You’ll Always Kind of Suck

My biggest fear as a photographer was that I was just another mom with a camera. I would always compare myself to other photographers and question when I could call myself a professional because I didn’t go to art school. And the truth is fellow mamtog, you’ll always kind of suck. No matter how amazing you become at your craft or how confident you feel behind the camera, there will always be one person you will never live up to.

Compare who you are as a photographer today, to who you were 5 years ago, or even just last year! How do you feel about the art you were creating then? Chances are that you feel WAY more confident about the photos you’re creating now. Why wouldn’t you? You’ve been out there learning new skills on the fly, growing your expertise, defining your niche, basically kicking ass, taking names and raising babies all at the same time. 

Now, imagine running into your future self and the experiences that person has been through. Compared to that person, the photographer you are today is great, but she’s not quite THERE yet. Your future self is always going to be better than who you are today (that jerk!) She is the standard you should always strive to live up to.

The good news is, you get to mold who that future version of yourself is! The sky is the freaking limit!! As long as you are working towards living up to the level of awesomeness that this version of yourself has achieved, you WILL get there. You just have to stay open minded and always be looking for ways to build and strengthen your existing skills. And to help you along this journey, here are my top 5 favorite ways to grow as a photographer.

Mentors

The number one most valuable resource you can utilize is a knowledgeable mentor. If you don’t have one already, don’t worry. This relationship can’t be rushed. It will happen naturally along your journey. And when you do find that person, the best way you can thank them is to show them that the time they are investing in you is not wasted. Listen to their advice - it’s worth more than a million courses or online videos! Shout out to Erin Leigh here! She’s been my mentor for 8 years now and I know without a doubt that I would not be as skilled as I am today without her guidance.

CreativeLive

I’ll hop onto CreativeLive every so often to see what’s being taught and try out courses that are outside of my comfort zone. They don’t even have to be photography related! That’s the best part about being a creative entrepreneur. You never know what skill will inspire your next genius shoot idea. Right now I’m SUPER into exploring courses about conceptual art photography. As a commercial brand photographer, this is way outside of what I normally shoot, but I’m totally obsessed. 

Self help books

Nothing gets me pumped and kick starts my creativity like a good self help book! I use Audible and listen to them in the car or while I’m working out. By far, my favorite books have been by Gabrielle Berstein. The Universe Has Your Back is MY JAM! 

Social Media

I’ll dive into a particular hashtag and just keep digging until I find inspirational gold. If I stumble across something that sparks a creative idea, I always make sure to save it so that I can tag the person later when I post my own version. I never try to replicate their work exactly. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but stealing someone’s hard work just isn’t cool.

Get Lost

Thank goodness for smart phones!!! If it wasn’t for map apps, I would probably be in New York right now trying to find my way back to California. I don’t mean to get lost, but it happens often. And sometimes, it’s for the best because I’ll find amazing new locations I never knew existed. Then when I’m brainstorming with a client for a new shoot, I almost always have the perfect location ready to go.

So, who will you always strive to live up to? Who is this future version of you? Once you have a clear vision in your head, compare who you are today to this person, and this person alone. Because the honest truth is, mama, that you are amazing. And being another mom with a camera is totally rad because what inspired us to pick up our cameras in the first place was the love we felt for our babies. Art that comes from a place of love is valuable and full of beauty that shines through in your pictures, no matter your current skill level. Keep on creating, and make sure to tag @sarahd.photos on Instagram in your photos so I can send some love and encouragement your way too!