Photography vs Programming: a Minimalist Perspective

As I build my photography side hustle while working full-time as a software engineer, I keep returning to one idea: minimalism. Both fields pull me in different directions. Programming has taught me to strip things down to their essentials. Photography constantly tempts me with more gear, more tools, more stuff. Balancing the two has made me think deeply about what minimalism really means in creative work.

The Simplicity of Code

In programming, I live in a world of virtual tools. A laptop, an editor, a few accounts, and I can build almost anything. Over the years, these tools have faded into the background. GitHub, IDEs, frameworks, and cloud platforms all exist, but they feel weightless. They live on the screen, not in my bag.

I realize now that minimalism in programming isn’t about using fewer tools. It’s about mental clarity. Once I’ve internalized the workflow, the complexity disappears. I don’t think about the tools anymore; I just build.

The Weight of Gear

Photography feels the opposite. Everything is physical. Cameras, lenses, flashes, stands, cards, and reflectors. Even the light itself becomes something to shape and carry.

I started out thinking I only needed a camera and a lens. Then I realized I needed backups. Then storage. Then a system to deliver photos. Suddenly I had websites, client portals, editing software, and AI culling tools. Each one useful, but together they formed a kind of noise.

As someone drawn to simplicity, I found it exhausting. I don’t want a closet full of gadgets. I want space to focus on light, composition, and story.

Choosing Less

Minimalism in photography is harder, but not impossible. I’m beginning to design my workflow around doing more with less. One or two cameras. A good lens. Natural light when possible. Renting studio space at Maker’s Gym in Frisco gives me access to lights and backdrops when I need them, without owning them.

For editing, I stick to Lightroom and plan to automate where I can. I want fewer tools but more intention. Each tool should serve the art, not the other way around.