Early in my journey as a photographer, I wasn’t too comfortable with a lot of subjects or genres of photography. As a result, my photographs were snapshots, at best.
I was stuck as a photographer. As much as I tried on my own I wasn’t really growing as a photographer much less as an artist. The whole, self-taught photography journey wasn’t really working out for me as I wasn’t able to break out of my comfort zone.
I actually began a photography course. The course forced me to move out of my comfort zone by assigning projects I had to complete to graduate. I remember the first time I connected with a model that I didn’t know as a friend or family member. I was very nervous. I began to learn about lighting and how to control it.
I learned to control both artificial lighting and natural lighting.
This knowledge I gained by being forced out of my comfort zone also helped me with photography without models.
Sometimes, we have to get out there and try things that we’re not comfortable with, but at the same time, we have to have people leading us through the journey that is more knowledgeable and can help instruct us through those times when we are uncomfortable.
I’m still working to get out of my comfort zones but now that I have much more experience and have been forced to try other subjects and genres I find it much easier to get out of my comfort zone.
To truly grow from photographer to artist is rewarding. My journey now is to try and help others move past their comfort zones to try new things even if it is a bit scary, at first.
Photographer Clay 
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