The Beauty of Imperfection: Why Being Real Matters

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I care about being real, whether it’s in the photos I take or the stories I share here. Lately, I’ve been thinking about something called wabi-sabi. It’s an old idea from China and Japan that says there’s beauty in things that aren’t perfect. Life is always changing, and nothing stays perfect for long. That’s not a bad thing. It can be something special.

We live in a world where it seems like everyone wants to look perfect. Social media is full of perfect pictures and stories. But in real life, nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes. We all have days when things don’t go as planned. And honestly, that’s what makes us human.

What makes people beautiful isn’t that they do everything right. It’s that they keep going, even when they mess up. It’s the little things that make us different, our quirks, our mistakes, our stories—that help us connect.

In my work as a photographer and videographer, I see this all the time. Some of my favourite photos are the ones where things didn’t go as planned. Maybe the light was strange, or someone laughed at the wrong time, or the wind messed up someone’s hair. But those moments are real. They show true feelings and tell real stories. That’s what I love to capture.

I remember one photo shoot by the sea. The weather changed, and the wind was wild. At first, I thought the photos would be ruined. But those pictures turned out to be some of my favourites. They were full of life and energy—imperfect, but honest. When I look at them now, I remember not just the final images, but the laughter, the funny moments, and the feeling of just letting things be as they were. That’s the kind of memory that sticks with you.

This idea isn’t just for photos. It’s for people, too. We don’t fall in love with someone because they’re perfect. We connect with people who are honest about their flaws and who accept ours, too. We’re all a little messy, and that’s okay. The people who matter most are the ones who accept us as we are—and who let us do the same for them. I’ve learned that it’s important to be honest about what we need, even if it feels a bit scary. Setting boundaries and being open about our feelings is a big part of a real connection.

Wabi-sabi is about accepting our imperfections and also accepting them in others. It’s easy to expect people to be perfect, but real connection happens when we let go of those ideas. When we’re honest about our mistakes and open about our feelings, it makes it easier for others to do the same. Some of the best friendships and partnerships I’ve had came from being able to laugh at myself, admit when I was wrong, and move forward together.

In my work, I’ve seen that the best projects happen when everyone feels safe to try new things, make mistakes, and be honest. There’s something special about working with people who aren’t afraid to be themselves. When we let go of trying to be perfect, we make space for creativity and real moments. Some of my most creative shoots happened because someone made a silly face, tripped over their own feet, or just decided to have fun with it. Those are the stories I remember and the photos my clients love most.

Wabi-sabi isn’t just about art or relationships. It’s about how we live every day. Life is full of surprises. Things break, plans change, and sometimes we fail. Instead of being upset, we can try to see the good in those moments. They teach us, help us grow, and make life interesting. I try to remind myself that it’s okay to have a bad day or not know all the answers. That’s just part of being alive.

When I feel stuck or make a mistake, I try to remember that it’s normal. I ask myself what I can learn from it and how it can help me in the future. Most of the time, it’s not about fixing everything—it’s about accepting where I am and moving forward. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a breath, laugh at yourself, and try again.

I’ve struggled with wanting things to be perfect. It’s easy to think we have to get everything right before we share it with the world. But the more I work, the more I see that honest work is better than perfect work. Whether I’m editing a photo or writing a blog post, I’m learning to let go and trust the process. When I look back at my favourite projects, they’re always the ones where I let things happen naturally, instead of forcing every detail.

Now, I try to leave space for surprises in my shoots. If a photo isn’t perfect, I look for the story in it. Sometimes, the best pictures are the ones that almost didn’t happen. When I edit, I don’t try to hide every flaw. I want to show people as they are. I want my work to feel honest and true, not fake or overly polished.

Being okay with imperfection isn’t just for work. It’s for life. It means being kind to ourselves when we mess up, and kind to others when they do. It’s about seeing every experience, good or bad, as part of our story. I think that’s what makes life beautiful.

If you feel like you have to be perfect all the time, I hope this helps you take a breath and let go. The world doesn’t need more perfect people. It needs more people who are real, who share their true stories, and who aren’t afraid to be themselves.

So here’s to laughing at our mistakes, connecting through honesty, and making memories that are real, not perfect. Let’s celebrate what makes us different—the cracks, the quirks, and the stories that are only ours.

Let’s keep looking for those real moments and good conversations—online and, even better, in person.

See you soon,

Ruben