What I’ve Learned One Year After Building a Travel Photography Community

Reflections on community, confidence, and finding creative connections

When I first created The Travel Photography Club as an extension of The Wandering Lens, I thought I had a fairly clear idea of what photographers would want.

From years of guiding photo tours, running online courses, and mentoring photographers, I assumed the next logical step would be more resources, more eBooks, and more structured learning. More content to work through in one dedicated space.

A year on, I can see that while those things matter, they were never the heart of it.

What surprised me most was how quickly the focus shifted away from content and towards connection. As the club grew, so did a steady sense of belonging, with photographers joining from all over the world. What began as an idea scribbled in notebooks and developed via many months staring at a screen, has become a global creative community.

When I was deep in design mode, planning content and worrying about all the what-ifs back in late 2024, it felt far-fetched to imagine the space becoming something truly special. In focusing so closely on what needed to be built, I lost sight of what it might become, even if the positive side of me was still dancing quietly beneath the surface, knowing what was to come.

Now, seeing members connect, discuss ideas, and share their work and travels, it feels clear. We are only 15 months into the journey, but already it feels like a creative home for travel photographers. I feel excited, proud, and deeply inspired by what lies ahead for our community.

I’m writing this as I return to planning mode for the year ahead. Not simply to create more magazine issues or eBooks (even though these are one of my favourite things to design for the club), but to explore in-person photo walks and shared adventures, bringing the community into the real world as well.

I assumed content would be the main value

In the early planning stages, I spent a lot of time thinking about what to include. Guides, resources, monthly editions, and practical tools. I wanted the community to feel generous and well supported, a place where you could download relevant resources, build skills, and gain insights that supported your photography at whatever stage you were in.

And those elements do matter. I can see from the site statistics that the eBooks, club magazine, and resources are used, downloaded, revisited, and genuinely appreciated. But what became clear very quickly was that content alone is not what keeps people showing up.

As conversations began to unfold, a different pattern emerged.

Members were introducing themselves, asking thoughtful questions, sharing small wins, and talking about trips they were planning, places they had travelled, and moments that stayed with them long after they put the camera away.

It became less about technique and more about the shared joy of photography. The excitement of being in the moment, of noticing something beautiful, and of talking with like-minded people who understand how meaningful that can feel.

Seeing how different photographers interpreted the same idea. Knowing others were navigating similar creative doubts. Feeling comfortable enough to ask a question without worrying about sounding inexperienced.

That sense of connection quietly became the foundation of the community.

Confidence grows faster in supportive spaces

One of the most meaningful things to observe has been how confidence develops when photographers feel supported rather than evaluated or judged.

In many traditional photography spaces, it can feel as though your work needs to reach a certain standard, or that success depends on the gear you use. Images are shared for validation, comparison is constant, and silence can feel like failure.

In contrast, a supportive community that welcomes all levels allows photographers to show up as they are. Some members share often, others quietly observe. Both are equally welcome. I love hearing when someone has tried a new creative approach, or found the confidence to share their images for the first time, even if they are just getting started.

What I’ve learned is that confidence doesn’t come from being told what to improve. It grows through observing, experimenting, practicing, and enjoying the process. It comes from having space to explore without pressure to compete or rush into complexity.

The messages that arrive in my inbox have been incredibly reassuring. Knowing that the resources and creative challenges are genuinely helpful, and that members are finding inspiration in different ways, has reinforced the value of creating a space that caters to a wide range of interests. From wildlife photography to ICM, storytelling to street scenes, the club continues to grow in depth through the diversity of its members and their creative curiosity.

“The club popped up in my Instagram feed, and I decided to give it a try, thinking that I probably wouldn’t participate all that much. I’ve gained so much confidence over the past year, and I attribute that to the club. Thank you so much for creating such a great community.”

Slower rhythms create deeper engagement

Another unexpected lesson has been the value of slowing things down. Fresh resources and a new issue of the club magazine, ‘The Travel Photographer’s Journal’, are released on the first day of each new month; however, they’re available to access and download whenever members are ready. There’s no time pressure, deadlines, or classes to attend, it’s all waiting for members inside the club spaces to use in their own time.

Rather than constant activity, the community has found its rhythm through monthly club meets or challenges and open-ended discussion within the chat topics. This pace allows members to dip in and out depending on where photography sits in their life at the time.

There is no pressure to keep up. No fear of falling behind.

“I genuinely get so excited at the end of each month for the new club magazine to be released! The community portal has been incredibly helpful for me, especially since I don’t have many people around who can offer guidance or answer photography-related questions. The club has been a great way for me to level up my photography skills without feeling overwhelmed by too much text or endless videos.”

Ironically, this slower approach has led to more meaningful engagement, not less, and one of my favourite things to do is jump into the community space and see what everyone is talking about or sharing. Then, there’s also the hashtag #thetravelphotographyclub where I love to see what members are posting so I can feature their work or highlight their travels to our social audience.

Community is about encouragement, not competition

Perhaps the most important lesson of the past year is this, and it’s one I’ve kind of always lived my own creative career by.

A creative community thrives when it is built on encouragement rather than comparison.

When photographers feel uplifted, acknowledged, and inspired by one another, growth happens naturally. Skills improve, confidence builds, and creativity feels enjoyable rather than stressful.

This kind of environment doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from intentional design, clear values, and a shared understanding that photography is a personal journey. Sometimes I think back on the months in 2024 that led toward creating the club, and all those ideas that were running through my head, the should I, shouldn’t I’s, now, I’m so glad that I took the leap and founded this community, it’s proved again and again that creativity thrives in good company.

“The chance to learn, exchange ideas, and connect with like-minded creatives is invaluable. Photography can sometimes feel isolating, but this club creates a sense of connection and community.”

Looking ahead

Over a year on, The Travel Photography Club has grown into something far more meaningful than I originally imagined. While I had hoped people would join and find value in the space, nothing about that outcome was guaranteed.

What has emerged is a community shaped by conversation, curiosity, and mutual respect. A place where photographers can learn, ask questions, share experiences, and feel connected, whether photography is central to their life or something they return to between travels.

As I plan for 2026 and 2027, the focus is expanding beyond the digital space. Alongside the club magazine, resources, and shared photographic practices, I’m beginning to map out photo walks and small, in-person adventures. Opportunities to meet, photograph together, and carry the same sense of encouragement and curiosity into the real world.

What this past year has reinforced for me is not a neat takeaway or a tidy conclusion, but a deeper understanding of why creative communities matter. When photographers are given space to explore without judgement, to learn without pressure, and to feel seen without comparison, confidence grows quietly and creativity follows.

That is the kind of community I’m committed to building as this next chapter unfolds.

If you’re keen to join us, you’re welcome to Explore Membership Options here. 

To learn more about The Travel Photography Club, the inclusions, member benefits, education, and travel inspiration, browse the Club Information Page.

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