Over the last few months, I’ve hammered through a lot of shoots for clients and for stock. Processing [...]]]>

Reading time: 7 – 11 minutes

The situation

Over the last few months, I’ve hammered through a lot of shoots for clients and for stock. Processing the results, I noticed my enthusiasm for the photos faded away rapidly. Not that the images were bad – they matched my clients expectations – but somehow, they failed to appeal to me. They lacked the “wow-factor”. They were kinda bland, missing the sparkle and the eye catching effect. To me, those images were uninspiring, unimaginative and – basically – dull.

The next thing

Doubt. Frustration. Postponing things, because I didn’t feel like it.  More evasive maneuvering. Rut. As I believe in the merits of striving for continuous improvement, this situation is opposite to where I’d liked myself to be.

The Pitfall

The danger of creating uninspiring images is that people will still buy them, creating room for leniency, and failing to pursue continuous improvement. There’s no creativity killer like indulgence. When you’re in a rut, it’s bound to lead to a creative dip. You’ll end up failing to follow up on leads, because you lost interest. A total killer.

The cause

Overproduction, perhaps. Shooting too many comparable images, shooting too many similar subjects, shooting too many familiar themes, and too little differentiating factors. It just all became repetitive. The weather has been gray, rainy and gloomy for almost 4 months now, forcing me into the studio a few days too many, producing more uninspiring images

At this point, some consider taking a creative break, and pursue other interests. I believe, there are several very useful – yet uncommon – methods to break this downward spiral. In this article, I’d like to are a few with you.

The solution

1. Back to the drawing board.

Put away the camera for a while, and stop trying to force yourself to get over it. I found it to be a waste of time, and it has only produced more uninspiring results. In stead, look at your latest images, and assess their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Be very critical of yourself. What could you have done better to make them tick? Make notes of how to improve on a technical and aesthetically level. It’ll make you aware of your weaknesses and the flaws in your images, as well as help you to accept the current dip in creativity. It’s widely accepted, acceptance is the first step to overcoming a challenge. So set yourself that challenge.

2. Changing the game

Changing the game is one of my favorite methods. In stead of shooting what others want you to shoot (or, in terms of stock, what you think will sell), think about what you would like to shoot, but never actually got around to – yet. Make a list things that you don’t get to shoot often, and which gets your photographers’ blood pumping again. Don’t forget to make the next step and start thinking of how to achieve the images you have in mind.Create the images in your mind! If you managed that, then start thinking commercially, again. It is entirely possible, that what’s not been selling today might start selling tomorrow. So connect to the real world and merge commercial aspects with your just found shooting list. Select a few subjects you’re not familiar with. Go out, and close the bridge between the known and the unknown. Add your own touch to the uncommon in your expertise.
(Personal note: I use mindmapping software, such as freemind, to collect, categorize and assess the ideas captured during this process)

4. Refreshing the way to look at things

Look around you. When you’re familiar with your surroundings, the same surroundings eventually become to look boring and plain. They aren’t. Be a tourist in your own town. Go to the sights, and look at what others are looking at. Observe others. What do the sights, common to you, do to others? How are strangers interacting with an environment that’s new to them? Go up, move down. Tilt your head. Wear sunglasses on a cloudy day; things will start to look differently. But whatever you do, don’t bring your camera. It’s all about scouting for locations and getting inspired again. Inspired by what others see. Consider it scouting for new opportunities. Gather intelligence for tomorrow’s game.

5. Change the tune

Switch to a different channel. Get inspired by other forms of art, whether it is music, the movies or other visual art. Try to capture the feel and the vibe, and think of ways to translate that into your work. And make sure, you go beyond your zone of comfort. Been listening to classic rock lately? Familiarize yourself with the vibe of pop or jazz for a while. It’s as simple as watching TV lying down; your mind adapts to the rotated image easily, however, the experience is entirely different.

6. Retrace your steps.

Move back into your portfolio, and select a handful of photos you’re (still) happy with. Preferably, this selection should convey various themes, shot roughly at the same time, within a two months’ span. Go over them again. Reprocess them. Go out and reshoot them. Elaborate on the themes, and create a series of siblings. See if you can achieve a better result, or at least see if you can make them into one series. Try to create a series of images, in which the series together is stronger than each individual image. This will force you, to plan your shots carefully, whilst keeping the broader picture in mind. It’ll help you to search for a correlation between photos, within a very tight scope.

7. Step outside your zone of comfort.

Been shooting with DSLR’s? Pick up an old film camera, of change to a camcorder for a while. The former will force you to make every click count, and thus make you think twice before you press the shutter. The latter will force you to stay within a fixed aspect ratio, making the choices of composition more challenging. My preferred weapon of choice if I decide to change gear is either an old 6×6 camera, or the HDV option.  A combination of the two is to limit yourself in choice of optics; In stead of a medium zoom lens, go for a fixed focal length lens

The theory behind it

As an industrial designer, the methodology of diversifying within the boundaries of the task at hand before converging to reach the final product is multifunctional. This methodology can be applied in a vast array of processes, provided you want to achieve the best solution for your client – whomever it may be – and pursue continuous improvement.

In the trajectory of diversifying, amending associative techniques, such as making cross references, transpositions of external concepts to relevant ones will always provide you new insights. Combine that with the foremost important rule of brainstorming – there are no such things as a bad ideas, but there will always room for better ideas. All you need to do is be open to those new ideas, execute them, assess their effectiveness, and fine-tune them. You’ll be back on track before you know it.

The Sources

My first boss once told me to focus on my strong parts during an appraisal meeting. Create the focus. Improve the strong parts, accept the weaker competences.
My Professor of Design methodologies – who told me, that when you get stuck trying to solve a problem, try to look at it from a different angle.
My dad, who said the answer to any problem is always easier than it may seem at first. Clear your mind, look at the provided information, make an inventory of the tools at hand, and the answer will be right in front of you.
Edward Deming – Plan, Do, Check, Act. [repeat] Mainly as safeguard, as it allows you to steer yourself in the right direction.

Disclaimer:

• This article is based on personal experiences, opinion and situations, and may or may not represent the actual situation.
• Some statements are rather bold, and rough around the edges (or too feathered :)), and there are of course exceptions possible.
• If you think there are any discrepancies or flaws in reasoning in this article, please let me know
• As the topic of this article is of a subjective nature, other opinions are equally valid.
• Care has been taken the sources used are accurate.
• I’m probably my own worst critic, and my views will change over time.

If you have any thoughts on his please share them by leaving a comment!