Optimism and the Photographer

It can get so frustrating when you know something but can't get it to work.

That was my experience at a recent shoot. I've been learning about lighting and I know in my head what I need, but I was having a really hard time making it work in reality! Then there are the times when I just have no idea why my camera is doing something! These things happen to every photographer, and while it's our job to make sure our clients don't know a thing is going on, it's insanely frustrating for us to deal with.

I am an optimist. I think my nature is inclined to be optimistic, but even so, I have to be diligent and work at maintaining a positive attitude. In every situation, I look for the positives. Obviously, this is easy in a good situation, but when things are looking horrible, there is still always something positive to be found. It might take some digging, but it is there.

Being an optimist, I have been told that I'm naive, that I deny reality, that I'm unrealistic. That's not true. An optimist is someone who looks at the whole situation, good and bad, but chooses to focus on the good. I fully and readily acknowledge when things are crummy. But to dwell on that changes nothing. It only makes me depressed and unhappy. That is not a fun way to be, for me or the people around me. So for my sake and for those who have to interact with me, I need to focus on the good and the positive.

Even optimists have their pessimistic moments. There are times when we just have to complain about the crummy things going on. (I try to do this to my journal and not to other people). Once I've gotten out my anger/sadness/frustration, then I refocus and find the positive.

Optimism is a fight for joy. It's a fight to not let the negative emotions control our lives. If I focused on all the failures I experience as I'm learning photography, I'd probably quit. Almost every time I do a shoot, I come home and I can see things that I could have done better. That doesn't mean I didn't do a good job. My clients love the images I took for them! Just because I can see room for improvement doesn't mean I failed. Yes, it's frustrating, but it means I'm growing and getting better. That's the positive.

It's frustrating when things aren't flowing well or the things you know and learned just aren't translating into your work. Look at what you've done, note the things you want to improve upon, and then keep going. Don't forget to focus on the positives!

Blessings,
Sarah