Fear, failure, focus

Since being in USA I have seen many, many pumpkins and fake cobwebs and people dressed in quite odd costumes, and every conversation is about upcoming Halloween parties.

They say Halloween started with the Pagan festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Let’s face it, they didn’t have electricity. Or the Calm app.

Fear is still very prevalent though, especially in the imaginations of creative people, and that includes photographers.

• Fear of failure
• Fear of not being good enough
• Fear of being broke
• Fear of taking risks
• Fear of showing really personal work
• Fear of not delivering
• Fear of being visible
• Fear of not being seen

I could write lists and lists of the fears of photographers I meet, and for every one there is s contradictory fear. It’s a wonder anything gets made.

Looking back, or from the outside, many of those fears are as mad as fear of ghosts, the boogie man, vaccinations and clowns.

Apparently worry is focusing all your energy on something that probably won’t even happen. Seriously, that’s not a good use of your time.

Instead, try harnessing that fabulous imagination and focus on what you DO want to happen, rather than what you DON’T want to happen.

• Billing amazing clients that hire you to shoot what you love.
• Collaborating with a rep that believes in you.
• Shooting beautiful personal work that deeply moves its viewers

Whatever floats your boat.

Humour me: Really focus on it.

Then don your fairy wings, grab your mask, and have a fabulous Halloween!

 

“Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face.”

– Nelson DeMille