Process 014 ☼ How To Overcome Creative Block
Giveaway: 27 rolls of 35mm film courtesy of Film Supply Club
Dear friends,
Today we’re talking about how you can overcome a creative block. I asked 20 photographer friends to weight in with their advice so we covered all the bases.
For this week’s giveaway we have an amazing stash of 27 rolls of 35mm film and a reloadable camera courtesy of my buddy Braedon Flynn and his Film Supply Club.
Creative Blocks Are Normal
You will run into a creative block, and when you do you might feel stuck, uninspired, insecure, or confused about what to do next. My first advice is to stop beating yourself up over feeling stuck. It happens to all of us, from beginners to pros, and on all levels from a small project to an entire career trajectory.
My personal strategies for getting unstuck depend on the moment. Sometimes I might call a photographer friend to ask for feedback. Other times I will show work to a non-photographer to get a pure response unburdened by experience.
Going for a run always helps me snap out of my own head, especially if I listen to great music during. A day or two of nothing photography related at all might help, especially if I spend time in nature or working with my hands. Cooking a big meal from scratch, chopping wood, building fires, and caring for others. Anything with puppies.
Introducing uncertainties into my work, for example by shooting expired film, also tends loosens me up because I’m forced to give up some control and allow myself to be surprised. Below are two shots from one of those days, when the midday sun in Mexico City was so bright that I broke out a roll of Ektachrome 64 from 1985 and shot it at 32 ISO and hoped for the best. It ended up turning me onto a whole new way of shooting.
Those are a few of my own strategies to overcome creative block. Below you’ll find a bunch of my brilliant photographer friends who generously shared their own take and experience. Soak it in, get unstuck, and share with friends so they can get unstuck too.
Andre Wagner
“How I deal with creative block depends on my energy at the time; if I’m active I’ll shift gears and obsess with physical activities separate from photography, or maybe I’ll continue to make images even if I don’t think things are clicking. One way or another I know that it’s just part of a process, work has to be done regardless.”
Matt Day
“I usually try to ride it out. I used to give myself a challenge, maybe shoot a roll of film within a time limit, but I’ve learned that forcing myself doesn’t speed up the process. Sometimes you just need to let yourself take that break even if you don’t want to.”
Rosie Matheson
“When I hit a creative block, I have to ride it out. Especially this year, there’s no easy escape to another place to find inspiration, which would be my usual way of dealing with it.
Inspiration can come from whenever, or whomever, at any time. It can be found taking a walk each day at different times and seeing things change. It might be the way someone walks or how they lean on a bus window while it passes by.
Watching documentaries can also spark an idea. I recommend “The Many Lives of William Klein” (link), “The Colourful Mr. Eggleston” (link), “Finding Vivian Maiers” (trailer link), and “LA Originals” (trailer link).”
You can’t always feel motivated and inspired, the ups comes with the downs. I’m constantly back and forth between inspiration and not.”
Willem Verbeeck
“I enjoy spending time participating in a hobby that feels like the polar opposite of photography. For me this happens to be cars. The logical nature of working mechanically on a car feels entirely opposite to the creative and free approaches to photography. It helps me feel refreshed when I come back to photography afterwards.”
Bradley Ogbonna
“Whenever I hit a creative block I try to do a few different things. I go out into the world and go for walks, play basketball, get in my car and visit somewhere different, or if I’m at home I try to watch a new movie that has been on my list or catch up on some reading and paging through photography books.”
Joan Michel
“I isolate from the world and put my phone in Do Not Disturb mode, then listen to music or watch films. I’ll write down my feelings and whatever thoughts come to mind, and then process from there what I want to do. I create moodboards and then start piecing together what I want I create.”
Linus (and his Camera)
“Every time I hit a creative block, it stops me in my tracks and makes me rethink what I’m doing on to keep myself inspired. I’ll put down my camera and watch a movie. Read a book. Listen to some music. Usually, that helps by acting as a hard reset. Creative blocks happen when I’m not taking breaks, so I force myself to take them.”
Joe Greer
“Honestly, I’ve never really hit a creative rut, but I have safe guards in place like taking breaks from photography, disconnecting, focusing on other hobbies (like running), and spending time with loved ones. These safeguards aid me in never getting close to a creative rut or feeling burnt out in the first place, and keep me locked in and focused.”
Shaniqwa Jarvis
“I take a creative break. I go lay down.”
Devin Blaskovich
“I try to make sure I have enough projects of different styles going on simultaneously. This way whenever one is not drawing as much potential out of me, I can rotate to another that activates on the wavelength that I’m feeling at the time.
I also think that photographers can get stuck with their focus on subject matter and demographics. Instead they could find creative solace in thinking about which emotion a photograph can invoke as the point of departure instead.
Good references for this are Jason Fulford’s book The Photographer’s Playbook, and Ralph Gibson’s interviews about working for Dorothea Lange.”
Grant Spanier
“Because I work on many projects and different types of projects (filmmaking, photo, creative direction) that are all in different stages I use the projects to procrastinate with each other. This usually gets me going and creates breakthroughs, and progress.”
Corey Wolfenbarger
“I stay away from social media. The more focused I remain on others’ work the quicker my confidence and inspiration dwindle. It is imperative for me to find that separation between what I am trying to create and what I am feeding my brain via the Internet.”
Victoria Wright
“I take a screen and media detox to be free of the noise for a bit. I leave my phone on the other side of the house when I’m creating to eliminate distractions.
Another thing that works for me is to make sure I see something new. Even if it’s something as simple as changing my commute route or daily walk.”
Daniela Villarreal
“First, I tend to write everything down so the ideas don’t go away. For the next few days I like to go to a park and sit down by myself to think about the idea to further develop it. I’ve discovered that by doing this, the idea flows more freely than the original idea I wrote down. Only after I think about everything, I execute it.”
Dave Krugman
“I always switch up my inputs and outputs. I consume media I haven’t seen before and let that influence the work I make moving forward. I just take a break basically.”
Stephen Tayo
“I try to relax and focus more on self and find new meanings to things in general. This can take few days or a week or less for clarity to start coming.”
Jake Wangner
“When I’m losing my creative energy I usually go into technical mode. I study a new process and try it out. I try a new camera or piece of gear. That helps me to continue creating even when I don’t feel creative.”
Jose "Tutes" Tutiven
“I've learned to not force creativity, instead I would meet with other creatives/peers and discuss what inspires us. It usually ends up being very therapeutic. It helps me get out of my own mind and look at the bigger picture.”
Ray Neutron
Pre-covid, when I hit a creative block I’d go hang out with a friend just to live outside of my head. Feeling human outside of the work I do is essential. Now it’s phone calls , FaceTime, and long walks that get me out of a funk. Old music does the trick too.
Brandon Ruffin
“Most of the things I do to get past a creative block are meant to take my mind off the pressure of searching for the perfect solution to eliminating the block.”
Take Aways
Ride it out — Accept that creative blocks are part of the process and keep going.
Take a break from photography — Engage in an unrelated hobby, work a different muscle, and come back to photography feeling refreshed. Work with your hands so your brain gets some rest.
Take a break from social media and your phone — Eliminate distractions, comparing yourselves to others, and focus on creating instead of consuming.
Find new inspiration — Watch documentaries, read photo books, visit museums.
Take care of body and mind — Exercise, talk to friends, eat healthy, go lay down.
Be patient and kind to yourself — Treat yourself like you would treat a friend.
Write out your ideas to gain more clarity — Noting down your ideas can help you better understand them and find a way forward.
Work on multiple projects and in different styles — If you get stuck with one, you can always shift your attention to another project.
Change up your routine — Even if it’s just your daily walk or commute.
Try new tools — Step away from the creative and focus on the technical for a bit.
Get out of your mind by talking to your creative peers — Look at your creative conundrum through other people’s eyes to discover new perspectives.
Shout out to Andre, Matt, Rosie, Willem, Bradley, Joan, Linus, Joe, Shaniqwa, Devin, Grant, Corey, Victoria, Daniela, Dave, Stephen, Jake, Tutes, Ray, and Brandon for sharing their experience and insights. Make sure to check out their inspiring work too.
Notice Book Update
Photography can be a solitary craft. Thankfully making a book is a great opportunity to collaborate with others. I feel so lucky to have assembled a small dream team of passionate book-making experts to turn “Notice” into a full-fledged book project.
Today I wanted to give a shout-out to producer Jos Moree. It’s gonna be a busy week as he will help us select the right printing and binding partners, estimate costs and timeline, figure out which paper and cloth will work best for “Notice”, and more.
Jos has been in the business of making books for over 40 years and I’m learning so much from him already. I will document and pass on all these lessons right here in Process. Here’s a portrait I took in October after our first meeting.
That’s it for this week. Remember, you are not alone. There is not a single photographer who doesn’t feel stuck sometimes. You too will get past your block!
Unblocked and boujee,
Wesley
Process Giveaway!
My friends at Film Supply Club have hooked us up with a wonderful stash of 35mm film for this week’s giveaway. Included are 10 rolls of Kodak Portra 400, one roll of Kodak Tmax 400 and 3200, Ilford Fp4 Plus, Fujifilm Acros 100, 3 rolls of Lomography C41, and an amazing re-loadable Lomography Simple Use camera. Wow! See below:
To enter email me at hello@wesley.co (please don’t reply to this note but send a separate email) before 11pm EST on November 18th and answer the following question:
If you could bring back one discontinued film stock, which would it be?
(My answer: Kodak PXP 120 Plus-X Pan, which is such a dream.)
One winner will be randomly drawn and notified via email. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only. Subscribe below by clicking this button:
Make sure to show Film Supply Club some love on Instagram and check out their store full of film cameras, batteries, film, and to learn about their rad membership program.
Would you like to support Process? Great! Tell your friends about it. Just click below:
If you’re a new reader, browse the Process archives here.
Process is a weekly letter from Wesley Verhoeve.
Follow along at @wesley.