5 LIFE LESSONS FROM PHOTOGRAPHY
Life is complicated but magical.
Photography is complicated but magical.
Photography serves a different purpose for everyone.
For many, it's a weekend hobby, full-time income, a way to inspire, or even a way to cope with depression.
For me, (especially because I started quite young) my photography journey has magically shaped my perspectives of life.
You see, throughout our lives, we tend to subconsciously learn life lessons from everything we do.
For me, my lessons and discoveries have served as a philosophical foundation for my adult life.
Today, I want to share 10 life lessons from photography - that can also apply to your life. (If you're open to seeing them this way)
1. Curiosity
Curiosity drives discovery.
Curiosity comes from wanting to know the unknown.
It's making a conscious effort to learn and understand something unfamiliar.
Simple curiosity can produce significant results.
For example, back in those days, people must have wondered how to cross rivers and oceans.
That curiosity led to the invention of rafts, which led to the discovery of new lands, which led to cultures meeting each other, which led to an exchange of knowledge...which ultimately led to the interconnected world we are living in today.
Everything connects.
If I was never curious to know why some photos were so great, I wouldn't strive to create great photos.
If I was never curious to know how one can earn money with photography, I wouldn't have researched the various income streams of a photographer. I wouldn't be selling photo tours, prints, or working with any brands.
Good news, today curiosity can be fulfilled faster than ever. We have information EVERYWHERE.
Want to know what camera is the best for your budget? How to edit a certain style? How to cook xyz? How to make your bed? Just search online.
We need to develop a habit of being intentionally curious. That curiosity will make you look for information from anywhere, completely by yourself!
2. It's all about Perspective
Great photos are great because there was a difference in the photographer's perspective.
Great people are great because they see differently.
I always advise my photo tour clients to take low-perspective shots - because they are unique and more powerful.
If you have an average perspective, you'll create average results in life.
Also, if you go through a bad time and you forget to see the bigger picture, you might be doomed.
Perspective also comes from empathy too.
Did someone hurt you? Even if it's not justifiable, did you think about what hurt them first?
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes makes all the difference.
Perspective is the difference.
3. Self Belief
I know everyone says you need to believe in yourself. Some might think it's overused.
Well, those who think that way don't understand the power of belief.
Let's look at it logically:
There are two 16-year-old kids (Pumba & Simba). Both have just discovered that they are incredibly passionate about photography.
Pumba loves photography and wants to become a professional someday.
Simba too, but he is a curious guy, who wants to ask himself why certain photos look so good, and some so bad, how photographers make money, how to build an audience, etc.
Pumba believes that becoming a professional by 21 isn't possible, and he won't be able to build a large audience in the next few years.
Simba, however, confidently believes that it is possible if one learns effectively.
What happens next?
Pumba gives up, jumps to another hobby, and repeats the cycle.
Simba continues to pursue photography with self-belief (a vision that he will become a professional).
Of course today Simba is in a much better position than Pumba.
The point? Self-belief opens your mind to opportunities that are only possible if you think something is possible. On the other hand, if you don't believe it, you shut off your mind completely and you'll never know what could have been.
(Yes I'm Simba, *wink*)
4. Master Rules, Then Break Them.
For photography and anything else creative, I realized everything has principles (foundational rules or ideas that build up a concept).
For example, for photography, the principles can be camera settings, composition techniques, workflow, editing settings, etc.
Once you have a fairly good understanding of any principles, you've got to experiment and make up your own rules.
This is where creativity comes from.
Understand principles
Mix your own little discoveries with the principles
Get creative
People think creativity comes from nowhere, but it actually builds up from basic knowledge.
5. Resourcefulness
I was a 16-year-old photographer - with a $300 camera setup, trying to stand out from 40-year-olds who have $10,000 camera setups.
It seemed impossible to even match the standard of those photographers, but I somehow managed.
I didn't have $10,000. But I did have a phone to learn to edit.
Therefore I doubled down on what I had control of; editing on a phone.
Even though my camera quality wasn't great, my editing skills led me to achieve incredible photos.
I hear people say they can't achieve something because someone is at a better position, and then they dislike that person because they are fortunate. (That's a pretty shitty mindset, don't be that person)
Yes, people are more fortunate in many areas of life, but we tend to forget that we have unfair advantages too. You just have to look deeper.
The point is to look inward and focus on what you can control, and forget about external factors.
Ending
Wow, I had 5 more ideas and didn't realize I'd write that much for each. Let me know if you want to hear the other 5 another time!
Anyway, this is how I have connected my photography journey's lessons to general life, and I hope they can apply to you.
Hoping I left you feeling inspired. Let me know because it will inspire me to write more!
Till next time,
Dhir
P.S:
I am starting to offer 1 on 1 (chargeable) coaching for photographers. From photography technicality, techniques, social media growth, personal branding, editing sessions, and more. Fill this form if you're interested.
For Photo Tour Info, click here or message me @spotclickpost.
