There’s a saying in photography: The camera never lies. But anyone who’s spent time behind a lens knows that’s far from true. The camera captures what it’s pointed at, but it never tells the full story. And in today’s world—where filters, edits, and curated feeds dominate—what you see is often miles away from the truth.

I’ve spent years behind the camera, even turning my passion into a career for a while. I’ve photographed models, celebrities, and massive ad campaigns that towered over Times Square. I know how lighting, angles, and a bit of editing magic can create something breathtaking. But I also know how staged it can all be, how carefully reality is reshaped to sell a fantasy.

Even my personal photos—the vacation shots that friends gush over—don’t tell the whole truth. They show the highlight, the picture-perfect moment. But they don’t show the moments leading up to it: the scramble to find the right angle, the stress of getting everyone to pause for just one second, or the times I barely held back frustration when something didn’t go as planned. Those chaotic moments, the ones outside the frame, are just as real as the shot itself. Yet, they’re the parts that don’t make it to Instagram or the family Christmas card.

And isn’t that how life works?

We live in a world where perception is king. Social media shows us the highlight reel of other people’s lives—filtered, polished, and cropped to perfection. But what we often miss is the reality outside the frame. The struggles, the effort, the sacrifices. The humanity no filter can hide.

The problem is, when we only focus on perception, we lose something important: our ability to think critically and see the bigger picture. That’s where perspective comes in.

Perspective isn’t about accepting what’s in front of you at face value; it’s about looking deeper. It’s about questioning your assumptions, challenging your biases, and understanding what’s real, not just what’s presented. It’s about listening—not to argue, dismiss, or defend—but to understand, even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned—both behind the lens and in life—is that perspective often requires letting go of perception. It means admitting that what you see, or what you’ve convinced yourself to believe, might not be the full truth. And that’s okay. Because when you step back and challenge your view, you start to see things more clearly.

A big part of the GRIP Factor is learning to think critically. To stop chasing after carefully curated illusions or your own assumptions about how things should be. It’s about asking, What am I not seeing? What’s outside the frame?

So, here’s my challenge to you: the next time you find yourself judging someone else’s highlight reel—or even reflecting on your own—pause. Ask yourself, Am I seeing reality, or just one version of it? What’s the bigger picture?

Because life, like photography, isn’t about capturing perfection. It’s about embracing the messy, beautiful truth that lies just beyond the frame.