can incorporate into my portfolio.
I will do more of these in the following weeks.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
The architectural/landscape aspect of the picture is perfectly still, while all other subjects are blurry.
It took most of all patience, I have taken about 150 captions and this one stood out the most.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
Just do it.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: samuel_saling
Website: saling.photo
Mike Graves
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: dinomikeg
Website: mikegraves.ca
Jordan White
What inner or outer barrier were you aiming to break in this assignment—and why does that matter to someone feeling stuck creatively?
Using one light and having minimal reflections on makeup.
Walk us through the risk you took—what changed in your approach, technique, or mindset?
I learned that less can be more.
One light vs multiple.
How did this shift impact your confidence or direction as an artist?
With some planning as well as trial and error one light can produce a clean image.
What part of your final image best captures that breakthrough—and what should we notice when we look at it?
I was happy with the details on the makeup and clean background.
For anyone afraid to push their limits, what’s one piece of advice you'd give based on this experience?
Just swing for the fences.
You don't know what you can do until you do it.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: the_jordanwhite
Website: jordanwhitecreative.com
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Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
The Carty Method Instagram @TheCartyMethod
SUPER mag! So much gold here, thank you!