Ok, yes, this is a little obvious. But you would be surprised how many people do not really do this. Or better yet, don’t think they have to. Yes, if you are lucky you do come to a point where you are working with your camera, pick it up every day, and shoot. But there is a difference between shooting for work and practicing.
If you are a musician, you practice your instrument regularly. You learn new songs and become more connected to the music you play. Then you perform. It is no different with a camera. As a child I would listen to my father practice his scales. He was an opera singer, and this was just something that was part of our daily lives. I would hear his voice going up and down, making funny sounds/shapes with his mouth. All this in order to produce the most wonderful sound.
Sadly, I didn’t inherit my father’s voice. But I did learn from his example. Now that I have a new camera it is even more important. Changing brands of cameras is harder than I thought. It would be very easy for me to just give up, put this new camera in a draw and forget about it. But I see the potential, and I just have to practice until I get it right. If it were easy it wouldn’t have the rewards it does.