The Early Days - Mistakes I've Made
As you may know, I didn’t start out as a photographer. In fact, I have a degree in global studies and french. And if that wasn’t enough off-subject, I also have a degree in fashion design. Although I always have had a creative eye and loved photography. While working in the fashion industry in New York at Calvin Klein, I scoured the internet, magazines, articles, and any print medium for collection inspiration and direction. These images I gathered would play just a tiny part in conveying the designer’s vision for the collection. I quickly realized I loved the thoughtful, often subtle messaging that photography can communicate. Fast forward years later, with a hop, skip, and a long plane ride to the middle of the pacific ocean, I began to dabble in food and lifestyle photography. I’m rather a perspective and sensitive individual, which I feel worked to my advantage when I started my photography business. But, to be honest, it was a rough ride in the beginning and still can be bumpy at times.
There were undoubtedly apparent mistakes that I made early on - to be frank; I had no idea what I was doing and sometimes still feel that way! As Winston Churchill wisely put it, “'Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” It honestly felt that way at the outset because I had no prior experience in shooting, let alone any formal education. Yet, I knew I had a sharp eye for design and visual storytelling. With several degrees in my pocket (I wasn’t using) and overwhelming student debt, I wasn’t in a position to go back to school or further invest in education. But that didn’t deter me, so I began experimenting, watching videos online, and trying to replicate the work of others I admired. This may sound off-putting or copying, but my mother, an artist, often paints old classics such as the ballet dancers of Degas or the cypress trees of Van Gogh in his swirling and expressive style. When I asked her why she wouldn’t paint something original, she said, “This is how you learn from the greats. By attempting to replicate their style, you further understand how they did it. It feels unfamiliar to paint this way, but I learned how they applied the paint and achieved that look.” She found her skillset and techniques were enriched by replicating each brush stroke by the masters.
I thought about that when I began shooting and felt a little lost on my own. With that sentiment in mind, I compiled a list of photographers and creatives whose work I admired. This invaluable practice helped me distill my style and, more importantly, attempt to unpack how they achieved such a look or scene. I was far from copying their work but instead dissecting the individual elements of why I was drawn to that image in particular. I will forever be a humble student — and I welcome the challenges that come my way as they often lead to the most significant growth and reflection.
With that said, there are a few critical mistakes that I did make in the early days. Mistakes and failures are natural steps of the growth process; there are no two ways around it. Although, I wanted to share five mistakes that perhaps you can sidestep on your creative journey.
5 Mistakes I Made In The Beginning
1. Following Trends
When I committed to being a photographer, I was wrapped up in the current trends because I had little vision or direction. I went from one shiny object to another, which left me feeling creatively empty and burnt out. Ultimately, I had nothing of significance nor any unique and identifiable style. Rather than focusing on what’s popular on social media or the latest photography trend, I think it’s far more valuable to stay true to your aesthetic, goals, and, frankly, what you enjoy shooting! You will feel far more fulfilled and passionate about your work instead of attempting to please social media's insatiable appetite with its finicky nature and trends.
2. Lacking Confidence
I struggle with confidence. I still do, even in my personal life. In the early days, I mumbled oh yes, I’m just a photographer without any conviction because I didn’t feel good enough. I think many creatives can relate to the imposter syndrome. But my confidence slowly grew as I began to build my portfolio and shoot in my free time. However, I feel that a lot of my wishy-washy, I’m not sure mentality, in the beginning, emphatically stating with confidence what I do and why would have propelled me forward far faster towards my goals. If you know who you are, why you do it, and what you want to achieve, state it with conviction and self-belief, and the rest will naturally follow.
3. Ignoring My Intuition
Intuition, I think, is our superpower. We all have it, and we know the feeling. I disregarded that niggling feeling in the back of my mind in the first year because I wanted this so much - I had left my day job, and it simply had to work! Being in Maui, I felt pressure to enter the wedding or proposal industry; is the primary market here in photography. Since picnics were my niche at the time, it seemed like a perfect match. Although, after a few proposals, something didn’t feel quite right. It didn’t feel aligned with what I wanted to create in the end. If something doesn’t sit right or feel aligned with you, take notice and ask yourself why. I find the best way to cultivate intuition is to get very quiet. Take time out in your day — go for a walk, sit in the shade, or close your eyes and breathe. The answers will reveal themselves eventually. I’ve done this countless times when I questioned if this was the right fit for me or the direction I wanted to go.
4. Not Investing In A Mentor
Not investing in a mentor or even an online course was a big mistake in the early days. Granted, I was dabbling, but when I fully committed to having my own successful photography business, having a mentor would have launched me miles ahead, faster than going at it alone. Finding someone your trust or whose work you admire is where you can begin to look. If there is someone who has already been in your shoes and is where you want to be (albeit in your manner), ask them if they offer a mentorship program. Their guidance and advice will be invaluable to you and will grow exponentially. If financially you aren’t in a position to hire a mentor, perhaps there is an online course that addresses your challenges and struggles. What’s even more beneficial with online courses is that they usually have a large private community that will be happy to be your sounding board and offer creative support.
5. Striving for Perfection