I love our Video Q & A days!! I love today’s question from Jennifer about getting over discouragement and intimidation. Almost every photographer I know has gone through this at one time or another. Personally, I have dealt with discouragement and intimidation several times in my journey so far.
Sometimes I see pictures and think, these are fabulous! I could never be that good. I know that becoming a good photographer doesn’t happen over night, but I still get discouraged. How do you overcome that discouragement and intimidation? – Jennifer
Watch the video to find a few tips on how you can move past the discouragement and intimidation to become the amazing photographer that you are meant to be.
Great advice! I was totally there once, I would swoon over other photographer’s images and think I would NEVER get there! I did exactly what you said here, I started to ignore others work and started focusing on my own, my business got busier (which made for less time for looking at others work), and now when I look back and compare I realize I have grown leaps and bounds! Some of the work I used to be “jealous” of I feel I have matched or surpassed, and that makes me excited to see where the future will go!
That is awesome!! It is amazing what happens when you focus on yourself and not others!! Way to go!
That part about reading all you can on photography, and then PRACTICING it, is what got me. :D I have a ton of knowledge about photography but I need to try it all!
I subscribed to your channel!
It’s definitely hard, since you can get sucked into learning and learning but if you don’t apply it it won’t stick :) Have fun shooting!! Thanks for subscribing!!
Thanks so much. It so good to hear that other photographers struggle with this and I appreciate your advice.
I know so many people struggle with this, it’s unfortunate it’s not talked about more! Glad you liked it :)
LOL why can’t we be stationed at the same base! Geez all the cool photographers are never at the same base as me! thank you so much for your advice!
Ha ha! That is the bonus of videos :) We can pretend to live near each other ;)
Seriously, I was so bummed out yesterday… then I read some of your blog and it totally helped me out. I have been self teaching myself along the way. I have shot weddings engagements, babies…etc. I just don’t feel like I am that good to really promote myself… anyways, the best tip I learned thus far was this… set your fstop then speed then iso… thank you jesus!!! that helps. I do understand you usually set speed starting around 125. any other tips on speed? I notice most life photographers use high speeds… Thank you so much!!!! You saved my sanity !
That is so fantastic to hear! We all get bummed…it’s part of the process of being an artist :) Don’t get discouraged though, you will get there!
Thank you so much for this Courtney.
I needed your wise words! I have just started my pet photography business and am barely finished with my website.
Since I’m just starting out, it’s so easy for me to feel discouraged.
I will continue my education in photography and will keep shooting!
Thank you again.
So glad you found encouragement in this :) Best of luck with your pet photography business. Did you see the series we posted about pet photography – http://clickitupanotch.com/2013/01/pet-photography-question-and-answer/
I’m new to building sites and I was wondering if having your site title related to your articles and other content really that vital? I notice your title, “Photography Video: Getting Past Discouragement and Intimidation ” does appear to be spot on with what your website is about however, I prefer to keep my title less content descriptive and based more around site branding. Would you think this is a good idea or bad idea? Any assistance would be greatly valued.
It’s a personal choice. I like to have my keywords at the front of the title for SEO purposes. Good luck!
I just wanted to say that this was a wonderful post, I myself struggle constantly with feeling intimidated and down in the dumps sometimes, I’ve only been practicing photography since march of 2013 so I am proud of myself so far on how much I’ve grown already, but I can’t help but feel down sometimes things have not really taken off the way I had imagined they would, but I try to stay positive and just keep reading up everything and messing around with my camera. All the posts on your website have been helpful actually I’ve been reading on almost all your topics for the past 2 days! Thanks so much for all the info!
I think another good way to learn fast is to shoot with film. Shooting film is expensive and forces you to be more careful about how you shoot and to be more creative. It’s very difficult to be lazy with film like we would with digital where we can just hold down the shutter and take a billion pics only to correct them in PP. Just a thought that I wanted t mention. :)
Amazing! Thanks for this video! That’s what I need to hear today!!! I’m struggling with a particular editing because for some reason my white balance wasn’t correct… I want to give the perfect photos to my client! I will hear it one more time and go back to work!!! :)
Hey Courtney!
Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your posts!! You are awesome! I am learning so much and I am so thankful to have found your site!! I also wanted to comment on this question by saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I realize that the actual technical parts can be right or wrong but there are so many pictures that are not technically correct but are my faves! It is hard when you are putting yourself out there but realize that your clients saw your work and were obviously impressed enough to book you so you must be doing something right!! Good luck and keep your head up Jennifer!
You could definitely see your skills within the article you write.
The sector hopes for even more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
Always go after your heart.
chelsea kläder