A friend posted the following video on Facebook the other day and I think it’s worth a watch for everyone in a creative field. It’s public radio host, Ira Glass‘s, take on the creative process translated to video by Get Out of the Box:
I know we can all relate to this on some level. When you first start making work, of course it’s not where you want it to be. And, as Ira Glass says, that’s ok! The hill is surmountable. Practice, practice, practice.
Before I started my photography business, before even considering becoming a professional photographer, I assumed professionals were on a whole different level than I was. And of course they were—purely based on experience. However, I may have erred too far on the side of thinking they were at the top of Everest and I was on a mole hill. And that was not true.
While on some days I feel that I still haven’t reached my potential as a photographer (who does?!), after shooting more than 70 weddings and hundreds of portrait sessions, I am confident and competent. But it’s good to keep growing and striving for that next level. There is more we can all aspire to and work to achieve.
They don’t call it the creative process for nothing. Wherever you are in that process, take a moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come and honor your efforts in getting where you are today. Then take one more moment to look into the future at where you’d like to be in the next six months, year, five years…
Got it in mind? Great! Now get back to work. 😉
For a visual representation of Ira’s commentary, check out this gorgeous poster by Etsy artist Nikki Clark:
Cheers,
