--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I knew how to take a good photograph…" description: "\"If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time.\" — Robert Doisneau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg" --- # If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every… ![“If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time.” quote by Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg) > “If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time.” [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skillful photography requires practice; without it, opportunities are missed. **In simple terms:** Good photos need practice. Key Takeaway Practice photography regularly. Themes photography skill practice Mood inspired reflective Type educational motivational When to use this quote - Street photography - portrait sessions - travel - daily shooting Key Concepts Visual arts learning discipline Questions to Reflect On - What practice routine could improve your shots? - How does repetition shape artistic vision? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever else a photograph may be about, it is always about time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/whatever-else-a-photograph-may-be-about-it-is-always-about-time/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [The good photograph is not the object, the consequences of the photograph are the objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/the-good-photograph-is-not-the-object-the-consequences-of-the/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [I'm quite taken aback when I get something that appears to be technically a good photograph, because it's not necessarily my intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rauschenberg/i-m-quite-taken-aback-when-i-get-something-that-appears-to-be/) [Robert Rauschenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rauschenberg/) > [I have been a photographer all my life…and have made photographs of many things and for many reasons. But one thing that becomes more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-gibson/i-have-been-a-photographer-all-my-life-and-have-made-photographs-of/) [Ralph Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-gibson/) > [In the blur of the photograph, time leaves its gleaming, snail-like track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wright-morris/in-the-blur-of-the-photograph-time-leaves-its-gleaming-snail-like/) [Wright Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wright-morris/) > [A good photograph will prove to the viewer how little our eyes permit us to see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-levinstein/a-good-photograph-will-prove-to-the-viewer-how-little-our-eyes-permit/) Leon Levinstein > [A good photograph is like a good hound dog, dumb, but eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-atget/a-good-photograph-is-like-a-good-hound-dog-dumb-but-eloquent/) Eugene Atget > [No one can really explain in a rational way what makes a good photograph or a bad photograph... This is why the art world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wojnarowicz/no-one-can-really-explain-in-a-rational-way-what-makes-a-good/) [David Wojnarowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wojnarowicz/) > [If what I see in my mind excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/if-what-i-see-in-my-mind-excites-me-there-is-a-good-chance-it-will/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Any good photograph is a successful synthesis of technique and art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-feininger/any-good-photograph-is-a-successful-synthesis-of-technique-and-art/) [Andreas Feininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-feininger/) > [The model is just one element of the photograph. There's also the location, the light - all that junk. It helps if the girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-kern/the-model-is-just-one-element-of-the-photograph-there-s-also-the/) [Richard Kern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-kern/) > [Photography, when used as a representational art, is not a mere copy of nature. This is proved by the rarity of the 'good' photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laszlo-moholy-nagy/photography-when-used-as-a-representational-art-is-not-a-mere-copy-of/) [Laszlo Moholy-Nagy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laszlo-moholy-nagy/) > [“What do we feel when we look at a good photograph? We just want to be there, right at the exact moment that photo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/what-do-we-feel-when-we-look-at-a-good-photograph-we-just-want-to-be/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [A good photograph will prove to the viewer how little our eyes permit us to see. Most people, really, don’t see-see only what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-levinstein/a-good-photograph-will-prove-to-the-viewer-how-little-our-eyes-permit-2/) Leon Levinstein > [I probably get a deeper satisfaction of having taken a very good photograph than of having written something very good, a very good story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/i-probably-get-a-deeper-satisfaction-of-having-taken-a-very-good/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) ## More by Robert Doisneau > [You know, they always say that the photographer is a hunter of images. That is a flattering image, the idea of a hunter, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/you-know-they-always-say-that-the-photographer-is-a-hunter-of-images/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [Some days the mere fact of seeing feels like perfect happiness... You feel so rich you long to share your jubilation with others. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/some-days-the-mere-fact-of-seeing-feels-like-perfect-happiness-you/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there-even if you put them end to end, they still only add up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/a-hundredth-of-a-second-here-a-hundredth-of-a-second-there-even-if/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [A photographer who made a picture from a splendid moment, an accidental pose of someone or a beautiful scenery, is the finder of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/a-photographer-who-made-a-picture-from-a-splendid-moment-an/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [You've got to struggle against the pollution of intelligence in order to become an animal with very sharp instincts - a sort of intuitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/you-ve-got-to-struggle-against-the-pollution-of-intelligence-in-order/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [Chance is the one thing you can't buy. You have to pay for it and you have to pay for it with your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/chance-is-the-one-thing-you-can-t-buy-you-have-to-pay-for-it-and-you/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [The photographer must be absorbent, like a blotter, allow himself to be permeated by the poetic moment...His technique should be like an animal function...he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/the-photographer-must-be-absorbent-like-a-blotter-allow-himself-to-be/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [I'm not a collector at heart. I'm never tormented by the longing to possess things. I'm quite happy with my pictures. I've been cohabiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/i-m-not-a-collector-at-heart-i-m-never-tormented-by-the-longing-to/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [To freeze time, to hold on to youth, this business makes no sense. It's always time that wins in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/to-freeze-time-to-hold-on-to-youth-this-business-makes-no-sense-it-s/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [To suggest is to create; to describe is to destroy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/to-suggest-is-to-create-to-describe-is-to-destroy/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [If you take photos, don't speak, don't write, don't analyze yourself, and don't answer any questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/if-you-take-photos-don-t-speak-don-t-write-don-t-analyze-yourself-and/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [Life is short. Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/life-is-short-forgive-quickly-kiss-slowly/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [A memory from my youth comes back to me. You go into the woods on a bike, with a girl. There is the smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/a-memory-from-my-youth-comes-back-to-me-you-go-into-the-woods-on-a/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [Nowadays people's visual imagination is so much more sophisticated, so much more developed, particularly in young people, that now you can make an image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/nowadays-people-s-visual-imagination-is-so-much-more-sophisticated-so/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) > [I hate collectors, the ones who take something just for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/i-hate-collectors-the-ones-who-take-something-just-for-themselves/) [Robert Doisneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) [Explore all 29 Robert Doisneau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. 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I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) Browse all 40,882 Good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Doisneau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph-i-d-do-it-every-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph-i-d-do-it-every-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/937/robert-doisneau-20768_photograph_if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph_2236520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I knew how to take a good photograph, I'd do it every time.” — Robert Doisneau", "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": "Robert Doisneau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-doisneau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I knew how to take...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph-i-d-do-it-every-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-doisneau/if-i-knew-how-to-take-a-good-photograph-i-d-do-it-every-time/#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 } } ] } ```