I attended a photography class and the teacher said photos must be shot with intention, what is the message we are trying to convey, what story are you telling? The class is taught by a former photo-journalist.

But sometimes I just want to make a nice picture? I don’t have a story I want to tell. Or I just want to record something nice I saw while traveling. I can’t imagine myself being creative enough to think of a narrative when I’m out taking photos on the street.

Do I need to take his advice and try my hardest to think of the intent behind every photo or is that too exhausting?