153 ☼ Unlocking the Power of Persistence and Perseverance in Pursuing Creative Goals
Nikon Zf test + GIVEAWAY: $150 gift certificate for the Moment shop
Dear friends,
This week's letter is about the power of persistence and perseverance in pursuing creative goals.
This issue features images I recently shot with the Nikon Zf during photo walks and backyard studio sessions. MPB.com generously provided this camera for two weeks, and I’ll share my thoughts on the new camera at the end.
Also in this issue: an exciting giveaway in partnership with Moment! One lucky winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to their online photography shop.
Finally, a major THANK YOU to everyone who joined the new Process Photo Club. Your support is energizing and the perks are exciting to work on. Read more about the benefits of the membership here and sign up today. <3
Persistence and Perseverance in a Creative Life
For nearly 20 years, I've paid my rent through creativity. I started in music—writing songs, producing albums, and running labels. After a decade, I transitioned to photography, with a two-year overlap where I did both.
If I’ve learned one thing about working in the creative world, two qualities stand out as crucial: persistence and perseverance. Persistence means sticking to your path despite difficulties or opposition. Perseverance is pushing forward despite setbacks or delays in achieving success. In other words, persistence keeps you pushing forward, while perseverance keeps you going when things get tough.
These qualities are essential whether you're a pro photographer or someone who loves photography as a hobby. Being a pro creative is a privilege, but it's not without its challenges. Financial ups and downs can be drastic—what’s successful one month might drop sharply the next.
There’s no safety net like a regular job, a reality that hit hard during COVID-19. And being a solo entrepreneur means facing mental and emotional challenges solo without direct colleagues to lean on who fully understand the situation you’re in.
Becoming a working photographer, whether full-time or on weekends, demands serious perseverance. Aside from the technical aspect, you also have to somehow run a business, and at the same time find your unique voice and style. Each of those requires both persistence and the grit to keep going when things are hard.
A key part of this process is believing you can succeed, even when the road ahead looks daunting. Sometimes, not knowing how tough it'll be is a blessing. For example, if I had known upfront that creating my book, "NOTICE", would involve spending 307 hours shooting over 123 days, and snapping over 35,000 photos, I might've hesitated. But because I focused only on what was right before me and persisted in going on a daily photo walk, day after day, I manage to bring it to its conclusion by publishing a book. Every small step adds up, whether you’re dedicating hours or just finding a few minutes a day.
Living a creative life—whether photography is your job or passion—is full of ups and downs. Those who find success do so by persisting, and pushing through obstacles one day at a time. It's about consistency, showing up and doing the work, even when progress feels slow.
One of my favorite examples of a creative who showed us what persistence and perseverance is all about is comedian Zach Galifianakis. He spent a decade doing stand-up comedy in New York City in the late 1990s. He seemed to get his big break with a two-week trial as a writer on "SNL" in the early 2000s, but he was let go afterward. This experience gave him insight into the workings of a major comedy institution. Two years later, he created his own talk show on VH1.
Despite critical acclaim, the show was canceled after only nine weeks due to low ratings. Throughout all of this, Zach continued to perform stand-up comedy and appeared in various films and TV shows. His actual breakthrough came in 2009 with the release of "The Hangover." That is roughly 20 years into his career.
Through his career, Zach Galifianakis showed persistence by continually refining his comedic craft and perseverance by bouncing back from setbacks like the cancellation of his talk show. His experience is the perfect example of resilience and dedication in achieving success in creative industries.
So, this week, let's remember: Effort counts, no matter how small. Just keep shooting, capture moments that matter, and move forward, even if it’s one small step at a time.
If you enjoyed this issue, consider joining the Process Photo Club! It helps keep Process going and includes great perks, like significant discounts on books, prints, and mentor sessions. An example, you ask? Oh a 50% discount on my upcoming book!
Next Week: A highly practical and interesting chat with gallery owner Michael Dooney, including six tips for attending your first portfolio review.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
Housekeeping
Berlin Process Photo Walk — I am partnering with my friends at camera shop/photo lab Safelight in Berlin to organize a Process Photo Walk on August 31st. RSVP here now, since there are limited seats available. We end with a special portrait shoot where I take a diptych portrait of everyone with their favorite camera, and my friend Austin Fassino will take some large format portraits.
Amsterdam Process Photo Walk — The next Process Photo Walk & Movie Screening is taking place July 21st. It is sold out but you can get on the waitlist here.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: Nikon Zf, with a Nikkor Z 40mm f2 lens. My thoughts on the camera:
The Nikon Zf is one of the best-looking digital cameras I’ve used. While looks aren't everything, I have to admit, it’s a handsome camera. But beyond its appearance, I was impressed with how it performs.
This camera is fast, and the focus is always spot on. One of my favorite features is the physical switch that lets me set it to black and white. I prefer to shoot black and white images natively rather than converting them from color, so this was a big plus for me. It has lots of physical dials and buttons which, to me, are much preferred over touch screen menus to navigate.
It is compact enough to carry around my neck during photo walks, and it handled skin texture and different lighting conditions really well. Overall, I really liked this camera and would feel comfortable taking it to a client shoot without much more practice.
Shout out to MPB.com, my go-to place to buy, sell, and trade used cameras and lenses. I love their service and am a paying customer. MPB caters to over 625,000 visual storytellers and provides a 6-month warranty. Thanks for the support, MPB! <3
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free upgrade.
Process Giveaway
My pals over at Moment are back for a generous giveaway! One winner will receive a $150 gift card to buy whatever you wish including film, bags, a course, and more.
To enter this week’s giveaway answer the following question in the comments:
Q: How about y’all? How is your year going? And your creative goals? I’d love to hear about any challenges you’ve run into in the comments.
Goals can range from shooting your first roll of film or taking family portraits to starting a newsletter or creating your own photo zine. Check last week’s comments for previously answered questions.
ENTER THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY before 11 a.m. EST on July 20th.
The winner will be randomly drawn. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only.
Excellent post! All of it is so helpful and for those who stay aware of what the ups and downs are, that awareness helps but doesn't cure us! Persistence is in fact, the key. I have a print out of a quote that is taped to the wall of my studio. It says, “If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” — Vincent Van Gogh. I practice three different forms of art and it's vital to me to push past the voices and the inner critic. I'm not always successful. Regarding the Zf, I own it and it has really opened up new avenues for me!
Thank you for this Wesley. This year I've celebrated a couple of small wins. But then I also remembered that a few years ago when I was scammed off 60% of my gear, I felt like giving up. It's a challenge I never saw coming, but I persevered, overcame that hurdle and fast forward, I think I'm on a track I want to be.