How to get past your own criticism?

[F-Stop]

We're all our worst critique right? I'm at a point where I'm not digging my togging skills anymore.

My part-time photography business stays booked and my clients are happy, but as an "artist" I'm not pleased with my work anymore. As a "business" I couldn't be happier, but how do you stay happy with both?

 

[KIPAX]

I do some photography I enjoy thats not for my business.. if all my photogrpahy was for business I would end up hating it.

 

[Keith W]

I have to say I am my worst critic when it comes to my photography.

Even when people say they like my pictures and that they are great etc. I still don't seem to accept it

 

[Tyke Tiler]

We're all our worst critique right? I'm at a point where I'm not digging my togging skills anymore.

My part-time photography business stays booked and my clients are happy, but as an "artist" I'm not pleased with my work anymore. As a "business" I couldn't be happier, but how do you stay happy with both?

We can be our worst critic but if we aren't our most honest critic, were in trouble!

To be honest mate, I think your floating over a tough but also healthy space.
If your still getting bookings, then your in no immediate danger, just imagine what it would be like if it were the other way around.

Your not the type who will say that 'If my clients are happy, then I'm happy' without realizing that it's possible for some folk to be satisfied with middle of the road output.

I think everyone experiences phases like this, it could mean that your improving and now your appreciating your older work a little less :shrug:
Or you have sub consciously raised the bar of standards and your expecting more from yourself.

Either way, your a great photographer, there's little else I can say other than that mate
Maybe take a break or as KIPAX has mentioned, shoot some of that stuff that only you enjoy that isn't related to work.

Maybe try something completely new, something that you have never touched on before.

T.

 

[King of Groove]

Perhaps you should try photographing something you don't normally to get the old creative juices flowing?

 

[F-Stop]

I do some photography I enjoy thats not for my business.. if all my photogrpahy was for business I would end up hating it.

Between my "real" job, part-time togging, and 3 kids (with one on the way lol), I rarely have time for other things... I think my problem is that I find release on photo forums while at my "real" job. Seeing other people's work and how they grow and change... and here I am, the same.

I have to say I am my worst critic when it comes to my photography.

Even when people say they like my pictures and that they are great etc. I still don't seem to accept it

I'm the same way.

We can be our worst critic but if we aren't our most honest critic, were in trouble!

To be honest mate, I think your floating over a tough but also healthy space.
If your still getting bookings, then your in no immediate danger, just imagine what it would be like if it were the other way around.

Your not the type who will say that 'If my clients are happy, then I'm happy' without realizing that it's possible for some folk to be satisfied with middle of the road output.

I think everyone experiences phases like this, it could mean that your improving and now your appreciating your older work a little less :shrug:
Or you have sub consciously raised the bar of standards and your expecting more from yourself.

Either way, your a great photographer, there's little else I can say other than that mate
Maybe take a break or as KIPAX has mentioned, shoot some of that stuff that only you enjoy that isn't related to work.

Maybe try something completely new, something that you have never touched on before.

T.

Thanks, Tomas. Good points. I think you may have hit the nail on the head that I'm raising the expectations for myself.

I had a bad shoot last week... Or at least I thought. I wasn't as happy with the outcome as normal and didn't hear from the client for a week. She emailed me about an hour ago saying how much she loved the work. Helped the pride a bit, but I still wasn't as happy. lol.

Perhaps you should try photographing something you don't normally to get the old creative juices flowing?

As I told Kipax, I wish I had the time. I may just have to MAKE time.




Thanks all for comments.

 

[Twizzel]

I'm really critical when it comes to my work, and like most photographers always see that there's something I can improve on.

Yesterday I was at a show and covered showjumping most of the day, with an hour or 2 of cross country thrown in at the end when the showjumping had finished. The amount of showjumping photos that sold hit home that maybe what I was producing was half decent- the pro I was working for was more than happy, and there were lots of happy customers too I needed that boost, it's been a while since I really enjoyed photography.

 

[mrtoad]

separate work and pleasure
even if they encompass the same discipline
one for money
the other for enjoyment creativity...

 

[dazzajl]

You're in a tough place F stop, sometimes the more your work shoots are going well the harder it is to shoot things you like too.

I know that I find it very difficult to get into the zone sometimes to shoot for myself sometimes and the better work is going, the harder this can be.

I find that spending time with "real" photographers does wonders for my spirit and can restore my vision. These real snappers are mostly ones that don't need to get up and shoot for clients, they just shoot for the passion of making images. This passion is nearly always infectious.

 

[joxby]

When you shoot for money, you shoot to somebody else's guidelines.
Its not about what you think critically or creatively, its all about what they/the market wants.
You'd have to be truly mercenary not to feel this way about the stuff you are forced to shoot.
I think its kinda sad when the only time we use a camera is for money, I know a lot of peeps like that, like some kinda zombie tog working on a production line.....or something..
They don't shoot for themselves because they don't care to any more...