This was the first note I published on Substack. A journey that began in July, after my previous website unexpectedly went offline for reasons I never quite understood.
I often come across posts from people sharing how Substack has helped them earn a three-figure or even a four-figure monthly income. That, however, is not my story.
In reality, Substack is giving me something that I consider far more valuable: the opportunity to bring out the writer in me and to contribute something to the world around me through my writing and photography.
I may not be earning money from this platform, but I am gaining something else. I am finding my voice, connecting with other writers and, hopefully, making a small contribution through the thoughts, experiences and images I share.
In my second post, I explained why I had decided to move my work to Substack and shared how I was feeling at the time. I had lost years of work on my original website and was trying to figure out how to quickly set up a new one. I wanted something that would represent me not only as a photographer but also as a writer, as my passion for writing continued to grow.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover such a strong community of writers on Substack. In Malta, the platform is not particularly well known. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok remain the more popular social media platforms. Yet, on Substack, I felt at home. I started thinking about how I could bring together my photography, writing, interest in personal development and love of listening to books, all under one roof. I wanted to create a space that reflected the different things I enjoy and the person I am becoming.
At the same time, I was working towards publishing my first book, Memento Mori, the first of three books I initially intended to publish.
Memento Mori is a Latin expression meaning ‘Remember that you must die’. The book is a collection of personal reflections about life, mortality, time, relationships and the things that truly matter. It is an invitation to pause, reflect on our existence and become more aware of how we spend the limited time we have.
Although its title might initially sound a little sombre, the intention behind the book is quite the opposite. Remembering that life is finite can help us appreciate it more deeply. It encourages us to look beyond the distractions of everyday life, reconsider our priorities and recognise the importance of the people we love.
Publishing this book was also a personal milestone for me. It meant taking years of thoughts, diary entries and reflections and turning them into something I could share with others. What had started as a personal habit of writing in a diary had gradually developed into something much bigger.
On Substack, I made a distinction between posting notes and publishing articles. Whenever I wanted to share something brief or spontaneous, I would publish a note. For more researched and carefully developed pieces, I would write an article. While I published notes almost every day, I generally shared articles once or twice a week.
Unlike my previous website, I am no longer using Substack primarily as a means of attracting more photography clients. Instead, I see it as a space where I can also express myself as a sociologist, an observer of society and the world we live in.
I have come to realise that I am no longer chasing money as much as I am chasing experiences. I want to experience life, observe the people around me, discover places, listen to stories and reflect on what I see. That is the story I want to tell through my writing and photography.
Looking back, perhaps losing my original website was a blessing in disguise. What initially felt like a setback eventually gave me the opportunity to rethink what I wanted to do and create something that represents me much better.
I have thousands of photographs that I probably shared only once on social media and, in many cases, never even printed. I began to realise what a pity that was. Through Substack, I discovered that I could revisit these photographs and share them again, giving them another opportunity to be seen and appreciated.
I also started reflecting on something else. As a photographer, I had always been chasing the next best image. I suppose I had developed my own version of FOMO: a photographer’s fear of missing out. Or, as I like to call it, FOMOBI: the Fear of Missing Out on the Best Image!
Perhaps it was time to slow down, stop chasing the next photograph and learn to appreciate what I had already captured. More importantly, it was time to recognise and appreciate what I had already achieved.
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this reflection, consider subscribing for future posts exploring photography, life, and the stories behind the moments we often take for granted.
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About the Author
Sergio Morana is an educator, photographer and writer based in Malta. Through photography and writing, he explores life’s meaningful moments, personal growth, and the stories that connect us.
📷 Photography: Holy Communions • Confirmations • Portraits • Family Sessions • Events