Creative Control

One of the things that I have noticed within the realm of photography and other creative pursuits is that the hindrances we experience and grapple with each day can sideline us in our work. There was a season of my life where I believed that even the desire to create and capture photographic and video content was a waste of time, just a hobby, and unimportant compared to other work. These thoughts often came because of critics, my own doubts, and a lack of confidence in realizing the value that this work brings to the world today. One aspect of photography that so many people take for granted or fail to realize, is that it is a memory literally frozen in time, and filming is a way to do the same, as well as virtually transporting people to a place and time that you believed held something special; whether that be a person, a location, or an event. Think about it, what is the one thing that almost everyone has at their disposal these days to capture a moment that they don’t want to slip away? A camera! But unfortunately, because everyone has free access to them now, they also believe that anyone can do it. I have heard the remarks about just pulling the camera out and clicking the button. These are the kinds of remarks that minimize the work that we do and can speak negativity over us, whether it is our job or we are in the early stages of learning. These remarks and viewpoints of our peers are the very things that can be the stumbling blocks that keep us from experiencing the freedom, reward, and inspiration that this work can provide to us. Take the negativity and use it for a fuel to ignite your projects. If nothing else, prove to yourself that if remain diligent and self-disciplined to achieve the things you set your mind and heart to do, you can do them. Take creative control of your work in a humble and confident way, and your best work and art will be ahead of you.

There are three hurdles or hindrances that I would like to cover in this blog that I hope may bring to light some of the areas that you may also struggle with in your photography. All of these will ultimately keep us from excelling and moving forward in our craft and work but if we are able to minimize the effect of these might have over us, we will be able to flourish in whatever area our photography and filming takes us.

Not Caring. If you are a people-pleaser then this first one is for you. I am a recovering yes-man and people-pleaser myself. The one thing that I can say is that there is abundant freedom on the other side of getting out of these snares. When seeking the approval of man or our audience becomes the primary focus, our work will actually not have as much of a positive impact. While it not a bad thing to consider who you are creating or displaying your work for, once you know, the focus needs to shift back to what you would like to bring to the table. There comes a point where you need to express yourself in a true and authentic way that best displays the work you want to create, and not care what others think. This applies even when you are working as a freelance photographer, taking an assignment for a magazine, or working with a close family relation or friend. I can look back and see in my own work when I would “try too hard” to capture something in a way that was not really an extension of who I am, but would try and reproduce something that I thought would be better than what I could bring with my own creativity and ingenuity. Unfortunately, we will almost always have those people in our lives who have something negative to say about our work to make themselves appear superior, but, as long as you can recognize those voices for what they really are, then you can dismiss them. I will say that having a mentor that can honestly give constructive feedback of your work is essential to any kind of real growth. As long as there is mutual trust, that kind of feedback is invaluable; that is something that you can care to listen in to.

One more thought on the subject of not caring. The current culture we live in today breeds comparison, and this can be one of the most detrimental things to us as photographers. It can sideline us if we allow it to. If you are a beginner photographer who hasn’t had more than a year behind the lens, then do not take your work and compare it to another’s who has been shooting for over a decade. That photographer has had years to develop their craft, their creative eye, and has a multitude of other tools that help them achieve the shots they are getting. Be patient with yourself. The fast-food approach to life that has saturated our culture unfortunately bleeds into this line of work as well and people think that you can just snap your finger and get what you want immediately; don’t buy into the lie. Refine your work over time and if you do feel led to compare your work with another’s, do it with a trusted mentor or friend; or if you are going to do it yourself, place your inner critic to the side and try to have a healthier approach to the process.

Creative Doubt. Letting doubts creep into your mind about your work is one of the most detrimental things for a photographer, if not the most. I struggled with this for years and at times, I am still having to remind myself that doubting my capabilities will not bring any benefits and will keep me from bringing forward the best I have to offer. Do not let creative doubt paralyze you. This is just my opinion, but I think this is the one thing that takes the most photographers out of the game. The intrusive thoughts that say, “I’m not proficient enough.” “I’m just an amateur.” “I’ll never be as good as so-in-so.” These words, if believed and internalized, will keep you from excelling, let alone picking up your camera most days. It has been said many times that it is not about the destination, it is about the journey, and that is very true in photography as well. Take the time with your work, learn new skills, grow in your knowledge of the craft, and in time, your work will sing with your own originality. Bringing your perspective to photography is essential and needed within the vast landscape of the photographic world.

I think another reason why creatives struggle with creative doubt and gaining confidence in their work is because there is actually more freedom in this area of work than most others. Think about it. In most trade jobs there are standards, rules, and regulations that are there to give you boundaries and objectives to aim for. While there are rules and techniques that are highly beneficial in photography, they are not approached with the same kind of mindset most of the time. We typically do our work with a checklist kind of approach, and while this helpful at times in certain areas of life, it isn’t always the best approach when it comes to photography. There have been times when I am out on location and the order in which I did things was different than the previous ten times, and that is alright! Having our creativity work for us is something we should all bring to every session we shoot. Have you ever seen a photographer show up with a checklist and run through it before taking all of their pictures? I highly doubt it. The way we take pictures and capture film is a fairly intuitive process, not a mechanical one. Sometimes, all you need is some fresh creative perspective to combat the doubts you may have; even in simple ways, like having a creative eye in the day to day will help you. For instance, if you are at a coffee shop, just looking through a window to see different perspectives of a neighborhood, a vista, view, etc. will help you realize that your personal perspective of life as whole is something you want to show to others. So breathe, and enjoy your time on this photographic journey.

Unknown Territory. When we step into an area or maybe a new genre of photography that we might not have a ton of experience in, or are starting a new project that we have a desire to do, it can be a frightening thing to move into the unknown. As I talked about earlier, at times, we feel like we constantly need a step-by-step of how to do everything. This usually comes because of the fear of messing things up, or, so we can know we did things right. It is in these moments that we need to press forward and bring forward what we have, regardless if we think we have all the pieces that we think we need. For instance, a lot of folks won't tackle certain projects because they don’t have the best gear in their arsenal, or because they don’t think they have what it takes to come up with something their client or themselves will enjoy. I want to encourage you to take a step of faith and do it anyways. Even if you don’t have everything you think you need, you will be happy that you took a bold step forward into the unknown and learned through the process. Don’t let your fear of the unknown keep you from what could potentially be some of your best art.

We are creatures of habit. We often enjoy the comforts of the things that we like and are well acquainted with and don’t like to be stretched to our maximum very often; but it is in the moments where we step out into the unknown that we often grow the most and learn the most about ourselves. Oftentimes, we get on the other side and realize that we are capable of much more than we thought and our confidence builds as a result. If you think of other areas in the arts like music, painting, literature, etc., there are similar struggles when stepping into unknown territory. The blank canvas, a fresh staff that needs a melody, or an unsoiled sheet of paper that needs words to bring a story or poem to life. Make it your aim this year not to be intimidated by this area, but step out into the unknown with a resolve to excel in it.

Gaining Ground.

Perseverance is the primary word that comes to mind when thinking about gaining ground in any kind of work, especially photography. You have to make a decision that you will be a lifelong student, aim to do your best, grow in your skills, and be consistent in your work. We will gain more ground in the discovery of putting out our work than doing nothing at all. There is a modern-day proverb that states that the only real failure is the failure to try. I have found this truth to be entirely helpful to me, especially on the days when the doubts, critics, and discouragement begin to settle in.

A couple of last notes. I have heard it said many times in recent years that photography is an oversaturated marketplace. While this may appear true due to social media, it is not necessarily the case when it comes to those who want to make a living being a full-time photographer. Lastly, there are those who say that there comes a point in life where you need to accept that being a novice is just part of life. While this might be true for certain things you weren’t created to do in this life, if you know that photography is truly an extension of who you are and something you have a burning passion to do, dismiss those voices. Just because you might be in the beginning stages of your journey does not mean that you will always be there. Keep putting in the hard work, cultivate a vision for what you want your work to be, and you will gain ground overtime to become an excellent and professional photographer.

Take creative control of your work. Do it with a humble confidence and you may even surprise yourself where you will be just a few months from now.