Does anyone else struggle and it directly impacts their business? I am really struggling right now. In the middle of busy season Im having an editing identity crisis and have been really hating my work lately. I just know there could be so much more impact!! I feel like it’s imposter syndrome but im not sure if that’s really it when I see all the areas to improve in.
I think I do well with posing and client interaction. I do a pretty good job of capturing emotion and I often receive praise about it. Part of being able to do that is moving quickly and often I focus on the emotion, poses, and prompts, and neglect technical issues - rules of thirds, horizon lines, impactful compositions.
Im 7 years into my career and have never received any negative feedback or reviews. I receive thank you cards, tips, and 5 star reviews…. But I honestly think that’s only because im such a people pleaser. Im constantly told to raise my rates, but how can I when I hate my own work? Im doing everything for my clients and it’s killing me! I always overdeliver and go so above and beyond when finding locations, edits, ect. I’m not making what I should. I don’t even feel like I can talk about this to my local photography community….I feel like I come across asking for praise and that is not my intention. I feel like everyone is succeeding and making a livable wage, and I’m hiding how empty my calendar bookings are, avg session income, and just overall lack of professionalism. I’m not a new photographer at all so this feeling stings.
Perhaps it’s not a syndrome; perhaps you are an imposter. “Fake it till you make it” is the song of cowards. You must be brave! Find the lightning within your work and act to make it come alive! Bathe in storm waters with a mind that is an endless and immovable sea. In an age of pretenders and the faint-hearted, few will hold you to this task, but your very spirit demands it of yourself! See the chaos in the world and reach your hand out to it, close your grip around it, and make it fear your destiny! It must be that chaos is right to fear you so that you may live in awe of your works and may will yourself to live in them again a thousand times more!