Notes for Brooklyn Beckham (from an old man to a young man)

Brooklyn Beckham's first photography book, What I See, has been published to somewhat mixed reviews.

Here are a few thoughts:

• Don't caption your photographs. Your pictures can speak for themselves.

• Edit. Less is more. Take a leaf out of Ernest Hemingway's book: "I write one page of masterpiece to 91 pages of s***. I try to put the s*** in the wastebasket."

Read more: Brooklyn Beckham's book: Is it any good?

• The snide remarks being made about your work are cheap and self-serving. Ignore them.

• If you haven't already done so, go see some Magnum photographers. Ask their advice.

• Don't ignore them.

• Finding your own distinct visual language takes time and experimentation and experience. Be patient. You can't be a master without first being an apprentice.

• Mary McCartney would be a good mentor.

• Sincerity is an artist's ballast. Critics often call it wrong. If you mean it, do it.

• Be curious.

• Stop biting your nails.