Process 096 ☼ Our Desire to Be Seen

GIVEAWAY: $150 gift certificate for the Moment store

Dear friends,

This week’s letter is about our human desire to be seen, how much of ourselves can be found in our work, and the deceitful imposter syndrome. But before we dive in, something exciting.

All the images in this issue were developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. Use code “PROCESS” at check out to get a free size upgrade. They’re my favorite lab in the world and I’m grateful for our collaboration. <3

Process Community Double Exposure Roll Exchange

By popular demand I will facilitate a double exposure exchange between Process readers inspired by the results I shared in Process 094. If you’d like to participate, fill in this Google Form by May 21st and you’ll be matched with another photographer and receive detailed instructions on how to get the best results.

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To Be Seen

There's something about photography that goes beyond capturing images. Something deeper, more profound, and inherently human. It's the need to be seen and valued, a need that's rooted in our very existence as social beings. We want to be acknowledged, appreciated, and loved for who we are, and in some ways, photography offers us a way to express that need.

As photographers, we put something of ourselves into every photograph we take. It's not just about the technical aspects of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. It's about the emotions, thoughts, and experiences we bring to each shot. Every photo reflects who we are and what we see, a manifestation of our personal perspective on the world.

But there's a catch. When we put our work out there, we're also putting ourselves out there. We expose ourselves to criticism, rejection, and the possibility of failure. It's not easy to share something that's so personal and vulnerable, especially when we're not sure if it's good enough.

This is where feelings of insecurity and imposter syndrome come in. Many of us struggle with the belief that we're not talented enough, not experienced enough, not worthy enough. We compare ourselves to others, judge ourselves harshly, and hesitate to put ourselves forward.

I remember the moment when I was about to announce my photo book NOTICE and reveal the cover image. Even though I was very pleased with the book and so proud of the work and my collaboration with Dan Rubin on the design, I still felt very vulnerable letting the world know about it. What if no one cared?

I started making plans for a scenario where just my friends and family would order some copies and I’d have to take a loss on the book during the very trying financial times of the pandemic. Those thoughts turned out to be foolish, thankfully, because my friends and readers came through and helped me spread the word and 800 of the 1000 copies were sold during the pre-sale. This enabled me to get the book printed at the highest quality levels possible. (Fun fact, the second print is coming in a month.)

It's important to remember that these feelings are not unique to photography. They're part of the human experience, and they affect everyone at some point or another. The key is not letting them paralyze or stop us from pursuing our passions.

Instead, we need to embrace the vulnerability that comes with putting ourselves out there. We need to acknowledge that our work is a reflection of who we are, and that's something to be proud of. We need to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them.

And we need to remember that we're not alone. There's a whole community of photographers out there, each with their own unique perspective and voice. We can learn from each other, support each other, and celebrate each other's successes.

Connecting To Others

One of the most powerful things about photography is its ability to connect us with others. When we share our work, we're not just sharing images. We're sharing a part of ourselves, and we're inviting others to see us, to appreciate us, and to connect with us on a deeper level.

So, my fellow photographers, let's embrace our need to be seen and valued. Let's recognize that every photograph we take is an expression of who we are, and that's something to be proud of. Let's take risks, make mistakes, and learn from them. And let's support each other along the way, knowing that we're all in this together.

And if you're struggling with feelings of insecurity or imposter syndrome, remember that you're not alone. We all go through it, and it's okay to feel vulnerable. But don't let those feelings stop you from sharing your work and your voice with the world. Because at the end of the day, that's what photography is all about: connecting with others, expressing ourselves, and leaving our mark on the world.

Thank you for reading, keep shooting, and take good care of yourselves and others.

Yours in process,

Wesley Verhoeve

Find me on Glass / LinkedIn / Instagram

A big thank you to my friends over at MPB.com for making this issue possible. MPB is the largest global platform to buy, sell, and trade used photo and video gear. They serve over 625,000 visual storytellers and all gear comes with a six-month warranty.

Last week I wrote about testing the Canon R5 and the next bit of gear is the Fuji XPro!

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That’s it for this week! Can you believe we are only four weeks away from issue 100? If you’re not yet a Process subscriber, trust me you will want to be:

Next week: How one simple lightweight tool made a recent client shoot 20 x better.

Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others.

Wesley

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Process Giveaway!

Last week’s Giveaway for a $150 gift card in partnership with Moment is still open for submissions until May 21st. Many readers have already shared their answers to the question:

What do you think about AI in photography? Is it a threat or a tool?

Go check out their thoughts and share your own in the comments.

The winner will be randomly drawn. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only.

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