--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to be a photographer, first…" description: "\"If you want to be a photographer, first leave home\" — Steve McCurry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg" --- # If you want to be a photographer, first leave home ![“If you want to be a photographer, first leave home” quote by Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg) > “If you want to be a photographer, first leave home” [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photography requires stepping out of comfort zones to discover authentic moments. **In simple terms:** Leave home to become a photographer. Key Takeaway Embrace new environments. Themes creativity exploration risk-taking Mood curious inspired Type advice motivational When to use this quote - travel photography - street photography - documentary projects - personal growth Key Concepts Perspective authenticity visual storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What new place could inspire your work? - How does discomfort fuel creativity? A Different Perspective Staying at home limits exposure to diverse subjects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfort zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-zone/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave/) [Leave Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-home/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Leaving home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving-home/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photographer Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer-leave-2723950/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-photographer-2723951/) ## Related quotes > [To become a photographer leave your house first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/to-become-a-photographer-leave-your-house-first/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [If you want to be a photographer, you have to photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-you-have-to-photograph/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [“But when you’re a kid, it isn’t chaos. It’s just a heartbeat. Your house isn’t floating through space, it sits on the ground. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-galloway/but-when-you-re-a-kid-it-isn-t-chaos-it-s-just-a-heartbeat-your-house/) [Ryan Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-galloway/) > [You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-can-never-go-home-again-but-the-truth-is-you-can-never-leave-home/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be a photographer, I think that this pic is a good start :) comment what you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-be-a-photographer-i-think-that-this-pic-is-a-good-start/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I didn't want to be a photographer. I wanted to play music and be a rock star. I didn't have a mentor telling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-richardson/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-photographer-i-wanted-to-play-music-and-be-a/) [Terry Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-richardson/) > [You must have a visual sense if you want to be a photographer. It is a very subtle thing, this visual business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/you-must-have-a-visual-sense-if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-it-is-a/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [I now want to be a photographer of my time, and our common culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-now-want-to-be-a-photographer-of-my-time-and-our-common-culture/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [I realized I didn't want to be a photographer. I gave it up, but I still worked that job in the restaurant and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-schneider/i-realized-i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-photographer-i-gave-it-up-but-i/) [Sally Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-schneider/) > [If you want to be a photographer, particularly a photojournalist , you want to learn about the world. You want to learn about yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-kashi/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-particularly-a-photojournalist-you/) [Ed Kashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-kashi/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) > [I think life is too short not to be doing something which you really believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/i-think-life-is-too-short-not-to-be-doing-something-which-you-really/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [I want to leave my country without leaving my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirkpatrick-sale/i-want-to-leave-my-country-without-leaving-my-home/) [Kirkpatrick Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirkpatrick-sale/) > [I'm confused but isn't the point of leaving home to go to college to make new friends and not only associate with people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-confused-but-isn-t-the-point-of-leaving-home-to-go-to-college-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/other-freshmen-were-already-moving-into-their-dormitory-rooms-when-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## More by Steve McCurry > [In our contemporary society, one so over-inundated with imagery, it is easy to overlook the power of a single frame to change the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/in-our-contemporary-society-one-so-over-inundated-with-imagery-it-is/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [The photograph is an undeniably powerful medium. Free from the constraints of language, and harnessing the unique qualities of a single moment frozen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/the-photograph-is-an-undeniably-powerful-medium-free-from-the/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [I think life is too short not to be doing something which you really believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/i-think-life-is-too-short-not-to-be-doing-something-which-you-really/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [Some of the great pictures happen along the journey and not necessarily at your destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/some-of-the-great-pictures-happen-along-the-journey-and-not/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [Unconsciously, I think I watch for a look, an expression, features or nostalgia that can summarize or more accurately reveal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/unconsciously-i-think-i-watch-for-a-look-an-expression-features-or/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [A picture can express a universal humanism, or simply reveal a delicate and poignant truth by exposing a slice of life that might otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/a-picture-can-express-a-universal-humanism-or-simply-reveal-a/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [To become a photographer leave your house first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/to-become-a-photographer-leave-your-house-first/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [If you wait, people will forget your camera, and the soul will drift up into view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-wait-people-will-forget-your-camera-and-the-soul-will-drift-up/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [If you want to be a photographer, you have to photograph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-you-have-to-photograph/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [A still photograph is something which you can always go back to. You can put it on your wall and look at it again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/a-still-photograph-is-something-which-you-can-always-go-back-to-you/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [In India in particular, where millions have no home but the streets, virtually every life event is carried out in public: prayer, eating, sleeping,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/in-india-in-particular-where-millions-have-no-home-but-the-streets/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [The definition of a great picture is one that stays with you, one that you can't forget. It doesn't have to be technically good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/the-definition-of-a-great-picture-is-one-that-stays-with-you-one-that/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [I think life is too short not to be doing something which you really believe in. Whether you're photographing for yourself, for your job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/i-think-life-is-too-short-not-to-be-doing-something-which-you-really-2/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [It’s important for you to spend your time photographing things that matter to you. You need to understand the things that have meaning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/it-s-important-for-you-to-spend-your-time-photographing-things-that/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) > [My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/my-life-is-shaped-by-the-urgent-need-to-wander-and-observe-and-my/) [Steve McCurry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) [Explore all 22 Steve McCurry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/) ## More Comfort zone quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [“days of the earliest Church? I ask you: Do you want things to go on as usual, or do you want to see God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-t-kendall/days-of-the-earliest-church-i-ask-you-do-you-want-things-to-go-on-as/) [R. T. Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-t-kendall/) > [I'd hate to feel in a comfort zone while I am working. That's not the way I like to do things. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-craig/i-d-hate-to-feel-in-a-comfort-zone-while-i-am-working-that-s-not-the/) [Daniel Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-craig/) > [I know my idea of beauty isn't what most people's is, and the fact that I'm getting the opportunity to show my beauty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-osbourne/i-know-my-idea-of-beauty-isn-t-what-most-people-s-is-and-the-fact/) [Kelly Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-osbourne/) > [“The Shortest Success Mantra for this short life is Move out from your Comfort zone into your Action zone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandeep-kakkar/the-shortest-success-mantra-for-this-short-life-is-move-out-from-your/) [Sandeep Kakkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandeep-kakkar/) > [You can’t be a successful leader or mentor until you have served. You can’t serve until you have stepped out of your comfort zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/you-can-t-be-a-successful-leader-or-mentor-until-you-have-served-you/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [There is a comfort zone of knowing where things are going and having characters in place, but the action gets more and more dramatic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-b-jenkins/there-is-a-comfort-zone-of-knowing-where-things-are-going-and-having/) [Jerry B. Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-b-jenkins/) > [“You cannot possibly know what gives you discomfort unless you step outside your comfort zone, this where change begins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/you-cannot-possibly-know-what-gives-you-discomfort-unless-you-step/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [I think the biggest advice that I could give people is to actually try and live beyond your dreams by pushing yourself, challenging yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-whitson/i-think-the-biggest-advice-that-i-could-give-people-is-to-actually/) [Peggy Whitson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-whitson/) > [If I do not get out of my comfort zone, then it is not the people but me who should be blamed for choosing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrunal-thakur/if-i-do-not-get-out-of-my-comfort-zone-then-it-is-not-the-people-but/) [Mrunal Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrunal-thakur/) > [I mostly like to travel and volunteer because I get antsy if I stay in my comfort zone for too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-sher/i-mostly-like-to-travel-and-volunteer-because-i-get-antsy-if-i-stay/) [Eden Sher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-sher/) > [Challenge Yourself With Something You Know You Could Never Do, And What You'll Find Is That You Can Overcome Anything. By Attempting Something Really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/challenge-yourself-with-something-you-know-you-could-never-do-and/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [The field - that's my place; that's where I'm in my comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/the-field-that-s-my-place-that-s-where-i-m-in-my-comfort-zone/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [“Sometimes when we go through transitions, we aren’t aware of the impact they have on us. Stress, doubt, and even depression commonly result from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/sometimes-when-we-go-through-transitions-we-aren-t-aware-of-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) [Browse all 1,022 Comfort zone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-zone/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to be a photographer, first leave home", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve McCurry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-leave-home/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comfort zone" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-leave-home/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14a/steve-mccurry-26160_comfort-zone_if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-l_1078403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to be a photographer, first leave home” — Steve McCurry", "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": "Steve McCurry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mccurry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-leave-home/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mccurry/if-you-want-to-be-a-photographer-first-leave-home/#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 } } ] } ```