Between Reflections #2: Creating Something for Myself
The Small Things Behind Everything I Create
In the world where everyone creating a content, it feels like everything we create is tied to an audience. Whether it’s chasing likes, retweets, or comments, the pressure to perform on social media can be overwhelming. The pursuit of engagement often overshadows the simple joy of creating.
But have you ever taken a moment to think about yourself? What do you truly enjoy? What do you actually want to create? Pause for a second and ask yourself—what brings you happiness in creating?
Over the past year, I’ve been actively creating content, but always, I create for myself first. Many of the content I create isn’t popular or something the majority of the audience wants.
But that doesn’t affect or stop me from continuing to create content that I truly enjoy. By doing this, not only keeps me motivated but also makes the process itself rewarding—regardless of the outcome.
This is one of my newest series inspired by my favorite activity: Darkroom printing. And of course, one of the least-viewed videos, but it's the one I enjoy making the most.
Curiosity as an entry point
Every time I create photography content, whether it's a YouTube video or an article, it always starts with one thing: curiosity. My approach is simple—I love learning new things, and I love sharing what I learn. By staying true to this mindset, I can keep creating and sharing without being overly concerned about engagement metrics.
A great example of this is my YouTube series, Japanese Photobook Impression. It all started with my admiration for Japanese photographers who self-publish high-quality photobooks. My curiosity led me to explore their work and understand their creative process. From there, I wanted to introduce these books to a wider audience, believing they could inspire others just as they inspired me.
At the core of everything I do is a simple principle: me first, then others. As long as I stay curious and have the desire to share my journey, I know I’ll keep going—regardless of how many views or likes I get.
Create and improve along the way
One more thing I’ve learned is not to be afraid of making “bad” content—whether it’s a weak concept, poor cinematography, or rough editing. If you’ve followed my YouTube journey, you know I started with a terrible mic and messy edits. Over time, I improved, but I never let imperfections stop me from creating.
I used to believe I needed fancy tools before I could start making content. That mindset held me back for almost all of 2023. But in the past five months, with just my iPhone, I’ve created 13 YouTube videos, written dozens of articles in English and Japanese, and planned even more.
Just start. Keep creating, keep learning, and improvement will naturally follow.
Thank you for reading! Let’s connect through some of my social media such as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
I’ll see you again next time!
Cheers,