{"id":27787,"date":"2015-03-08T22:47:27","date_gmt":"2015-03-09T02:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/?p=27787"},"modified":"2019-09-09T18:53:18","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T22:53:18","slug":"photographers-inspiration-and-overcoming-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neilvn.com\/tangents\/photographers-inspiration-and-overcoming-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographers – inspiration, and overcoming fears"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Photographers – inspiration; overcoming\u00a0fears & maintaining momentum<\/h1>\n

It was high time that I updated my bio photo on my websites and profile photos. I wanted something casual, yet with a certain gravity. While at WPPI last week in Las Vegas, I was surrounded by photographers. I asked … well, prodded and pushed my friend Annie Sullivan<\/a> to take a series of photos in various locations inside the MGM. This is the photo I settled on.\u00a0We have other\u00a0photos\u00a0that are equally good, and less serious, but this one really says “I’m the one who knocks…”\u00a0So this is now going across my websites.<\/p>\n

Annie\u00a0was hesitant to take on the task\u00a0of shooting new bio photos for me.\u00a0Apparently I can be intimidating. But it’s often a high pressure event to take another photographers’ photos – you feel like you’re being scrutinized.\u00a0She admitted to being scared witless at the start of it, and then again when I posted this photo. As she told me afterwards, “I have confidence in myself as a human, it’s my work I struggle with.\u00a0If I’m honest, I’m just afraid people will be like “she needs to go work in a toll booth.””<\/p>\n

This ties in with a regular theme with photographers, experienced and less experienced – fear of failure holding you\u00a0back<\/a>. Getting out of your own safety zone,\u00a0and trying the new and unexpected\u00a0– these are\u00a0tough hurdles to overcome.<\/p>\n

However, in the\u00a0inspiring words of Eleanor Roosevelt:\u00a0We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face … we must do that which we think we cannot.<\/em><\/p>\n

It really is as simple as that – systematically attempting things which we would rather not\u00a0because they are too\u00a0difficult. Or scary. Or too much like hard work. Then, in addition to that, we need the energy to maintain momentum. This is why\u00a0personal photography projects & goals<\/a>\u00a0are so good to have – things we do for fun to inspire us, and make us reach further.<\/p>\n

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Staying on track & keeping momentum<\/h2>\n

While we’re quoting Eleanor Roosevelt, one of her\u00a0sayings made a huge impression on me the first time I read it:<\/p>\n

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.<\/em><\/p>\n

How true is that? If you think of friends and acquaintances you have – there is a pattern that people who are negative will talk badly about others and gossip. People who reach higher and are successful, are usually the ones who are brimming with ideas. The ones who would rather consider “how do we change this?”, instead of whining about a problem.<\/p>\n

Is someone else doing better than you are at either the craft or the business? Don’t resent them for their success. Instead, it\u00a0should motivate you to do better. It is something you<\/strong> aren’t doing, or it is something you<\/strong> need to be doing better. That’s where the focus should be.<\/p>\n

Whenever I feel myself slump into negativity, I remind myself of this truth – great minds discuss ideas. That is where the energy is. That is where the upward trajectory starts – ideas and concepts\u00a0and projects.<\/p>\n

As an aside –\u00a0chatting the one evening at WPPI with a few people who are prominent in the photography\u00a0industry, I took to heart something that Roy Ashen of TripleScoopMusic<\/a> said. In an interview he was asked about his marketing strategy in having created a successful business. He laughed when \u00a0they were surprised at his answer\u00a0– his business strategy is built on a simple idea: be nice to everyone and help people were you can.<\/p>\n

Again, such a clear truth. Be nice to everyone and help people where you can. Now couple that with: great minds discuss ideas … and add consistent hard work.\u00a0That’s the road to success.<\/p>\n

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Camera settings & photo gear (or equivalents) uses during this photo session<\/h2>\n