If you want to shoot photos that mean anything, if you want your photos to be personal, if you want to make a statement with your photos, something has to happen. You definitely have to empty your head for the shoot.
You have to be open to vulnerability. You have to be open to show yourself for who you are. You have to simply be.
Go outside. Bring your camera and nothing else.
Maybe you recognize that deep down inside of you, there is a fire that wants to get out. There are words that you cannot speak yet; there is a version of you that is a bit hidden, camouflaged.
I dare you to show yourself in your next shoot. Here is my remedy to start a pre-shoot routine that will help you empty your head, make you more you, the raw and unpolished but real you.
Sit in silence
Let all thoughts come up. Watch them pass. Don’t judge; don’t hold onto them. Just let them be. 10 minutes would be great; 5 minutes is also great.
Empty your head by doing a brain dump on paper
What is in your head that needs to come out? Write it all down. You can attend to it later. Do this for 10 minutes.
Set a positive affirmation for yourself for your shoot
Something like:
“I want to see what I need to see to make the images that my clients will love and cherish.”
“I want to be fully present so I can listen to what is inside me and follow my heart’s desire to create.”
“I love to make people happy with my images.”
Visualize yourself doing the shoot as your unlimited self
What does it look like? what does it feel like? Visualize also the perfect response from your clients. Celebrate a perfect outcome. Do this for 2 minutes. Make your visualization detailed!
And there you go, off to create some art.
How did it feel? Let me know!
Now, make this a steady routine. You will notice that you will get deeper and deeper each time. And you will believe in the visualizations more and more. And you will photograph more freely each time. And you will be amazed with the images you bring home.