You are a professional photographer… You made it! You are living your dream, you are working and earning with your passion, the sky is the limit… and then the burnout, the exhaustion, the sheer daunting task of being a professional photographer will eventually raise its ugly head and make you say whoa.
I am not saying any of that to be discouraging, for most professional photographers it is the norm to feel burnout, uninspired, exhausted, creatively wrung out, and to question if this is a career you even want anymore. I have literally found myself with that question multiple times a year, for years now.
But what if I said there are ways to break that mental cycle you make you feel alive, passionate, and thrilled again as a photographer? What if I told you it would take work, dedication, and effort but the results would be well worth it mentally and physically?
One of my first licensed and my best selling stock image of a smiling stingray.
There is no cure all to getting out of the photography funk that has us questioning if it is something we even want anymore. Because circumstances that put us there all differ but there are ways to combat the funk and thrive again asa a photographer.
The things that can help are financial stability, discipline, and healthy lifestyles.
What do I mean by discipline?
Well, everyone knows in photography there are seasons. Some seasons we are flush with work and others we have downtime. It is how we use and work in that downtime that will make a difference. Lamenting on no sessions and lazing around will not help mentally as a photographer. Setting a schedule, being productive and even taking on a personal project can help keep you mentally healthy and re-ignite your passion in those down times.
Financial Stability:
This is pretty much what it sounds like, when our finances are in uproar and inconsistent we worry about paying the bills and putting food on the table. This is proven to be a huge negative impact on anyone facing such struggles but it is huge on creatives as it pulls our mood and drive down making it harder to find the creativity and energy to produce. Purest photographers will advocate photography only but I find multiple income streams helps alleviate that burden of finances.
Some of these streams for me is print on demand sales, and stock photography. Sometimes it is having a part time job to bring in consistent checks and break me out of my own head. You do what is necessary and being financially secure is never wrong.
Ah Heathly Lifestyles…
It’s exactly what everything and everyone advocates for, balanced diet, enough sleep, and exercising. Years ago I would have been the first to say we only live once do it your way but then a few years ago I switched u my diet to more healthy foods, I started exercising regularly, and trying to get more sleep or at least a semi regular sleep pattern.
What I can tell you is I feel better, I have more energy, and my moods are more stable. It really does make a difference and for a photographer which requires some decent level of movability and energy on shoots it can make the difference. Not eating fast food to and from sessions also really helps! (Now I just got to get my munching while editing cravings under control!!)
Fitness couple during a 2019 studio session.
While this list probably doesn’t offer you an easy solution to thriving as a photographer it is a list that can help you thrive in an aspect of life. Feeling healthy, full, and secure on the day to day makes being happy and present in your life easier.