Building Confidence
Building Confidence
Photographers, like all creatives, inevitably encounter phases of self-doubt throughout their careers; times when confidence wavers in their capacity to express themselves effectively and connect with others.
Building confidence is a continuous process and a life-long endeavour.
Here are some ideas to help confront and overcome concerns around confidence and self-doubt:
Listen to ‘Confidence and dealing with self-doubt’ on the Exposed Negative podcast where Greg Funnell, Tom Barnes and I chew over this topic.
Photographers, like all creatives, inevitably encounter phases of self-doubt throughout their careers; times when confidence wavers in their capacity to express themselves effectively and connect with others.
Building confidence is a continuous process and a life-long endeavour.
Here are some ideas to help confront and overcome concerns around confidence and self-doubt:
- Embrace Your Uniqueness: Your knowledge, skill set, ideas, perspective and values are your greatest assets. Work out what these are and celebrate them through personal projects to hone your style. Remember that this is what sets you apart in a crowded market and is valuable.
- Learn and Evolve: Confidence grows with knowledge. Stay curious and committed to continuous learning. Equip yourself with new skills, techniques and knowledge about your markets. The more you know, the more confident you will become in your abilities.
- Celebrate Your Achievements: Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments over the past year or so, no matter how small. Whether it is mastering a new technique, receiving positive feedback or completing a challenging project. Acknowledging your achievements boosts self-assurance.
- Turn Criticism into Growth: Be open to (and indeed, seek) objective feedback on your work and brand as it is a powerful tool for improvement. Instead of seeing it as a setback, view feedback as an opportunity to develop and grow.
- Surround Yourself with Support: Build a network of fellow photographers, collaborators, mentors and supportive friends who understand your journey. Share your experiences, seek advice and offer support in return. Knowing you have a community behind you can bolster your confidence during challenging times.
- Face Your Fears - Feel the ‘Stretch’: Confidence often lies on the other side of fear. Challenge yourself by testing new ideas and taking on projects (however small) that push your boundaries and move you away from a comfort zone. Feel the ‘Stretch’ and you will inevitably grow in confidence in some way as a result. Each small move forwards will contribute to a greater sense of confidence in your abilities.
Listen to ‘Confidence and dealing with self-doubt’ on the Exposed Negative podcast where Greg Funnell, Tom Barnes and I chew over this topic.