--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Think about the photo you want to make…" description: "\"Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options that present themselves at the location. Be fl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg" --- # Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do… ![“Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options that present themselves at the location. Be flexible, and be patient. Leave ego at home. Get the photo before you yell at the asshole, not after.” quote by Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg) > “Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options that present themselves at the location. Be flexible, and be patient. Leave ego at home. Get the photo before you yell at the asshole, not after.” [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Plan your photo, stay adaptable, avoid ego, and capture the moment before frustration overtakes you. **In simple terms:** Plan, stay flexible, and keep ego aside for better photos. Key Takeaway Prepare, stay open, and act before anger clouds judgment. Themes photography planning flexibility ego patience Mood instructive motivational Type educational practical When to use this quote - travel photography - portrait sessions - event coverage - street photography Key Concepts visual storytelling mindfulness creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance preparation with improvisation? - What techniques keep ego in check while shooting? A Different Perspective Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity; ego may still intrude. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“The intellect is luminous and seeks justice so why does the dark ego prevail over it? Because the ego is at home in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalaluddin-rumi/the-intellect-is-luminous-and-seeks-justice-so-why-does-the-dark-ego/) [Jalaluddin Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalaluddin-rumi/) > [I never think about a photo before I start it. I try to let my mind relax, and then when I get there I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ballen/i-never-think-about-a-photo-before-i-start-it-i-try-to-let-my-mind/) [Roger Ballen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ballen/) > [People think photo shoots are easy but they're actually very, very hard, you're not only holding your body position but you're thinking about not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/people-think-photo-shoots-are-easy-but-they-re-actually-very-very/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [I don't have to think much when I take a photo on my iPhone. I sort of see the iPhone medium as instant gratification,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/i-don-t-have-to-think-much-when-i-take-a-photo-on-my-iphone-i-sort-of/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/think-about-the-photo-before-and-after-never-during-the-secret-is-to/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [If I happily smile and play around and laugh 'ha-ha, hoo-hoo, yay,' laughing like that, I think the photo looks cooler. If I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoyeon-jung/if-i-happily-smile-and-play-around-and-laugh-ha-ha-hoo-hoo-yay/) [HoYeon Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoyeon-jung/) > [A drop of lemon juice spoil gallons of milk, similarly a drop of ego can destroy the beauty of virtues. so leave EGO, love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/a-drop-of-lemon-juice-spoil-gallons-of-milk-similarly-a-drop-of-ego/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [Writing for film is so different; it's such an act of submission, both on a monetary and time level, because you basically kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-pallett/writing-for-film-is-so-different-it-s-such-an-act-of-submission-both/) [Owen Pallett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-pallett/) > [Once you leave your ego behind and let the good light in, you shine good light back. That may be a bit Buddhist but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldie/once-you-leave-your-ego-behind-and-let-the-good-light-in-you-shine/) [Goldie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldie/) > [Leave your ego at the door every morning, and just do some truly great work. Few things will make you feel better than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leave-your-ego-at-the-door-every-morning-and-just-do-some-truly-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [CrossFit is amazing if you can leave your ego at the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-mcnamara/crossfit-is-amazing-if-you-can-leave-your-ego-at-the-door/) [Garrett McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-mcnamara/) > [Leave your ego, play the music, love the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-allison/leave-your-ego-play-the-music-love-the-people/) [Luther Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-allison/) > [Humility is the first rule of martial arts. Either you learn humility quickly, or you leave because your ego can't handle losing repeatedly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/humility-is-the-first-rule-of-martial-arts-either-you-learn-humility/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [“You have no choice. You must leave your ego on the doorstep before you enter love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/you-have-no-choice-you-must-leave-your-ego-on-the-doorstep-before-you/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [MOST TIMES WHEN WE ARE TOO FASTER THAN GOD,WE END UP PAYING OUR TRANSPORT BACK TO WAIT FOR HIM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-iyonawan/most-times-when-we-are-too-faster-than-god-we-end-up-paying-our/) [JEFFERY IYONAWAN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-iyonawan/) ## More by Peter Menzel > [With the Internet, you can get lots of info in advance, but a local person who knows how to work the system is invaluable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/with-the-internet-you-can-get-lots-of-info-in-advance-but-a-local/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [I don't shoot many corporate or commercial jobs, but when you do, you had better have someone helping who has done it before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/i-don-t-shoot-many-corporate-or-commercial-jobs-but-when-you-do-you/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [After I discovered my degree in photojournalism would only get me a job in a camera store, I taught myself lighting. I read tons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/after-i-discovered-my-degree-in-photojournalism-would-only-get-me-a/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [Everyone thinks it would be great to work for National Geographic. So did I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/everyone-thinks-it-would-be-great-to-work-for-national-geographic-so/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [Having a partner who is your wife traveling with you can be great. We each have our roles in the work and then can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/having-a-partner-who-is-your-wife-traveling-with-you-can-be-great-we/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [It's important to get a translator who will ask the questions in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Knowing the ethnicity issues, the tribal issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/it-s-important-to-get-a-translator-who-will-ask-the-questions-in-a/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [I drove a taxi at night during my last year at BU and then for another 18 months after graduating in order to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/i-drove-a-taxi-at-night-during-my-last-year-at-bu-and-then-for/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [It is tough being patient when you are more than a half million dollars in debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/it-is-tough-being-patient-when-you-are-more-than-a-half-million/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [Digital makes it so much easier. No bricks of film, no worrying about airport X-rays, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/digital-makes-it-so-much-easier-no-bricks-of-film-no-worrying-about/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [It is so much better to get the right exposure than to have to mess around later with Photoshop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/it-is-so-much-better-to-get-the-right-exposure-than-to-have-to-mess/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [My modus operandi after working for a decade as a self-funding freelancer, was to spend as little money as possible to get the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/my-modus-operandi-after-working-for-a-decade-as-a-self-funding/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [I sold all my medium format equipment in 2005 after Canon came out with the 12 megapixel EOS 1Ds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/i-sold-all-my-medium-format-equipment-in-2005-after-canon-came-out/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [Everyone should understand that getting good photos is paramount to everything. You have to do what it takes and often comfort and sleep are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/everyone-should-understand-that-getting-good-photos-is-paramount-to/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [Getting up way in advance of dawn is always a good idea. Nearly ninety-nine percent of the time when I have gotten up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/getting-up-way-in-advance-of-dawn-is-always-a-good-idea-nearly-ninety/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) > [I've heard Braggadocio about excess baggage charges, multiple unused hotel rooms, and rental cars held unused for long periods of time, which makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/i-ve-heard-braggadocio-about-excess-baggage-charges-multiple-unused/) [Peter Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) [Explore all 32 Peter Menzel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/) ## More Be patient quotes > [MOST TIMES WHEN WE ARE TOO FASTER THAN GOD,WE END UP PAYING OUR TRANSPORT BACK TO WAIT FOR HIM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-iyonawan/most-times-when-we-are-too-faster-than-god-we-end-up-paying-our/) [JEFFERY IYONAWAN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-iyonawan/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Don't compare your career to anyone else's. It's tough when you're in a business that's competitive. I was having a difficult time with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-brooks/don-t-compare-your-career-to-anyone-else-s-it-s-tough-when-you-re-in/) [Danielle Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-brooks/) > [Let me be patient, let me be kind, make me unselfish, without being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/let-me-be-patient-let-me-be-kind-make-me-unselfish-without-being-blind/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [There is nothing which so certifies the genuineness of a man's faith as his patience and his patient endurance, his keeping on steadily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-which-so-certifies-the-genuineness-of-a-man-s-faith/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word, then I know nothing of Calvary love. For a cup brimful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/if-a-sudden-jar-can-cause-me-to-speak-an-impatient-unloving-word-then/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/those-times-when-you-feel-like-quitting-can-be-times-of-great/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Wait on God and He will work, but don't wait in spiritual sulks because you cannot see an inch in front of you! Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/wait-on-god-and-he-will-work-but-don-t-wait-in-spiritual-sulks/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [However, to be a coach I think you have to have a lot of patience. You have to understand what they have going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-farina/however-to-be-a-coach-i-think-you-have-to-have-a-lot-of-patience-you/) [Robin Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-farina/) > [(Y) (Y) (Y)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shy-boy/y-y-y/) SHY BOY > [Looking deeper into African way of life, it wasn't religious; it was spiritual. When you go into spiritualism, spiritualism will teach you about virtues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/femi-kuti/looking-deeper-into-african-way-of-life-it-wasn-t-religious-it-was/) [Femi Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/femi-kuti/) > [In previous years I was so fired up at times I made little mistakes. So I kept telling myself to be patient, relax, play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/in-previous-years-i-was-so-fired-up-at-times-i-made-little-mistakes/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [Be patient, be diligent. Consistency is the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/be-patient-be-diligent-consistency-is-the-key/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [But you must be patient and careful; nor should you expect to become an accomplished archer without long and severe training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-thompson/but-you-must-be-patient-and-careful-nor-should-you-expect-to-become/) [Maurice Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-thompson/) Browse all 454 Be patient quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options that present themselves at the location. Be flexible, and be patient. Leave ego at home. Get the photo before you yell at the asshole, not after.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Menzel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-beforehand-then-do-it-but-also/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be patient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-beforehand-then-do-it-but-also/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d10/peter-menzel-19533_be-patient_think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-b_1315008.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Think about the photo you want to make beforehand. Then do it, but also don't be blind to better options…” — Peter Menzel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Menzel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-menzel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Think about the photo you want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-beforehand-then-do-it-but-also/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-menzel/think-about-the-photo-you-want-to-make-beforehand-then-do-it-but-also/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```