This Relationship Is Complicated...
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2024
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Ever since I turned my passion for photography into a job in 2010, my relationship with it has been a little complicated. Spilling my guts about how I feel about it and my favourite way to combat burnout when taking a break isn't working.
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Anyone else have a weird relationship with the camera?
This topic really hits home for me because I used to only shoot photos for my entire life up until last August when I moved to a new place with amazing sunsets I couldn't accurately capture in one photo or even a photo series. So I started shooting sunsets in video, turned that into this new youtube channel, and now 8 months later realized I never shoot sunset PHOTOS anymore because the videos capture it so much better! It felt really weird when I realized I've abandoned something I did for so long, but I view this shift not so much as falling out of love with photography as discovering a better tool for the scene I want to capture. I still take photos of other types of landscapes, but I view sunsets as an evolving STORY that requires the extra time dimension of video. As a snowball effect, using video more often has opened my eyes to other nature scenes with stories I could tell through video that I previously would have only photographed. I have really enjoyed this evolution. 🙂
“I view this shift not so much as falling out of love with photography as discovering a better tool for the scene I want to capture” THIS!!!! Great way to shift the mindset and also try new things!
@@BeckiandChris I appreciate your understanding and sharing topics like this. I've been watching your videos since Peter McKinnon's helicopter trip, and you've definitely inspired me over the years. I just realized I don't really watch Peter's channel anymore, but don't tell him that. 🤫
Oh my gosh. Ten seconds in and that hit me hard. What is wrong with me? My husband gives me crap about not using my camera much anymore and it almost makes me want to sell it all. Oh man, ok back to the video.
A bit, I think. This is just the perspective of a hobbyist, I do not shoot anything professionally. I accidentally turned into your typical holiday photographer that only uses his camera on vacation. It's not what I imaged or wanted, I wish I'd want to get out in the world more and just take my camera with me. But in public situations I'm often shy and don't want to take photos at all. And what also happened over time was me losing the interest into culling photos and sorting all the stuff I produce afterwards. I have thousands of photos left from past vacations that aren't "done". My expectations and my perfectionism mainly get in the way there, while I like photo books I've never actually designed one myself, I always think that my photos aren't good enough. What helped me change this whole situation a bit was film photography. My father introduced me to his dark room back in the days and I got interested in that again in the last years. So I eventually went on ebay and bought a film camera that didn't cost much, but it ignited something in me. I fell in love with 50 mm primes, even bought one for my digital camera and started to make my own prints in the dark room. Eventually I stopped again and am now trying to pick it up. This time it's because of a good friend who visited me and she loves my photos. I had an older print of a light house lying around that she absolutely adores (12x16 inch), also made by me in the dark room, and I gifted it to her. Her father framed it and for her and for the first time in my life, I saw one of my photos properly displayed at a great size and I thought "man, you can shoot nice photos". So I bought paper and film and when I got time this year I'm going to make some bigger prints and hang them on the wall. Really looking forward to that. Maybe it helps me pick up my camera again.
Becki-i just want to extend a sincere thank you. I am in the same boat, this video brought tears to my eyes because i do love photography but been disconnected with it lately.
Becki, great to see I’m not the only one that has highs and lows with my relationship with photography… I haven’t picked up my camera in a while, but seeing a lot more pics on Insta from your uncle Pete is starting to pique my interest again, he’s a very talented shooter, just like you!
It’s definitely encouraging to see more photos popping up!
I share this weird relationship with my hobbies too. I haven't converted them into a career but, I felt exactly what you just described in this video. Very very relatable. Thank you for putting this out here.
It's the same for me as well. Hoping we can all find our balance and interested in seeing how we get there 🤞
What an incredibly raw and vulnerable video! Thank you for sharing. I too feel the need to make photos just for me so that I can keep my passion for photography burning
Thanks so much! Making photos for ourselves is so important!
This is everything! Thank you for voicing what has been a long term relationship for me with my photography and other personal artwork.
This hits hard for me. Love your vulnerability. Thanks for sharing Becki!
Thanks friend!!
Went through this recently. I used to shoot film photography for me and digital for work but at some point (with the rising cost of film and development, convenience, an intermittent fault with my film cameras, etc.) I ended up using my work gear for personal work and unsurprisingly, looking back, I think my brain just approached everything with a work mindset. Things like client expectations, obsessing over the work performing, less room for experimentation and learning and then the burden of editing on top. I just disconnected about 5 years ago and defaulted to my phone and then disconnected from social media and sharing work almost completely. Start of this year had a reset, bought a new (to me) 35mm camera and completely compartmentalised my personal photography away from work. I've tried to simplify it to one camera, three small lenses, a good bag for quick and easy access and then just take that personal time away from the work world. I now share what I like, when I like on personal social media accounts with zero expectation on engagement. The years of paralysis over 'does anyone give a shit?' I'm trying to change to 'I care'. Work performance and expectations are toxic when they bleed in to your personal time creating.
I can totally relate to what you are saying. I love the idea of coming up with a personal project. Whether it is from your passion becoming a profession, or just life getting in the way I think it is important to find ways to find one’s way back to the things you’re passionate about and bring you joy.
Whew, definitely relatable. I never thought about using a passion project as an avenue to fall in love with photography again. Thanks for sharing! ❤
Love a genuine heart-to-heart conversation with Beckie. Our passions definitely ebb and flow with the times in our lives, just a natural part of life. I've found comfort in embracing when I want to do something and when I don't! :)
Totally feel this. Had a passion, went to school for it, landed a career doing it. Now I hardly ever do it outside of work. Kinda sad to think about.
I relate so much to what you are saying. I have started my art business a few years now and since i call it a "business" on top of having a job at the same time for most of it (and raising my young children) i had a depression and lost the sight of my passion for it. I am now trying to rebuilt it. I now work full time as an artist, but am still recovring from depression so it is a long journey. Thank you for sharing your struggle, it helps knowing that we are not alone feeling this way. I'm sure it will come back because anything that was once a visceral feeling in your heart, a real passion, never really disapear. But it needs care !
Take care of you and i am hoping that you find these little moments for yourself where you feel that spark.
Thank you so much for your video. It’s so refreshing to hear successful people like yourself talk about the things they struggle with. I work full time video production, and I have a photography business on the side. But after 10 years of constantly working, I started to lose the joy I once had with a camera in my hands. It’s really hard to muster up the energy to be creative for fun, when you have to use that creativity for work all day every day. I made the hard decision to really cut back on paying jobs this year, so I have more time to be creative without limitations or EXPECTATIONS. And while giving up a huge chunk of income is terrifying, reawakening the passion I once had, has been exciting and liberating. Thanks again for all your content, but especially this.
Thank you for putting this out there. I love photography with all my heart but I got a job in Graphic Design because I didn't want to make my relationship with photography complicated. It's strictly a therapy and a fun activity for me, not a job. I do however put a lot of pressure on myself to grow as a photographer and artist, so when I feel even the slightest amount of burnout, I switch my camera to jpeg only and go for a walk, not even considering post production or editing. Just living in the moment.
Embrace the journey and keep capturing moments. Photography is like a time machine, and the rewards you'll reap in the end will far outweigh any current confusion.
I’ve been feeling so weird about social media and photography lately. I went ultra downgrade and started working on Polaroid film again almost exclusively
In the last few weeks. It’s letting me see things differently and actually just a tool to try and get me out of burnout. I’m glad you’re finding your way back too.
Thanks for sharing. I’m at the same place right now. I’ve been a TV director for a few years now and I’ve neglected my passion for photography. But when I do pick up my Sony it still give great joy and I am ever so grateful for that.
100%. Honestly, what helped me was getting a Fuji XT5. I've been a Sony shooter all my life and love their cameras for work. I still use them for work. But when I want to go out and shoot for myself I take the Fuji and a Prime with me, slap a Film Emulation on top and just have fun with all the buttons, dials and settings. I even use manual focus because the Fuji autofocus is so shit compared to Sony (even if it has gotten better).
So maybe that's also an approach worth trying; moving away from your Sony "work" gear and getting something from a different brand that you just use casually for your own entertainment.
Haven't picked up the camera much since coimg out of lockdown and struggle to get the motivation back to go out and just shoot. I think I use every excuse under the sun to not go out, "too busy with work, oh the weather or the city not being as safe as it used to be" etc. I used to be excited getting out feeling refreshed from walking everywhere while also being exhausted at the same time the next day in work. But what you suggested about a personal project is a great idea even if you never show it to the world that it is jsut for yourself. Thank you for sharing your struggle with photography. It helps to know I'm not the only one feeling it.
This!! I have a complicated relationship with photography too, You really helped me understand what I might be going through! Thanks for sharing
I feel like it's totally normal to fall in and out of love with our passion. I have had similar moments with music, and lately my most recent shift was to pick up a new instrument. The process of learning how to play music again brings me a childlike joy that I no longer get from playing guitar. I joined a new band with my new instrument (drums), and it has even inspired me to pick up my old guitar again, with a lightness to it. I don't know if you've considered really altering your toolkit like that - whether it is using a film camera, a 360 camera, or even collage, paintbrush, or digital pen. It's only natural to want to learn more - and we often forget that sidestepping is still growth.
Love this!!
This video came up at the right time as I am feeling burnt out with photography and definitely feeling like lately I have a complicated relationship with my camera. I appreciate this video so much, and want to just shoot for fun.
When I need some inspiration I always watch your videos, it always brings me some joy, not sure why but it works all the time !
Aw thanks! Glad to hear it!
I can relate to this - having shot initially as a hobby and then as a professional definitely can have a hard time delineating between your passion and your job, which can lead to burn out. That being said, I lately have had that same burn out feeling, and think a passion project would be a great way to garner that "spark" again. Thanks!
Can totally relate. I rarely ever pick my camera up outside of paid jobs. Carrying round the lenses on holiday or just doing street stuff becomes a chore and feels clunky. Buying the Fuji X100IV when it stocks up just for that simplicity and to help me get into some more personal work
I think this is definitely something that a lot of people deal with. I got the Fuji x100v (right before the huge social media spike) and it made me fall in love with photography again. It makes me go out and want to take photos. You don’t have to worry about lens selection, you can shoot some awesome jpegs and be happy with them. It has a hybrid ovf/evf that is awesome. I would highly recommend that camera to fall back in love with photography again!
Omg big feels. Yes. Passion project helps 1000 fold. I started a small, to do a calendar so it made me pick up my camera each month. So helpful. Wasn't 100% happy with the outcome but loved the process.
I am not a photographer, I am a drummer & drum teacher & I can say that always being a student of the instrument has help to keep that fire burning.
I'm glad you made this video. I have a very similar relationship with photography. I have made plenty of videos about shooting at this point which has caused me to naturally niche myself which can close the mind to new creative exploration. I will have dry seasons where I have little drive to take photos. Then all of the sudden I am back in a groove where photography is therapeutic again. I've found that looking through old photos can help get the juices flowing. Happy shooting! :)
Starting my EDC youtube channel was the worst thing for my hobby > when it became a job, it destroyed my passion ... The more i worked with brands the more it made me hate the industry ... killer post Bek ✌🏼
I’m in love with your stage the composition behind is beautiful that means you are a great photographer don’t give up in your journey… loved it ❤
This is exactly what happened to me and exactly what I'm doing to fix it (except for the new gear). Thank you so much for sharing this in such an honest way!
I’m experiencing this for the first time. I'm not going to lie; it’s frightening and frustrating because I love capturing images. But these days, I find myself letting the cameras sit on the shelf, only grabbing them when I have work. I don’t know how long this will be, but right now, it just feels like a funk.
Very much relate to this. You're right that this needs to be talked about more!
I've always said that taking a beloved hobby and doing it for a living is the quickest way to kill all the passion you had for doing it in the first place. Doesn't matter what the hobby is. Myself, I didn't pick up a camera from about 2000 to 2010. Around then, I picked up my first DSLR and started up again. It's been an on and off again thing ever since. What's helped me also is to keep myself within some constraints with lenses and equipment, and don't spend too much time editing. Simplifying things can bring some of that joy back. I also enjoy the constraints of film and just carrying simple cameras.
Ever since getting a job handling a camera, I haven't wanted to take a single photo. I stopped calling myself a photographer because i came to associate the camera with the pain and stress of work. The same with my news job, it made me hate it. Now that I'm away from those jobs I feel a lot better about my creative endeavors again.
I literally feel the same way! And have for the last 3 years. I tell people I work in the creative field on various video and photo projects. Photography started as a hobby and now it pays my bills, but video scratches that creative itch that photography one did. I think it's because I don't feel like I know too much already. It's also a lot harder to get your vision to come to life in motion. Hang in there. You can do whatever makes you happy.
This resonates so strongly with me. I've been a working photographer for over 30 years (mostly sports/event related) and have felt that same ebb and flow in passion when it comes to personal photography. Every time I pick up a camera something inside me clicks into "work mode" which has it's benefits of creative/techincal muscle memory required to make nice photos, of course, but also makes me less likely to want to pick up the camera to capture family events or to document the more mundane routines of life that are still creating memories that are worth preserving.
A few years ago I picked up a Fuji x-pro2 rangefinder camera and a few small lenses. This is much much much more compact than my everyday work gear and has helped spark a bit of passion again for bringing the camera to these family events and mundane life routines worth documenting. It's not a magic bullet, as you mentioned, but I can say that when I lift this camera up to my eye it doesn't feel like I'm working. It is so much smaller, lighter, and the rangefinder interaction is so different from my Canon 1DX bodies and long lenses, that I think differently using the Fuji. It's helped make personal photography more enjoyable (and more frequent).
Im going through this. Since becoming a content creator the last thing I want to do is take my camera out. I know its a laziness thing. Breaking down my recording set up to go take pictures just to set it up again. I know its not a big deal. Will literally take seconds to do it. And yet thats the excuse I use. I think its that I am just burnt out on creating because I made it a full time job.
Thank you for sharing this! I'm in this season right now.
Thank you for this video.
I love photography. When I’m travelling I rund around with a camera all the time. But at home I just don’t find the joy in it and then I get frustrated about not taking photos. It’s vicious cycle.
You're not alone! I find myself frustrated in many ways & I want that joy back but struggle with landing a full-time job in the photo/video industry. I want to shoot more photos & love the process again!
I can totally relate, but honestly watching your videos actually inspires and motivates me to get out and create again.
Aw love that, thanks for sharing!
Good to see you! You are so comfortable in front of the lens. Thanks for sharing! Bravo!
Hey Becki! We met at KANDO last year and it was great getting to talk with you! I can relate a lot to what you spoke of in this video. Being a full time photographer made me never want to pick up my camera outside of photoshoots. For years I always said I want to keep photography as a hobby and do video as a job. Fast forward several years later it feels like I finally achieved that goal.
When people ask me what I do for a living, I always say photographer but I suppose a more accurate title would be “Photographer who also makes CZcams videos”. I quit doing client work (for the most part) and now simply make money by taking photos I actually want to take, just by making videos about me taking the photos.
Finding that balance for me was so important. I have my “work” camera, the FX3 and my “photography” camera the A7CR. The A7C cameras are so fun to use because they don’t feel like “work” cameras. It’s a common theme/topic in my videos so it’s cool to see you feel the same way!
Hey Dylan!! Thanks for sharing that, I love the mind set of work cameras and fun cameras, the A7c definitely feels fun!
3 years ago I realized I had ADHD. I haven't had it diagnosed, but it exactly describes what I do.
I see a new hobby and immediately jump into it "neck deep". I play with that hobby until I get good at it and then I see a new hobby. Rinse and repeat.
I've been through 3D printing, photography, astro-photography, video, small electronics, sublimation, vinyl decals and stickers, screen printing, CNC machines, woodworking and now it's laser CNCs. I'm sure I've missed a couple of other hobbies in there somewhere, but this has all been within the last 10 years. It gets very expensive being an undiagnosed ADHD person.
I'm learning to focus on one thing, woodworking. You actually helped me a lot be introducing me to Milanote. That helps me control what is in front of me at any given time and gives me a place to set goals and work through projects. So, thank you for that.
I am literally going through this right now and have talked to several friends who are dealing with the same thing. Obviously new gear helps because it gives you something to focus on. But I guess I always thought doing something you love for work would be like being a mechanic. They (most of them) LOVE what they do so much that they are always working on a car, everyone else’s cars and then going and doing it all day at work too. It’s so weird to me that being a creative professional doesn’t feel like that. That we lose sight of the joy and the passion that we had for it. I would really love to know what the difference is. Maybe it is the passion projects. Maybe them always having a car of their own they are fixing up and tweaking is why it always stays new and exciting to them. So maybe you’re on to something Becki!
"So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive"
That Eye of the Tiger lyric speaks to me in many situations, and sometimes when I feel similar about photography, it's where I work to make money from photography. Doing something for myself for the sake of art is where that passion sparks back into being.
OMG, yes. I often have people ask if I sell photos or otherwise monetize the hobby. No way. I have a job and this can't become a second one. It's way too much fun to do that.
Hey Becky I’ve been through this cycle many times now. And I have come to the conclusion that turning your passion into a living isn’t the thing that kills your love for it. Creatives by design seek out new things. I switched to film for my personal photography, my CZcams channel is no longer about photography, and my business is still heavily focussed on video and photography. I find constantly evolving and trying new things while sticking to my plan seems to keep me going.
I have had that relationship with my photography and occasionally it rears up!
My work is portraits, weddings and events. My hobby photography is macro, wildlife and astrophotography with my telescopes and I don’t let those genres cross into my “professional” work (beyond inspiration) - this has helped keep me suffering from dispassion towards my camera and my photography!
I have been considering getting a film camera just so that I can be super intentional with the photos that I take, print them, and look at or have them.
I feel this about music. I’ve been playing piano and doing music since I was little. Went to university for music and started doing it as a job. It’s been a long time since I have tried playing for myself, because when I do it feels like work. I hope to go back to that passionate feeling but this was so real
I can definitely relate to this. Started cosplay photography in 2014 and after 10 years, my interest has definitely ebbed and flowed quite frequently. For me, I think it’s the pressure of trying to produce the best pictures I can, but not really feeling that the work gets recognised. I don’t want to make it a job and do it for free, but there’s just something about sending the finished pics to the cosplayers and then not seeing those pictures I spent hours on posted by most of them. Also finding the right balance between improving my main career as a chemist, maintaining a long-distance relationship and trying to maintain friendships, health and other responsibilities AND continuing photography feels like an impossible task where a few things always needs to get dropped due to a lack of sufficient energy to do everything. Never feels like there’s enough hours in the day… Oh, and don’t forget time to also relax to avoid another burnout 😂😂😭 (sorry if this sounded like just complaining, just wanted to share my experience)
Great video Becki, enjoyed the change of pace in this one. Still loving by original A7C, but one day would love to upgrade to this or the next iteration. The size is so hard to beat. ❤
The first 25 seconds summed up my life over the past 4 years. I was HUGE into photography but the moment I started vlogging I never picked my camera up again.. It took a year to even realize I stopped 'shooting'
I don’t shoot videos or photos for a living. But I got into photography first but now find myself more enthused making videos. My grand plan is to incorporate photography into my videos (such as what street photographers are doing, documenting the bts of taking their photos) so that I don’t forget photography.
Been there many times, Becki. I quit photography for over 10 years after doing it for a living for 10. It sucked the joy out of it. Love yours and Chris’s work. If I saw you in the street (unlikely; I’m in Australia), I reckon I’d feel compelled to hug you. 🦘
Thank you for posting. I feel the same way.
I've had a passion for photography since i could hold up an SLR to my eye. When I was 17/18 years old (50 now) I decided to keep my art separate from career. Although I occasionally take photo gigs, and have a couple of years under my belt where photography kept me afloat and paid the bills, I try to keep the 2 separated. Photography seems to be a compulsion in my life. Money has never been the point and I love keeping it that way. TBH once the gear is paid for, the activity is pretty much free. (excluding hard drive space of course) I see a lot of people on youtube eventually sharing that burnout feeling that comes with work obligations. I wish you the best of luck in finding your calm within your passions.
I definitely ebb and flow with photography and it’s just a hobby of mine. My other hobby is cycling. In the summer I cycle and the winter I shoot. Keeps me balanced. I could only imagine taking one of them on as a job, it would have to kill the passion. What has helped me is not to put pressure on myself about my hobbies(if it pays the bills that is different). If my hobby becomes a task then I don’t do it….eventually the desire comes back and then I continue with the hobby. Between the two hobbies I’m always engaged with one of them.
In summary I understand your conundrum….my suggestion is follow your gut and don’t push it if you’re not feeling it….it will eventually come back around when it’s ready. Love your videos!
Thank you for sharing! I feel this often because I have so many different interests and hobbies, I tend to cycle through them. Maybe if I were consistently dedicated, I would be better by now 😅 But I always find your photos and videos incredibly inspiring and I hope to improve my craft by learning from you.
My personal projects include shooting photos for Wikipedia articles in my area that don’t have any - it’s really inspired me to go to some new places and practice. (They are not the best… but better than nothing and better than staying home doing nothing creative. Maybe one day I’ll look back at the progress I’ve made.) I’ve also started documenting public art in my town, which makes me feel more connected to local artists. Sharing these ideas for anyone looking for a “list” based challenge.
I’m excited for your personal projects, even if we don’t get to see them! I hope they nourish your creative soul 💖💖
I struggle as a wholistic creative who dabbles is so many avenues which one has my attention at any given moment. Sometimes I am so passionate about photography then at other times I want to spend my time writing and couldn’t care less about photography. It’s always a back and forth between my different creative outlets
Hobbies come and go. You keep those skills for life.
I relate to this on so many levels. I get worried because photography will always be my first love; I do far more video and film these days than anything but I can never deny what photography is to me. Yet its hard to just pick up a camera these days for the same reasons you stated.
Like you, I endeavour to try and pick up my camera more this year and rather than just doing it for the business side, just work on passion projects that can reinvigorate that love for this. And I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has a complicated relationship with photography, but also knows how much they'll always love it.
Omg I’m in the same situation, I feel off and it’s so so hard to get back to shooting. Thanks for sharing, I’m not alone.
Have felt the same way about design... the transition from a career to running my own biz now 9 years ago has had a lot of ups and downs re: motivation/passion etc etc...
Because you're growing and becoming an even better version of yourself. Longer gaps = gaining wisdom.
Your message resonates. 🙌
Having a "personal camera" helps, something not related to work. I shoot weddings on Sony, but got the Leica Q2 for my own photography and I'm in love with photography again.
I’ve barely picked up my camera in years, this has inspired me to get it charged and go take some photos. Thanks
you're an artist. the medium just changes as you evolve as a person.
So relateable! Right now i'm in this weird spot where I want to take photos, but the post-processing part is so frustrating because of how old my software is. So I take photos that I never go back and look at because it's not fun trying to bring my vision to life with the tools I currently have.
I love your creative portraits!
I completely understand what you are saying and feel that way about my own career (painting). Now my content creation schedule collides with my internal need to study and create quietly. So it’s a weird feeling that I absolutely love what I do and feel so lucky but it’s endlessly challenging to avoid burnout.
I gave myself the gift of a stress free hobby unrelated to what I sell (embroidery) and it has been a great way to stay creative just for myself.
Love your content!
What is a Hobby and what is a Profession? It is a fuzzy line to separate and compartmentalize what we do and how we identify who we are.
I shot a lot of 35mm film through high school, college, and the early years of having children. First and foremost, I consder myself a technologist but I had a great time in my school years honing my photography and darkroom knowledge and skills. Since photography and videography were not my profession, I never felt a need to constantly upgrade to the latest gear, but I was always upgrading as it seemed prudent and practical. Videography captures your and Chris' projects and travel which in turn are much of the basis of your content. I still love still photos, but for most of mine, I always feel I need to add verbiage to place the pictures in context for the viewer. Video tells the whole story, though it often leaves less to the imagination.
At the beginning of your description of your relationship with photography, videography and content creation, I imediatly connected with my own relationship with my other hobby .... Food and Cooking. I have never worked in professional food service. When I have hosted dinner events and people have asked me why I never opened a restaurant, the anser is simple: I never wanted food and cooking to be WORK! I have been praised by friends and relatives many times for what I do in my own kitchen. I don't even want to imagine how my relationship with cooking might have changed if I had ever been in a position where my livelihood depended on my food preparation. I think it would have been far too easy to come home not wanting to touch a knife or frying pan.
Over some 40+ years of working, I mostly thought I needed to stay consistent with a single message of what I do for a living. What I have been paid for in life has always been my understanding of and ability to apply technological solutions to problems. I have only recently in my own life come to realize how many times through adulthood we have the ability to re-make ourselves and do something different for a while. I probably should have spent some of my adult life in the kitchen of a fine dining restaurant. I might have been able to enjoy a hiatus developing photography as a professional artisic pursuit. Choose your next passion project and enjoy the creation along the way. No need for it to be work.
At this point in my own life, I will be content to get out my cameras, maybe buy some new lenses and take pictures of family and the nature I see around me. My food preparation and service will only be shared with people who come to my house. No pressure. Therapy for me includes boning and marinating meat and serving fruits and vegetables as though they are elements of a painting presented individually to my dining guests.
I can't wait to see what you will share from your next passion project as you get back to your roots capturing visual images.
I relate to you so hard!! I was so over photography for a while, I wasn’t even inspired to shoot in Japan!!!! But video, video is my bread and butter now!
This needs to be talked about more, it is definitely true.. turning a hobby into a job can and often will change the relationship you have with it. Business pressures seem to chip away at the creative passion that fuels the hobby. Is there a way to refuel? Tips and Tricks? I know there are some commonly mentioned ones but creativity is often not common ..and really interesting ways of refueling creativity are out there.. and could help some people for who the common ways don’t.
Honestly I have been wanting to get a Fuji for the same reason, instead of traveling with my R and the big 24-70, just use the fuji and that's it, luckily I don't make that many videos outside. But I feel you completly
Instant gratification born from digital photography sometimes needs an analog foil for my creative health. There's little more satisfying than dealing with the "99/1" feel you get shooting film, especially chrome. This is to say it's that moment the shutter releases and you know with 99 percent certainty the frame is exactly what you wanted, but equally bleed a touch of anxiety because it may not be so. Knowing a finished roll needs to be developed is akin to watching your bread [hopefully] rise, and it's in all this away from digital I best recall why I loved shooting in the first place.
I'm working on separating the business of photography from the art. Real estate photography is almost entirely technical, so it leaves me a lot of latitude to enjoy other aspects of my camera. And when I feel especially stuck, I've got 35mm as well. Shooting film has been one of the most challenging and rewarding photography projects I've taken on.
Totally relatable! I've dusted off my first analog camera with a stock lens. This has been encouraging for me to shoot more pics.
I've been struggling with this for so long, a combo of being in a city where nothing happens and just not feeling like I can keep up with changes and 'trends'
Yes i have felt this quite often and i tend to take a break from it and then come back to it. Luckily I have tons of photos to edit and do just take my time over it.
100% agree i've been having struggle to find joy on doing personal projects and even make videos for youtube since i quit my job to do photography as my full-time career
i can relate to your words so much! thanks for the video!
I really enjoyed this video and I totally get it as a hybrid shooter myself. What has helped me also was downsizing my gear when I travel or just go outside with friends with the intention of making memories. Before I was so obsessed with the highest quality possible, bringing my big gmasters out. But thats not really what I need when i document life. I also like my 24 mm 2.0 G series lense.
When I travel i‘ll just bring my 20-70 mm f4. I still need to force myself not taking more, but not being weight down has reignited the urge just to shoot more, edit less etc. Have a great day 🙌🏻
Great video, have same feelings about photography
Cannot agree more - Starting out as a hobby, that turned into a paid hobby, which turned into a full-time job ... the creative burnout is real when you "take your passion into your profession" like you said - I found having my classic car and making fun content around that was my outlet, but that has now turned into a page with a following and brands reaching out for work - 2024 is definitely the "Creators" era - but we are certainly burning out on the passion side and trying to reconnect with what made us fall in love with the basics of photo and video creation when we started!
Awesome video that make us think about what 2024 should look like for all busy creators out there
I can absolutely relate to this, too. Dance was always my passion, but at 15, I went down the road to becoming a professional dancer. It later became my profession, and, like many, I lost my passion for it, as it became work and not the escape that it used to be. Photography is now my passion, and I hope to make it my career, ironic hey :)
This has benefited me a lot ❤
“You’re under no obligation to be the same person you were 5 minutes ago.” - Alan Watts
The same thing happened to me with guitar. I would feel guilty that I didn’t feel like playing, since guitar had become part of my “identity.”
It was liberating when I realized I was under no obligation to play guitar. Guilt free.
Ironically, feeling freed up to not have to play guitar actually made me play more guitar. The guilt was taking up so much mental space that was now gone. I don’t feel the pressure of playing consistently. I’m back to playing guitar, and some other hobbies I just dropped completely. I can always come back to them if I get the urge again. But I’m under no obligation to be the same person that picked up those hobbies originally :)
Yesss love this! Thanks for sharing!
thank you for this video , same exact feeling right now ....
Oh my God, I can so relate to that. I was a professional photographer almost my whole life shooting my first wedding in 1978. Yes I’m old., 10 years ago Photography just died and I shut my business down. After that, I had no desire to pick that camera up again. I do like shooting video.
Yes this is one of the reasons I switch back to film, I like the suspense in waiting for the dev to come back and just not being able to see what I got until it does. Its like Christmas every time. haha
Your view on passion for transitioning into a professional career is spot on. Photography is my hobby and I have refused many paid gigs because of my view "hobby is meant for relaxation" client work hardly ever is relaxing in my experience and it did cause me to not shoot for months. Fun conpletly ruined.
I have small yt channel an do recognise the somewhat bizarre effect of "solo interaction" through the camera and like you I hated video and especially editing but thanks to IA driven editors I has become so much easier to do.
I fell out of love with photography for a while as I just wasn't getting the shots I wanted and couldn't afford to upgrade my gear to allow those shots.
Come forward 2 years and I upgraded my camera body and it's like a whole new lease of life ..
Sometimes a little break and a little change (like you getting your new A7 c2) can reignite the passion.
Also I think we are our own worst critic when it comes to the pictures we take so don't be too hard on yourself. X
I love the money that has come my way from my photography and videography, but I also miss taking pictures for the fun of it. After 8 years in the game now, I want to go back and truly feel that passion in me instead of feeling like its another day, another picture.
Very timely for me. I am relatively new to photography(5 years), and didn’t expect to do it professionally. I was nearly 60 when I took a beginner’s photography class at a local university. I was immediately obsessed and as people started responding on social that maybe I could make money it created the “complications”. I am just now coming out of a 2 month “foto funk” that I hated. I’m trying to go back to the basics and not focus on business at all. If someone calls, cool. If not, equally cool.
I will be a new subscriber to see what else ya’ll have going on. Make it a great week!
It’s amazing how quick making money from it can change the relationship! Hope the funk is over soon!
I switched my daily carry to a leica q2 and it got me back into it. Not having to think about how much gear to bring every where, or wanting to carry more lenses changed everything.