Dear friend,
I want to share with you how you can become more optimistic in your photography!
First of all, recognize that you’re happiest when you’re in the process and zone of making photos. You’re going to be happiest when you’re walking around, shooting, talking to people, strangers, walking in new places, traveling and exploring. So focus your happiness directly right now in your photography: don’t seek to make the best photos in the world compared to others, and don’t compare the photos you’re shooting now to photos you’ve shot in the past.
The simple tip:
Is whatever I’m photographing right now putting a smile on my face?
For example, shoot simple stuff that sparks joy in your heart and face! Photograph clouds, flowers, the smile of your loved ones, etc. Photograph all the beauty around you, and present that beautiful vision to others, by sharing your photos with them!
Second, recognize that time flies. If you shoot consistently everyday for a few years, you’re going to make a strong body of work relatively quickly. I’ve been recently looking at photos I’ve shot 4 years ago, and I’m really proud of my old photos, and even more grateful so of the new type of photos I’m shooting today!
So think of your photography as a marathon; stay in photography for years and decades! Do you plan on making photos until your 80s or 90s? I hope so!
Third, to find more hope, joy, and optimism in your photography, try an experiment:
Don’t upload your photos to Facebook or Instagram for a month and see what happens.
Will you still make photos if you couldn’t share them online or on social media?
Instead, share your photos directly with friends and family via email. Or show them the photos in real life as prints, or even on your iPad or phone (Dropbox).
Or print your photos as a magazine or book (Blurb.com), invite a friend to a beer or coffee, and gift them a copy of your photos! Or just share simple 4×6 prints with your loved ones and neighbors and coworkers.
Or just share them on your own photography blog! Register your own photography blog on bluehost.com and install WordPress.org on your website. Use that as your platform for sharing photos.
I think the reason why I’m more optimistic as a photographer after deleting my Instagram: I focus more on longer term photography projects, and don’t worry as much about getting immediate likes on my photos right now! I’ve been off Instagram for a year now and it’s been a great learning experience for me and also a test for myself:
What kind of photos would I shoot for myself, if I couldn’t share them on social media?
4. Smile and talk to people
Chat with more strangers you find interesting, and ask them about their life story, their dreams in life, and how they define happiness. Also use this as an opportunity to make photos or them (street portraits).
Even though the photos might not be the most interesting portraits in the world, building your own confidence and talking and interacting/engaging with others will make you more optimistic in life!
OPTIMISM POEM
Let me end this essay with a poem for you:
OPTIMISM
Follow your own inner vision
Your creativity is risen and flying
There ain’t no lying; you’re high!
Touch the sky
Feed your own creativity, five guys
I’ll give you a high five
Keep on going and stay alive
OPTIMISM and hope are dope
Don’t let the nope
Sayers
And procrastinators and delayers hold you back
Never backtrack keep going forward, even against the icy winds
Keep on racking those daily wins
Keep on smiling
Chin to chin
OPTIMISM
Today will be better than tomorrow
Or yesterday
Or the day after
So seize the day
Carpe diem
Disregard your own per diem and your own monthly pay
Just create and play all day!
Treat your photography like a visual play thing
Collect the Golden rings like sonic
Don’t slow down
Keep going
There’s no knowing what you’re capable of
Until you start dancing, Michael Jackson glove!
DANCE, SHOOT, AND PLAY EVERYDAY!
Respark your creative passion!
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