Balancing Creativity With Security
“Wherever you are right now, is where you are meant to be.”
Taking the leap of faith to work as a full-time photographer can be nerve-wracking, to say the least. Security is a fundamental human need. And the creative world can be a bumpy business road to travel. Creatives tend to put so much pressure on themselves and their work. Balancing our creativity while financially being able to support ourselves is something every photographer goes through at some point. I have yet to meet a "successful," published, well-established photographer who didn't have some growing pains and financial struggles. In the early days of my career, I believed that if I wasn't working full-time as a photographer, I hadn't "made it," or I was just a hobbyist. I felt a lot of shame for not being able to book clients or have a steady flow of income. My work wasn't just about creativity and sharing beauty and moments; it became hyper-centered on supporting myself. Shame. A feeling I don't think is spoken about often enough in the creative space. Shame around not being good enough. It's a shame because our work doesn't sustain and support us, so therefore, it's not worth sharing. Shame that we have to have two or three part-time jobs just to make ends meet. I have felt that feeling more times than I can count. Shame is an emotion that thrives in the dark, in the shadows, where we avoid it until it's built up so much the only way to cleanse it is to bring it to the light.
What feeling or belief about is keeping you stuck in a shame spiral?
How many part-time gigs you have to keep building your photography business doesn't matter. If you have to work a 9-5 just to keep your bills paid and support yourself, so be it. There is absolutely zero shame in doing whatever you need to do to support you on your creative journey. Those side gigs are just the stepping stones you need to get you there. They aren't the end. They aren't the ending period of your photography career. What matters most is your vision for your work and business; your North Star if you will. In the early days, I found that my creativity and confidence suffered when I put pressure on my photography and business. My photography had to support me or else. Have you felt that before? It loses its joy, vibrancy, and fun when we put the weight of our security on our newly-formed creative business. Perhaps you thrive under pressure, but my pride doesn’t stop me from not taking another job just to say I'm a full-time photographer. I assist another local photographer part-time while having my own clients and mentorship program. Life is less stressful and work flows more easily. Ideas come more readily. It just feels different when my creativity has the space to explore and play. It’s not forever, just for this season of life.
When you're feeling unsure in yourself and shame around supporting yourself by other means remember these truths:
Everyone goes through transitions of turmoil, hardship, and financial insecurity
You are right where you are meant to be
Challenges are an opportunity for growth
Money is just a tool; your vision is your North Star
Shame signifies a feeling or a belief that needs to be brought into the light
What matters is continuing to show up, share, and put yourself out there despite the present challenges or circumstances. It's all about perspective. If you have to take a part-time job, how can you change your perspective around it?
Rather than thinking…
I shouldn't have to do this (x)
It makes me a failure.
I won't have time to build my business.
What if I don't have time to shoot anymore?
My work is so important to me, so why should it be on the back burner?
What will others photographers think if they knew I worked a 9-5?
It's easier for others, but why not me?
Instead, what if you thought about it this way…
This (x) is giving me the security and peace of mind I need to continue to build my photography business.
I'm taking pressure off my photography business until I'm ready to take the leap full-time.
I make time for what's important to me. I can work on my photography business or shoot on the weekends if needed.
How can I assign a new meaning to this situation?
How can I reframe this situation?
My photography and creativity will flourish when I have financial peace of mind.
I will be able to make more intentional business decisions if I am not stressed about how I will pay my bills.
Everyone starts somewhere, and business is one big experiment.
I do my best work when I'm not stressed.
As the late, great Wayne Dyer said, "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." If you can change how you feel about taking on a second or part-time job, your perspective of it will change. It will turn from embarrassment to security. A setback to a stepping stone. Reframe it in the positive instead of sinking into a negative place of scarcity and hustle. Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic is a wonderful and comforting read on balancing creativity and financial security; I highly recommend adding it to your bookshelf.
My greatest encouragement to you is to stay true to what you envision for your photography business but not be afraid or ashamed of supporting yourself in other ways. If you'd like to delve deeper with me, consider applying to my mentorship program where we can work together on your creative journey, wherever you are.
Alanna
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