--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not be afraid of mistakes. They will…" description: "\"Do not be afraid of mistakes. They will be with you always,every time you put a camera to your eye. [If you] shoot safe, and don't at least occasionall..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/joe-mcnally-20875_afraid_do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-they-will-b_2107214.png" --- # Do not be afraid of mistakes. They will be with you… ![“Do not be afraid of mistakes. They will be with you always,every time you put a camera to your eye. [If you] shoot safe, and don't at least occasionally court disaster, you are not trying. Time to hang up the camera.” quote by Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/joe-mcnally-20875_afraid_do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-they-will-b_2107214.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/joe-mcnally-20875_afraid_do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-they-will-b_2107214.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/joe-mcnally-20875_afraid_do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-they-will-b_2107214.png) > “Do not be afraid of mistakes. They will be with you always,every time you put a camera to your eye. \[If you\] shoot safe, and don't at least occasionally court disaster, you are not trying. Time to hang up the camera.” [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mistakes are inevitable in photography; avoiding risk leads to stagnation, so embrace error as part of learning. **In simple terms:** Mistakes happen; take risks to grow. Key Takeaway Accept errors, keep shooting boldly. Themes creativity risk learning Mood reflective inspired Type advice motivational When to use this quote - portrait sessions - street shooting - experimental projects - self‑portrait work Key Concepts photography growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - Do you let fear limit your shots? - How can a mistake become a learning moment? A Different Perspective Risk avoidance can produce safe but uninspired images. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-mistakes-1044171/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Hang Camera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang-camera-4237300/) [Hang ups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hang-ups/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Shoot Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoot-safe-4237299/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-times/) ## Related quotes > [Mistakes are painful but years later a collection of mistakes called Experience Leads us to Success So dont be Afraid of Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/mistakes-are-painful-but-years-later-a-collection-of-mistakes-called-2/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [Don't be afraid to do mistakes .. the lesson you can learn from it will be needed for your tomorrow's adventure ..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaypee/don-t-be-afraid-to-do-mistakes-the-lesson-you-can-learn-from-it-will/) [Jaypee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaypee/) > [Don't be afraid of mistakes - There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/don-t-be-afraid-of-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not be afraid of mistakes, provided you do not make the same one twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/do-not-be-afraid-of-mistakes-provided-you-do-not-make-the-same-one/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [I am more afraid of our own mistakes than of our enemies' designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pericles/i-am-more-afraid-of-our-own-mistakes-than-of-our-enemies-designs/) [Pericles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pericles/) > [Mistakes are painful, but years later a collection of mistakes, called experience leads us to success. So don't be afraid of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mistakes-are-painful-but-years-later-a-collection-of-mistakes-called/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don't be afraid of it if have some mistakes. Mistakes are natural because you are just a man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-teris-bit-ns/don-t-be-afraid-of-it-if-have-some-mistakes-mistakes-are-natural/) [Pēteris Bitāns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-teris-bit-ns/) > [I always had the impression England never came to competitions with freedom of mind. They are so afraid of mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/i-always-had-the-impression-england-never-came-to-competitions-with/) [Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/) > [History shows us that God never forsakes us completely. He always makes a way through even the most trying times and preserves His people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-shows-us-that-god-never-forsakes-us-completely-he-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know how valuable relaxation is for us all, especially in trying times, so I couldn't be more glad to lend my voice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rege-jean-page/i-know-how-valuable-relaxation-is-for-us-all-especially-in-trying/) [Rege-Jean Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rege-jean-page/) > [Sometimes, God let us go through some situations in life not because he wants to punish us, but to show us that we're wasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/sometimes-god-let-us-go-through-some-situations-in-life-not-because/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [In trying times, Coloradans do what we always have done: pull together and get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/in-trying-times-coloradans-do-what-we-always-have-done-pull-together/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [My approach to trying times is full steam ahead full of emotion & mind overloaded. Then as the dust settles I see clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-approach-to-trying-times-is-full-steam-ahead-full-of-emotion-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We learned to build our emotional muscles, helping us make it through major market falls and grind through the trying times without losing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chandler/we-learned-to-build-our-emotional-muscles-helping-us-make-it-through/) [Richard Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chandler/) > [“To love was a privilege not afforded to those of us born in these trying times when survival was never guaranteed. We were products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-x-chang/to-love-was-a-privilege-not-afforded-to-those-of-us-born-in-these/) [Molly X. Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-x-chang/) ## More by Joe McNally > [We make pictures. At the end of the day, we create something potentially significant that did not exist at the beginning of the day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/we-make-pictures-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-create-something/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [Seán Manchester is, unsurprisingly, very well read in both classical and more recent sources on vampires and vampirism, and cites them with great authority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/se-n-manchester-is-unsurprisingly-very-well-read-in-both-classical/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [To me, pictures are about memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/to-me-pictures-are-about-memory/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [“I slid down in the seat and began to weep. 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It's the only way to keep your heart beating as a photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/always-remember-to-make-room-to-shoot-what-you-love-it-s-the-only-way/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [“When I was in school, I wanted to be W. Eugene Smith. He was a legendary staffer at Life, a consummate photojournalist, and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/when-i-was-in-school-i-wanted-to-be-w-eugene-smith-he-was-a-legendary/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [If you view your life as a piece of fabric or a tapestry, the photography is the stitching. It keeps everything together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/if-you-view-your-life-as-a-piece-of-fabric-or-a-tapestry-the/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [No matter how much crap you gotta plow through to stay alive as a photographer, no matter how many bad assignments, bad days, bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/no-matter-how-much-crap-you-gotta-plow-through-to-stay-alive-as-a/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [Ansel Adams rattled around the Southwest with his battered truck and his view camera, which looked like a giant accordion with a lens attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/ansel-adams-rattled-around-the-southwest-with-his-battered-truck-and/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [“Jay Maisel always says to bring your camera, ‘cause it’s tough to take a picture without it. Pursuant to the above aforementioned piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/jay-maisel-always-says-to-bring-your-camera-cause-it-s-tough-to-take/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [A professor I had in college used to tell me that if someone won’t listen to what you have to say because you’re not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/a-professor-i-had-in-college-used-to-tell-me-that-if-someone-won-t/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) > [I've been a big fan always of getting my camera in different places and trying to seek the unusual vantage point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mcnally/i-ve-been-a-big-fan-always-of-getting-my-camera-in-different-places/) [Joe McNally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) [Explore all 30 Joe McNally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mcnally/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not be afraid of mistakes. 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