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Inbox (1): I know you’ve been spending a lot of your time comparing your work to others.

Monday, May 7, 2012 Posted inALL,ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

Hey you,

I know lately you’ve been spending a lot of your time comparing your work to others.

Some over-the-moon-talented photographer has posted their most recent set of photos and it’s like your heart stops in its place. And you feel so impressed by their artistry. Like, “how. did. they. do. that?” But at the same time you feel inadequate, and not nearly good enough. And, to put it bluntly, it sucks. It’s depressing. It’s demotivating. It just feels like you’ll never get there. Like you’re running fast and doing everything you can, but going nowhere. You don’t feel half as good as them, and it’s so disappointing.

But here’s the thing – someone wise once said, the only photographer you should ever compare yourself to is the one that you used to be.

It’s a fact of life – there will always be someone more talented than you, and less talented than you. But I bet that if the photographer you were a year ago could see the photographer you are today, they would be pretty dang impressed. Am I right, or am I right?

Focus on improvement. Instead of looking at their photos and thinking, “My photos are horrible compared to theirs”… try thinking, “Wow, they are AMAZING! I’m so happy I have such an exciting photography journey ahead of me! So much to learn, explore and discover!” Instead of feeling depressed about your “lack of”, feel excited about the fact that you are at a younger stage of your own photography journey.

Learn to turn the emotions around, because really – the way you feel is always a choice. So choose wisely :)

Big, huge, gorgeous, happy, emotional, appreciative, loving hugs

xoxo
Alex

PS Have fun with today’s inspiring tweetable!

Posted inALL,ARTISTIC INSPIRATION

  • Emma Jackson

    This is awesome. Wise words indeed xo

  • http://www.lauraolsen.com Laura

    Thank you for posting this today! It’s exactly what I needed to hear! It’s something that I try to tell myself often, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the spiral of defeat… feeling like what you are doing is NOT ENOUGH! Today I will look back at work from when I began this photographic journey.. and I will rejoice in how far I have come!

    xoxo

    L

  • http://heartlockerphoto.blogspot.com/ Mai

    Hi, Alex
    this is exactly what I needed to hear… I have been feeling that I don’t have much talent as others and maybe I just keep this as a hobby…

    yes… I will compare myself with what I used to be from now. this is a great realization. I have to stop comparing and complaining why I can’t be like others. Step by step, I have to step forward.

    great post.
    xo
    Mai

  • http://Www.mysticmomentsphotography.com.au Michael Tianias

    Great post Alex. Getting inspiration from other can be great but also cause us to feel lacking sometimes . :)

  • http://www.abrabergman.com Abra Bergman

    Thank you sooooo much for that motivational post. That is exactly what I needed to hear!

  • http://jamieraephotography.blogspot.com Jamie

    this is beautiful and so true. it is all about paradigm and choosing the right one!

  • http://paulettetphotography.blogspot.com Paulette

    very wise words alex! :)

  • http://www.merellephotography.com.au Rhiannon

    You have no idea how much I needed to hear this! I’ve really been struggling with comparing myself to others and I think this blog post has helped tipped me back into the positive!! Thanks Alex :)

  • http://500px.com/efutch Eva Futch

    You always inspire me and make me want to continue my journey when i am feeling down and out about my images. You are exactly right and I do go back to see the progress and improvement I have made within the last year in a half that I have been photographing. Thank you for always being so supportive of others and trying to help encourage us to be the people we dream to be. Dream big and much love

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Eva!

    Thank you so much for your comment, it really lifted me up this morning that you appreciated the message! I think sometimes it’s hard for us to see that we are on a journey, and we just have to keep on keepin’ on in any and every way that we can to be the best of ourselves that we can possibly be, and so that we can live our dream day to day!

    Keep creating and dreaming big!
    xoxo <3

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hi Mai!

    I’m so happy that this came at the right time for you. Just remember that we all start from somewhere, and that even the greatest photographers still feel they have a long way to go. Perfection is unachievable, and so as human beings we are always constantly trying to improve :). And it’s a good thing, actually!

    Big hugs
    xoxo

  • http://www.katymutch.carbonmade.com Katy

    Your words are so true. The internet is an amazing place for resources and inspiration, yet at the same time it can all become quite overwhelming and have the opposite effect. It’s so easy to become demotivated! I think one thing that helps me is seeing how far the photographer who I’m feeling demotivated by has come – so I sift back through to their very first blog posts, and most of the time there is an obvious improvement in their work compared to when they started out. This is so good to see, because it just proves that they didn’t start out ‘amazing’, they had to work at it, just like we do too!

  • http://www.jesshayflugvel.com Jess Hay Flugvel

    These words are so true and beautiful.

  • http://www.daniella-tjahjanto.com daniella

    I am so glad to read this Alex …I’m still climbing and looking at other works make me wanna shrink ..

    Thank you for sharing this !
    ♥ ♥ ♥

  • Samantha

    Thank you so much for posting this. I saw it pop up on my facebook. It never fails the days that I am down I see you posts and it changes my day. I am in the process of opening my own studio and have been questioning whether or not I am good enough to do it. Emotions can get the best of us but we have to choose not to let them. You inspire me and I am grateful for your encouraging words. Much love :)

  • http://opaldreamphotography.com CK

    Awesome ;) Needed to hear this today. Thank you Alex!