Hey Reader,
It's officially 2026! Can I be honest for a second?
If you’re feeling burnt out with travel photography (or anything) right now, especially during the holidays, you’re not doing anything wrong.
This season is supposed to be magical… but it often turns into pressure, comparison, content chaos, and the quiet feeling that you’re somehow behind.
More trips. More reels. More edits. More “you should be grateful.”
And yet… less joy.
I’ve been feeling it too.
And during the holidays? That weight gets heavier.
During the holidays, there’s this unspoken pressure to document everything. Family moments. Decorations. Trips. Traditions.
You’re expected to be present and somehow also the photographer.
And when you don’t capture it all, it can feel like you missed something… even when you didn’t.
Here’s what I want you to hear loud and clear:
✨ Burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
✨ Burnout doesn’t mean you don’t love photography anymore.
✨ Burnout usually means you’ve been giving without refilling.
It’s okay to:
• Take photos that are just for you
• Put the camera down on a trip
• Skip posting
• Edit slower
• Feel uninspired for a bit
Your creativity isn’t gone... it’s resting 😴
Adventure doesn’t always look like epic peaks and passport stamps. Sometimes it looks like rest, reflection, and giving yourself permission to pause.
Because this feeling kept coming up for me, I sat down and wrote an article about overcoming burnout in travel photography. Not with hustle fixes, but with honesty, permission, and ways to reconnect with your camera without pressure.
If this email resonated, I think you’ll feel really seen in it 🤍
If this email made you exhale a little, then good! That’s your sign you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Be graceful with yourself this holiday season!
I’m right here with you 🤍
Alexandra
The Bucket List Mermaid 🧜♀️✨
