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| Model Luna Marie with Cael, the wolfdog. |
The New Year is almost upon us- it’s a chance to change ourselves for the better, whether it be through resolutions or an overall better mindset. One of the most common struggles artists face- whether they be photographers, painters, or anyone else in the creative field- is confidence. What is confidence? A word we have all heard used a thousand times over, but do we truly know the meaning? According to the official definition, confidence is “a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.”
Why is confidence such a struggle? Well, there are various reasons. Some struggle with understanding the fine line between assurance and egotism, other are too humble, and some fall into perpetual doubt of their own skills and talents. An entire textbook can be devoted towards the topic of confidence, but to keep this article short and sweet, I will cut to the chase: Confidence is hard to come by. And without self-assurance, we cannot give our clients the best of ourselves.
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| Doby, the dog. |
So, the real question is: How do you gain confidence with your own work? The primary detriment to our self-confidence is simply that we are too hard on ourselves. And one of the best ways to overcome this issue is to simply remind ourselves that improvement comes with (a LOT of) time, experience, and practice. Although we should continually look for the mistakes in our work for the sake of fixing them, we shouldn’t let those mistakes define us. Those who hire us to be their photographers do so because they see something magical in our photography, and we need to remember that! As for feeling confident in the technical aspects of photography, a lot of our doubts stem from over-thinking things. Much like taking a test, second guessing makes us question our knowledge, which leads to a lot of wasted time and a higher number of mistakes. Solution? Trust your gut feeling. The camera is an extension of your arm, use it as such!
Confidence can also be dependent on the world around you. What does your workplace look like? How about your website? Your business structure? Disorganization, clutter, and chaos are rarely compartmentalized in our lives, and being scattered in one area can dramatically affect how we view ourselves, our business, and our talent. Pay special attention to your website. Having a professional and tailored website makes it easier for us to feel confident in our work and it helps us to exude sureness to potential clients. Online photography storefronts, such as Instaproofs, can also help back our confident feelings up with beautiful, sleek, and professional photo galleries. By staying organized and keeping the appearance of our business and website beautiful and up-to-date, our clients will view us true professionals, which will aide us in building confidence in ourselves as well.
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| Lindsay Stransky |
Have you ever heard of the phrase “fake it until you make it”? The same can be said for confidence. If you continually look for the positive aspects in your work, and you continually tell yourself that your photography is good, your confidence (and your skills) will soar! Psychological studies have shown that if you make yourself believe that something is so, it more often-than-not will be. These approaches are used for various scenarios throughout our lives, and they have a tendency to work marvelously. Whether you are truly feeling it or not, your clients need to feel your confidence in order to feel comfortable working with you. And by continually building-up your confidence and telling yourself that you are good, you will quickly get past the "faking it" phase; especially when your jobs go as planned time and time again.
However, with all this talk of finding an inner sureness, we must remember not to allow ourselves to surpass the line of egoism. One of the various reasons an egotistical mindset is to your disadvantage is because self-centeredness has the potential of coming off as cocky (a highly unlikable characteristic). This can make it more difficult to find jobs and to please our customers. Another disadvantage is that being conceited can make us miss or overlook important mistakes and issues in our work that should be corrected, which stifles the improvement process, and causes our talents to stagnate. Be proud and confident of your work, but also be humble enough to see and learn from your mistakes and shortcomings.
Although the quest for confidence can be a tedious one, it must be done in order to better ourselves and the lives of those we shoot for! Once you find those feelings of confidence, open up an online store. Upload your photo sessions and let your clients purchase their favorite memories with ease. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and stay confident that your work looks as professional as it feels. Besides, these feelings of self-trust can open-up a slew of doors to bigger and better opportunities; and life is all about opportunities!
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| James Haley |
Anabel DFlux is a California native who prefers to spend every waking moment with her trusty camera in hand. In 2009 she started her own photography business on a whim and a wish, and has since gone on to work for a variety of publications, companies, and unique clients throughout the country. With her foot in a variety of photographic doors, Anabel is recognized as a zealous individual with a passion for art that knows no bounds.