It’s bound to happen, whether it takes a year or 5 or even a couple of decades but every photographer is bound to come upon those dry spell, creative rot weeks where nothing seems to inspire them (by nothing I mean Instagram or Pinterest or whatever social media platform you use) and that’s perfectly normal.
A part of me wants to start this piece with a Hi and I’m going for it… Hi!, Hope you all are good. So as photographers, we are constantly sourcing for inspiration for shoots we hope to do or just archiving ideas in the back of our brains for shoots we don’t even know we’d do until years later but there’s always does dry spell weeks where you have clients who want something unique but you have nothing new in the bag to offer or it could be a personal project but nothing new seems to be popping up. Commonly known as creative blocks; these are simple ways you could rid yourself of them.
Take a Break
This might sound weird but most often than not, a creative block occurs when your mind is under a lot of stress to be productive. The pressures of being a photographer are sometimes overwhelming, you have to be a set designer, stylist, cheerleader, photographer, DJ (my playlist is for me, stop looking at me funny Chinwe), photographer and retoucher. Under the weight of these responsibilities, the mind might buckle sometimes and it would seem like no new ideas are coming your way. Taking a break from everything photographic for a couple hours (or a day or two if you can) is a sure fire way to get the clogs turning again.
Explore Completely New Genres of Photography
Seeing new stuff is a sort of mental therapy and there’s an entire world of photography out there that isn’t fashion, editorial or portraits. Exploring movies too is an option to expose you to new ideas that are bound to oil your engines and get you thinking straight again (Tip; Sci-Fi movies rarely ever do the trick. I’ve checked multiple times).
Revisit Your Old Images
Discuss Your Problem with a Fellow Photographer
This is the most guaranteed way to get over your block. There’s a certain life spark that photographers discussing photography ignite that cannot be replicated anywhere. Sharing your frustrations, discussing incomplete ideas, seeking unique perspectives or just good ol’ brand vs Nikon banter is bound to get your creative juices flowing again (Yes, I’m back to bashing Nikon).
