How to Stay Inspired in Your Photography & Avoid Burnout
Nothing is worse than feeling like you’re in a creative rut. That Google doc remains blank. The SD card, empty. That canvas propped against the wall still has wrapping on it. You haven’t edited anything new in weeks. Maybe as a photographer, your clients are ghosting you, your calendar is looking a little emptier than usual, or you haven’t been on a collaborative shoot in a while.
Being in a creative rut is bound to happen to all of us at one point or another. While it’s frustrating in the moment, you have to remember that it’s all part of the process.
But how do you actually beat a creative rut? Here’s a hint: You start with your mindset. In today’s blog, I’ve compiled five ways I have unconventionally become unstuck from a creative rut. I know it seems hopeless right now, but follow these pieces of advice and you’ll be out there taking photos, painting, writing, or organizing your next creative project before you know it.
1) Start Journaling About Your Creative Rut and Lack of Photography Inspiration.
Open up your favorite notebook or google doc and brain-dump everything that's going on in your mind, including the struggle of feeling uninspired. If you’re a photographer who has been struggling to book clients or isn’t getting responses to follow-up emails, write about that.
Maybe it’s your dating life or financial struggles in your business. Whatever it may be— don’t think too hard about it and simply start writing how you feel. Dig into the corners of your mind and put those thoughts on paper. This will really help clear up the thoughts in your mind.
Personally, I choose to brain-dump at the beginning of every week. Sometimes I even find my brain dump turning into a task list, which I then organize from highest priority to lowest. It could be as little as things I may eat in the next week
2) Create a Physical Photography Inspiration Board.
This idea came from one of my favorite textile artists, Aviva Standoff, who I interviewed back in 2020 on Instagram Live.
And no— I’m not talking about a photography Pinterest board. I want you to visit an actual craft store (yes, they still exist) and buy a blank canvas.
Aviva has not one, not two, but three big photography canvases in her studio that she uses to pin inspiration to. The rule is this: nothing can be digital. When you give yourself the challenge of only using physical inspiration, you’ll start to notice a common thread that's genuinely coming from the things you're being inspired by and see in day-to-day life.
3) Set strict phone boundaries.
This goes for staying inspired or getting re-inspired: It's time to set strict boundaries with your phone.
I’ll say it again for the people in the back: it’s time to set boundaries around phone usage.
This is such an important tip that I included it in my first YouTube video of 2022 on ways to avoid burnout. I even mentioned how to manage creative ruts in a recent talk I gave in Utah and had conversations about it on the Build + Bloom podcast.
You get the point.
In my experience, phone usage is directly tied to a lack of inspiration because we are constantly playing the comparison game. In the “How to Be Productive in 2022” YouTube video I mentioned earlier, I share the different levels at which you can restrict yourself from your phone.
I recommend starting to limit phone usage by turning off all social media notifications and deleting apps that you can easily use and access on your desktop computer. For instance, Twitter and Pinterest. Let’s face it— the chance that you’re *actually* sending out tweets on Twitter (and not just scrolling) is pretty slim. This is gonna kill your productivity, and we don’t want that, especially when you’re feeling in a creative rut.
4) Mute Instagram accounts that make you jealous.
Muting Instagram accounts is different than unfollowing or blocking in that their content will stop showing up at the top of your feed. You also won’t be able to see any incoming messages they send you. If you need to mute someone you know, don’t worry— there is no way for someone to know if they’ve been put on mute.
I recommend muting anyone from influencers to public figures to a certain store or brand. If they give you a bad feeling in your stomach or cause any sort of anxiety, FOMO, or jealousy, they do not deserve your time.
Whether or not you have a personal relationship with that person, they should not be eating away at your creative energy and attention by causing you pangs of comparison, doubt, envy, or anything in between.
Instagram has unfortunately conditioned us to compare our lives to others and getting stuck in comparison leaves absolutely no room for inspiration to grow.
Here’s another idea: if there is a certain artist or photographer you love, follow them on Pinterest instead of Instagram. When you’re on Pinterest, your brain is more conditioned to find inspiration rather than comparison, like on Instagram.
5) Text someone in your circle.
This may be the most important point of all. Shoot a text to somebody in your circle, preferably outside of your industry, and make plans to hang out. Focus on cultivating relationships with people who cannot help you or your business in any way, but are great for personal company and enjoyment. This is a great way to unplug, recharge, and get re-inspired.
I have to emphasize that it is so important to be friends with other photographers and creatives who can offer mentorship, and support, and who share a similar lifestyle to you. If you don't have a lot of people in your day-to-day life like that, the free Build + Bloom community is for you.
This is an essential thing to learn how to balance: having both a community of friends who share industries and a community of friends who don’t. Not only does this make us a more well-rounded person, but you may find that opening yourself up to people who don’t do the same thing leads to your next creative breakthrough.
BONUS TIP: Finding yourself in a creative rut is also a great time to give your left brain a break and focus on the nitty-gritty of business ownership. This looks like setting up a website, registering yourself as a business entity, opening up a business bank account, finding an accountant, etc. If you’re nodding your head going “Yeah, that has been on my to-do list but I don't know where to begin, I feel overwhelmed,” I invite you to check out my Photography Business Basics Online Course.
It’s my best-selling online class where I simplify the 8 essential steps for making your business legal and legit. You’ll walk away with actionable steps, accountability, and guidance for actually getting it done. Find all of the details, testimonials, FAQs, etc. on my Photography Business Basics website page.
Resources:
If you want to check out this blog in video format, click here, and don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I share weekly videos full of guidance and advice for photographers.
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If you're ready to join a kind, encouraging, and inclusive photography community, check out the Build + Bloom Facebook group.
If you like what I teach on YouTube and in blog posts, chances are you'll love my Photography Business Basics course where I share the 8 essential steps to build your photography business and make it bloom. Start your business off on the right foot in a way that is *actually* clear, concise, and easy to understand. Learn more here!
