Let’s face it! We all at one point or another feel miserable about our photography.
Have these thoughts ever gone through your head?
– I am actually getting worse.
– I should just quit.
– I am NEVER going to be “good”.
– My images will never look like “so and so”.
– Look at “so and so”, she started after me and is already so much better than me.
If we are being honest, I have had every single one of those thoughts. It is really easy to get down on yourself and your work. Especially since photography is subjective.
Here is a list of sure fire ways to say miserable and never grow as a photographer:
1. Compare your work to others.
2. Get in a rut and NOT even try to get out of it.
3. Never ask for critiques.
4. Not sharing your images with others and only listening to the voices in your head.
5. Stop challenging yourself to grow.
6. Shoot only what others want you to photograph.
7. Never take time to evaluate what you love to shoot.
8. Stop learning.
Ok so apparently you’re in my head today!! ;)
I’m looking forward to Friday’s list! :-D
I’m so glad you posted this. I wrote a similar post on my blog about how I thought my earlier work was better, among other things that get in your way of your creativity. I have felt all those things you listed. Glad I’m not alone!
Oh, love it! I have done all these things too. Nice to have a funny reminder of what I shouldn’t be doing! :)
Oh so true……..EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! I just asked my husband Sunday after church if he would write a list of reasons I should be confident (as I struggle with confidence in various areas). He agreed on one condition, I was not allowed to refute what he wrote. In other words, I was not allowed to explain why his list was not true.
One thing he wrote, “You are learning a difficult hobby and doing well with it.” Those words really made me think differently about my photography journey. It is my journey and as long as I am learning, then there is no reason to compare.
Have YOU been reading my mind? I keep trying, however. I’m actually impressed with a few of the photos I took this weekend at mission San Juan Capistrano and at Laguna Beach. I made myself STRETCH and it paid off!!!
Cheryl Ann
Thank you for posting this! The is exactly what I’ve been feeling lately, and this helped me realize I was throwing myself a pity party and snap out of it! Can’t wait ’til Friday!
“snap out of it.” Was that pun intended? Love it and what a great idea!!
Oh how I needed this tonight! It is one of those frustrating nights!
I needed to read that! Looking forward to Friday’s tips!
This is exactly where I am right now and I needed this post to reboot me. Thank you.
What a great post! I would be lying if I said I don’t think each of the things on that list at some point. I need to stop listening to the voices in my head!
~wow that was how today went for me~ I was ready to give up :( thanks for posting this,,maybe just what I needed.
Just what I needed to see today! Thank you!
Thank you for this list…..it’s pretty much what I’ve been thinking for the last couple of weeks. I’ve been getting very discouraged. Time to throw a brief pity party, put on my big girl panties and get over it!! :D
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! I feel like this a LOT!! I really needed to hear this myself today but the one thing I can’t relate to (as of yet) is giving up. I love it WAY to much to do that!
Thank you!! This is exactly what I need I’ve been feeling so discouraged. My biggest problem is comparing myself to other more seasoned photographers.
Thank you, I often let these thoughts fill my head. It doesn’t matter how many times I hear someone tell me I take beautiful photos. I am working on releasing the negative and have stopped comparing my photos.
Thank you so much. I do all of these, but I certainly want to grow, so tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities to shine.
Does this happen to everyone? Not just me? Not just photography too. Hit the writing wall yesterday, luckily my photos turned out okay.
I needed to read this! When bookings are non existent, time to re-evaluate what I’m doing wrong!
I feel like the lady with the toilet paper on my shoe. Everyone knows what’s wrong but me. I have reached the point when I see others photos and I want to say, “turn off your flash.” I am sure others want to say something like that to me, yet everyone has been kind. Oh, except Foodgawker, they say things like white balance and conformation. :)
Thanks for the great post. I enjoy reading you.
Madonna
Wow, this is how I have been feeling. I have been discouraged and it’s good to see others feel the same. Time to stop thinking those thoughts!
Thank you very much for the great tips ! I am starting my photography now and I’ve just learning so much through this. I am a bit nervous to dive into this field of business but this has been preparing me technically and emotionally !
Wonderful :) Glad we could help you on your journey!