When I was teenager, I would dream about one day being a superstar DJ. That day never came. Only time will tell if I live to regret the fact the vision did not materialize. But, how does this relate to photography?

Key takeaways

• Dreams and talent alone are not enough; consistent action and hard work are crucial for success in photography and creative fields.

• It's easy to become complacent in one's potential, but this comfort zone can prevent actually achieving goals and realizing dreams.

• Time passes quickly, so it's important to actively pursue photographic aspirations rather than just dreaming about future success.

Photography dreams and comfort

Creatives are big thinkers. We love to hypothesize about what the future will hold, to fantasize about all the rewards we’ll receive thanks to our creative minds. However, one thing I have learned in life is that it’s very easy to get stuck in a place of comfort, aka our dreams.

Often, the feeling of knowing we’re capable of something gives us enough endorphins that we go into freeze mode. Our sense of self worth, knowing we’re talented, can give us false assurance that everything will work out just that way we envision it will.

I have friends who are talented creatives. They’re certain they’ll be a super star. As each year passes and their output fails to match what’s required to meet expectations, I see their talent continue to go to waste.

Even in adult life I have had many projects and bright ideas that I was sure were going to be a big success. But, I became trapped within the bubble of knowing I could do something. In the end this prevented me from actually doing something.

What successful photographers do

When I look at successful photographers, or successful people in general, there’s one common denominator. It’s not that they’re more talented than those who don’t reach their dreams. It’s that they’re consistent, hard working and determined to do what's necessary to reach their goals.

The reality is, when we dream of being renowned photographers, we think of things like accolades, becoming a travel photographer and, if we’re lucky, making a lot of money. The truth is that the journey involves a lot of rejection, failure and despair. For creatives, those negative emotions are enough to keep us in freeze mode.

How do we smooth freeze mode? Easy. We daydream about the day we become the photographer we know the world will want to see. When really, we should be doing the hard work.

Life is short. Very short. Before you know it, you’ve gone from being the teenager who knows they’re a gift to the world, to a person in their thirties thinking “wow, time does eventually one day run out”.

That’s not to say if you’re in your thirties or above that it’s too late. There’s truth to the expression that it's never too late. But, one day it will be too late. And if you have the talent you believe you have then it would be a shame if it never get’s you to where you want to be in life.

Walk the path

Addressing the elephant in the room, this is very much a note to myself. I know, however, many people, younger and older, are in the same boat.

Don’t get too comfortable in your photography dreams. You don’t want to end this experience with regret. Especially when all you had to do was start walking the path to reach your ideal destination.

Want your work featured on Them Frames? Pitch us.

Follow Them Frames