Photographer Clay

Category: motivation

  • The challenge of getting restarted

    The challenge of getting restarted

    One of the biggest challenges I have faced during my many years of involvement with photography is restarting my photography routine. In September 2023, my life took a major turn when I moved from a place where I had lived for many years. Initially, I didn’t have a permanent address, and my plan was to travel for a few months, which I did. During this time, I visited some amazing places that I had never been to before. However, when I returned to my home area, I stayed with my son until I found a new home. My photography and other hobbies were put on hold during this transitional period.

    After months of traveling and living on the road, I have finally settled down in a permanent residence. I have all of my precious photography equipment, including my trusted computers. I am now eager to restart my photography work and get motivated to do more. Even though capturing photographs while traveling was exciting, I feel like I’m starting again. I am excited to explore new surroundings and capture awe-inspiring moments through my lens once again.

    I can imagine that numerous individuals have gone through comparable situations to mine. The uncertainty and struggle to adapt to an unfamiliar environment can be challenging and overwhelming. Despite this, I am also aware that some have managed to overcome these obstacles and make a successful transition. However, I can’t help but think that there must be others who have unfortunately failed and given up.

    Many individuals tend to fear the possibility of failure and uncertainty, which can often lead them to give up on their goals. However, it is important to recognize that this can be a self-defeating attitude, as it may prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our dreams. Instead, we should strive to develop a growth mindset, where we view failure as an opportunity to learn and improve. By doing so, we can overcome our fears, achieve our goals, and ultimately lead a more fulfilling life. I shall no longer be fearful achieving my goals as an artistic photographer.

  • To stay relevant stay current

    To stay relevant stay current

    There are lots of articles on staying current in business or your chosen profession. Some of the key points the experts make are:

    • Educate Yourself
      • Is your personal education adding value to your conversations each day and managing your team? If not, what actions do you need to take to increase your education?
    • Energize Skills
      • When was the last time you did a personal skills audit?
    • Embrace Technology
      • Are you across the latest time-saving technologies for your everyday activities?
    • Engage Social Media

    Educate Yourself

    Is your personal education adding value to your conversations each day and managing your team? If not, what actions do you need to take to increase your education? It’s crucial to continuously seek new knowledge and skills to remain competitive in your field.

    Remember, learning is a lifelong journey!

    Energize Your Skills

    When was the last time you did a personal skills audit? Regularly assessing and improving your skill set is essential for staying current and competitive in your profession. Take the time to identify areas for development and seek out opportunities for growth. By actively energizing your skills, you can enhance your productivity and adaptability in an ever-evolving work environment.

    It’s essential to stay updated with the latest time-saving technologies in your everyday activities. Embracing technology not only streamlines your processes but also keeps you ahead in your professional endeavors. Whether it’s adopting new software, automation tools, or innovative systems, integrating technology can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness. Keep an eye on technological advancements relevant to your industry to ensure you are leveraging the most beneficial tools available.

    Engage Social Media

    In today’s digital age, engaging with social media is crucial for maintaining a strong professional presence. Whether it’s through networking on LinkedIn, showcasing your expertise on X, formerly known as Twitter, or developing a visual identity on Instagram, active participation in social media can significantly enhance your visibility and connectivity within your industry. By effectively utilizing social media platforms, you can stay current, share valuable insights, and establish meaningful connections with peers and potential clients. Remember to maintain a consistent and professional brand voice across all your social media channels to maximize the impact of your engagement efforts.

  • The double edge sword

    The double edge sword

    Social media is the double-edged sword of our times. We love it and hate it, we embrace it and we avoid it. Social media is a source of information and misinformation. It exposes us to a wide audience, the good, the bad, and the ugly. We can use it to express our opinions, thoughts, and comments. It is a source to find anything and everything to be offended by. So why do we bother?

    Back in the “olden times” before social media and the internet I had few places to showcase my photography. I had prints and slides but few outside of my immediate circle of friends and family ever saw any of my work. Today, I have a multitude of places to show my work, my ideas, and my concepts. I have this blog site to express my thoughts. Sure it comes with a risk of haters and trolls (nice word for assholes).

    In recent days, I have seen a multitude of people become offended by virtually anything. I have seen people say things to others they would never, or a least rarely, say in a face-to-face conversation.

    While it would appear that the internet is a horrible place and social media is a big contributor to hatred and drama it is also a place for expanding our world, our ideas, our creativity, and inspiration. It may be nearly impossible to avoid the drama and hate on social media but I, for one, am not ready to give it up. I work to stay out of the drama and look for positive interactions with the world.

  • Never stop moving and learning!

    Never stop moving and learning!

    I recently set a reminder to watch a live video talking about the myths of Lightroom by one of the few “talking heads” of photo editing I follow. I missed the live video unfortunately. A few days after the live broadcast I remembered the video and found the recorded version. Some of the myths I knew about and knew they were wrong and much to my surprise I learned some things I still believed. I have since reconsidered my entire workflow and process. By rethinking my entire workflow, I believe I have uncovered another creative resource. This resource gives me access to an entire community of creatives just like me. Allowing me to gather ideas and concepts that far exceed my circle of social media friends.

    This has reminded me to never stop moving and learning. When we stay still and stop exposing ourselves to other people and influences, we become static and eventually become boring, uninteresting, and outdated.