The best photography tip I ever got
The internet is filled with tips for photographers. For upcoming photographers it’s an absolute goldmine. But as with goldmines you have to dig through a lot of obstacles in order to get to the gold. Most articles say the same thing. Remember the rule of thirds. Think about your point of view. Photograph during sunrise and sunset. Use light to your advantage. Use the correct color combinations. And while all of these are true, it is what 90% of articles you find online contain. Meaning that you will have probably read about these multiple times by now. No worries, I will write my own article about these things later on, but that’s not what today’s post is about. Once you stumble upon it, feel free to move on. Today’s article is about something else though.
It’s about happiness. It might sound stupid. How is the best tip I ever got, that I have to be happy? It’s simple really. I don’t know about you, but I tend to produce my best work, while I’m in a positive state of mind. When I stress about things, I can actually see it in my work. If I have a shitty day, having to walk 10+ kilometers, it’s raining and windy, and I’m all by myself - how can I produce something memorable when I let all these things affect me? It has happened to me though. I have visited absolutely amazing locations but because I was in a bad state of mind, I didn’t manage to create the photos I wanted. A few times I didn’t get away with anything at all, and I was absolutely kicking myself about it afterwards.
When we let our surroundings affect our mood, it is almost certain that we can see it in what we create. I get that we can’t walk around being happy all the time, but look at where you are! Look at the opportunities you have. And think about where you could have been.
Why did you get into photography in the first place? What was it that motivated you to pick up a camera? And how did you feel when you just started out, and everything was new and exciting? Take yourself back to these feelings! Afterall you should do it because you love the process! Because you get excited and intrigued. Every single photo offers us new and exciting opportunities. Opportunities to explore and grow at the same time. To take in a new situation, to learn about our surroundings or our subject.
These things make me so excited! When I think about it this way, I can’t help but be happy. Every day with my camera, is a day I learn something new! It’s one big education really.
That's why being happy with what I do is the best advice I have ever got. Because it took me on a journey back to the mindset I had when I first started out. Back then everything got me excited! Every new shot, new location, new angles, new techniques, how different light affected my photos. Everything was so new and I loved every step of the process! This is the mindset I want to have when I get to a new location. When I lay in bed not wanting to get out for sunrise. I always try to take myself back to my first experiences with a camera, because that makes me happy! That makes me want to get out and shoot.
You have to be in it because you love it. I mean, why would you want to do something that you don’t love anyway? That's the reality for so many people though. I don’t want to make that my reality. I have made it my mission to be grateful everyday that I get to go out and photograph. And to be honest, being happy is a choice. Nothing makes you happy unless you choose to be. In almost every instance you will be able to choose being happy over being angry or sad. it is a choice.
And let’s talk about success for a bit. You will only be successful once you are happy. It is not the other way around. Let me say it again: YOU WILL ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL ONCE YOU ARE HAPPY. Your happiness and love for the craft has to motivate you to work even harder. This is what breeds success. Hard work and happiness. You have to love the process. I have mentioned it before, but you have to love every single step. Nothing comes easy in life, and being successful in photography is no different. There are more opportunities than ever before, but also more people competing for these opportunities. What makes you stand out? It is almost certain that there are better photographers than you. I know for a fact that there are SO many better photographers than me. So what makes you and me stand out? I know that for me it’s my happiness for the craft. Lots of other people love photography as much as I do. However I have allowed my happiness to create my passion for hard work. I’m determined to try to outwork every other photographer in the field. It might not be the case that I do, but I try. I’m going to put in all of the work it takes for me to compete with the best. I will keep doing so until I feel that I’m successful. And then I’m gonna continue doing it. Because I’m so determined to succeed that I have allowed it to become my reality.
But I can’t do this without being happy. Sure I have shitty days. But even on shitty days, I love what I do, and I’m happy doing it! I don’t let it interfere with the work that I have to put in.
So you see. That’s the most important tip I can give you. You have to be happy doing photography. Not just in the field. The entire process! If not, you will never get as far as you hope to get. You might only want it to be a hobby, and if that’s the case, that's great for you! Personally I have other goals I want to achieve, and for me, being happy is a key part in that process.