.jpg "155")
Confidence. It’s something that we artists really struggle with. We pour our hearts and souls into creating our photographs, but when it’s all said and done we still feel like it’s not good enough, we still feel like we haven’t done ourselves justice. We spend forever admiring the work of others, comparing ourselves and putting ourselves down. What’s up with that? Why are we so hard on ourselves?
Today I thought I would put together a list of what to do when that horrible feeling of “Not good enough” strikes. Because we deserve better than that.
.jpg "10 Ways to Reignite your Photographic Confidence")
[1] Look through your old work to get that feeling of accomplishment when you see just how far you have come.
[2] Go to your favourite photographer’s blog, and click on their very first entry. Know that we all start somewhere.
[3] Create a “Photography Bucket List“ and plan to complete at least one of those things within the next month.
[4] Know that you will have good days and bad days, and that the bad days will make the good days that much sweeter :)
[5] Every time you feel down, speak to yourself as though you are speaking to your best friend. I’m sure that if your best friend was a photographer, you would only speak words of encouragement and kindness. Remember that the next time you put yourself down. You deserve better. Plus, I believe that we should be our own best friends. So start treating yourself like one!
[6] Make a date with your camera! Seriously – set aside time within the next few days for just you and your camera. Shoot something that really excites you photographically, and don’t judge the results. Just photograph for fun. No pressure, deadlines or anything. Just pure enjoyment, my friend.
[7] Write down one thing you think you could improve on in your photography. Underneath it write three steps you could take to get on your way to achieving it.
[8] Understand that at the beginning your work will never look as good as you think it should, but remember not to give up: fight on, keep photographing and you will see major improvements.
[9] Know that artwork is always much more appreciated from the outside, than from the inside. What is obvious and ordinary to you may be amazing to others. Remember that your photography is much better than you give yourself credit for.
[10] Remind yourself of the main reason you fell in love with photography to begin with. Write it down. Hang it up.
Do you ever feel down about your photography? I’ve spoken to lots of photographers about it – and none of us can really come up with a single reason as to why we have such a lack of confidence. What do YOU do to reignite your photographic confidence? I’d looooove to hear from you!
