Why Growth as a Photographer Is a Never Ending Story

Sometimes there are lessons that can affect both new photographers and veterans alike.

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts yesterday called “The Hidden Brain.” Hosted by Shankar Vedantam of NPR, the show delves into social science and some of scientific research that examines human behavior. In the most recent episode “You 2.0: Rebel With a Cause” the topic turns to people who excel in their profession not because they are the best at following the traditional rules, but because they are able to consistently recognize new solutions to existing challenges.

But more than just a one-time breakthrough, like coming up with a new technique that sets a new standard for the industry for example, these people not only come up with a better solution, they also continue to re-examine that solution as their business grows.

Research finds that the more successful people are in their field, the less innovative they tend to be. In other words, our success and experience can actually work against us. Once we discover a specific way of working and achieve a certain level of success, most of us are reticent to change our process or look for better solutions. Why would we? We’ve been doing well so far doing it this way.

At the same time, newer competitors in our field, lacking our experience or confirmed expertise, have no choice but to innovate. When every obstacle is brand new, one has no choice but to consider the best alternative to get the job done. This puts the newbie at a disadvantage in terms of experience, but an advantage in terms of innovation.

In a creative field like photography, where often your value in the marketplace is based on your ability to deliver a fresh and unique end product, a lack of innovation can be fatal.  

Now, to be clear, that is not to say that experience is something to be shunned or that customers don’t appreciate or hire people based on their ability to deliver a consistent product. Nor is that to say that if you have found a way that works for you that you need to immediately tear apart what you’re doing and become someone else.

Rather, what those studies suggest is that even once you have established yourself, it is equally important to continue to develop your skill set and finding novel ways to see old problems. Even if you have taken 10,000 portraits, it is important to go into your ten thousand and first session with the same fresh eyes as you approached your first one. Yes, you have encountered this type of face before. Yes, you know that if you light it the way you always have that the subject will look good. But what if you tried something else? What if you tried moving that light just slightly or using a different modifier? Sure, it may not work and you may find yourself quickly reverting to your tried-and-true style. But what if it does work? You may have just discovered a brilliant and unique new method through experimentation. That new method may allow you to grow and offer something new to your clients. A new method that will increase not only your creativity, but your bottom line as well.

Being willing to continue to grow, even once you feel you’ve reached full maturity, may be the difference falling back with the herd or separating yourself from the pack. To continue to learn is to continue to thrive.