Failure is inevitable in any creative endeavor, especially photography. But instead of letting it discourage you, you can use it as a valuable source of learning and improvement. In this article, we'll explore some of the most important lessons photographers can learn from failure, and how to apply them to your own work.
One of the most common reasons for failure in photography is being afraid to try new things. Whether it's a different technique, a new genre, or a challenging location, experimentation can help you discover new possibilities and expand your skills. Of course, not every experiment will work out, but that's part of the process. You can learn from your mistakes, refine your approach, and find your own style.
A mistake is not failure. I understand in Islam only Allah is perfect, we mere mortals aren't. And one of the advantages of attending photographic college was it enabled one to make errors, often unrealised, until college tutors pointed out transgressions, be they technical or aesthetic; in the case of the latter descriptions like "banal" and "trite", were used frequently. The result of those early glitches, is that in fifty years, I've made few errors, and when they occurred the important things were to fix it, understand why it happened, and never, ever forget. But the reality is you won't, because there's no doubt mistakes teach far more than your successes ever will.
Don't fail twice. This of course depends what/how you are defining "failure". So, if you try and do something "new" and it does not work as you had hope, reflect on it, and next time you try it, iterate on the process to enhance what you tried the first time.
To get good at something you have to spend some time being bad at it. It can be a very not fun feeling at first...but as soon as there's a twinge of improvement and you go "Ohhhhhh!' out loud you know you're on the right path.
One thing I've found helpful is seeing failure as a form of creative exploration. As artists and creative professionals, it's normal to not do well the first time trying anything. Once failure occurs, you've gained more insight and knowledge to strengthen the skillset so one can be better the next time they try it. You'll know what should be avoid and what could be improved upon. In a way, failure has also now become a tool to refine and not define yourself as lacking on something within the creative process..
In my experience, there is no such thing like Failure in Photography. When you try new things, plan with a different Perspective, but the result doesn't meet your Expectations, people may label it as a Failure. If you have a true Artistic Spirit, you don't see it as a Failure but consider it an Experiment and an Opportunity to learn a new Approach for the Execution of your planned work.
Another way to learn from failure is to seek feedback from others. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and give you new perspectives and ideas. However, feedback can also be hard to accept, especially if it's negative or harsh. You need to be open-minded and respectful, and filter out the constructive criticism from the personal opinions. You can also choose who you ask for feedback, and look for people who share your vision and goals.
In my experience, I whenever I update my website, or have new projects to highlight, I send a few emails over to some industry leaders in my directory, specifically asking for feedback. This allows me to have another set of eyes to view my work and see what is still needed in order to reach my creative goals for the year. I also look for opportunities for portfolio reviews, which allows me to see how my peers are faring in their respective creative journeys and what I can implement in my own needs.
I completely agree, honest feedback is super helpful. I have never learned from "oh that's a nice picture". But as you say, the feedback needs to be from those who have solid experience and whose vision you share.
There are a number of photo competitions out there. For me it has given great feedback to participate in competitions. The judges give you hints on things to improve and you get your pictures scrutinized by other good photographers. It is a bit nervous to put yourself out there, but it's worth it. If you get good scoring it gives you confidence (and you can use it in your marketing).
An essential aspect of growth involves seeking feedback from others. Constructive criticism provides insights into both strengths and weaknesses, offering fresh perspectives and ideas. While receiving feedback can be challenging, especially if it's negative, maintaining an open mind is crucial. Distinguish between constructive criticism and personal opinions, ensuring you filter information for its relevance. Choose feedback sources wisely, opting for individuals who align with your vision and goals for meaningful insights.
Real honest feedback, and this next part is very important, from someone that *genuinely* wants to see you become the best photographer you can be. Nobody learns from people that just run them down.
A third lesson from failure is to analyze your results. Instead of deleting or ignoring your bad photos, you can review them and see what went wrong. You can use tools like histograms, EXIF data, and editing software to examine your exposure, focus, composition, and other aspects of your photos. You can also compare your results with your expectations, and see if you met your objectives or missed something.
In my experience, I find that going back and re-editing images to see if I've learned anything through the years, or if there's still room for improvement. Being able to compare past processes vs. current processes is great way to assess growth and see if I've learned from my failings.
Analyzing the results of your photography is a vital aspect of the creative process. It allows you to gain insights into what worked and what didn't. Personally, I've found that reviewing both successful and unsuccessful shots with a critical eye has been instrumental in honing my skills. It's a process of continuous learning and refinement, helping photographers make informed decisions and improvements in their work.
Depuis quelques années je me suis lancée le défi de participer à des concours photographiques. Non pas dans le but de gagner, mais dans le but de participer pour apprendre à analyser / comprendre / critiquer mes propres photos. Et c’est ainsi que j’apprends à m’améliorer.
A fourth lesson from failure is to practice consistently. Photography is a skill that requires constant practice and repetition to master. You can't expect to improve if you only take photos occasionally or randomly. You need to set yourself goals, challenges, and projects, and work on them regularly. You also need to review your progress and adjust your methods accordingly. By practicing consistently, you can overcome your weaknesses and enhance your strengths.
In the era of phone cameras, there is no excuse for new photographers not to be constantly improving their work by taking images. Having started shooting film where each image cost money (quite a lot with large format) I would have love to have learned in today’s digital era. Having taken over 1 million images in my life, I still shoot all day every day. Even if I don’t actually take the shot I will form 2D framed images of the world in my head. Practice makes perfect.
Practice leads to progress, and progress can lead to perfection. As photographers, we must constantly work on our craft through personal projects. Writing down what kind of photos we want to create, and executing them by scheduling photo sessions with agencies or other creators, and documenting each phase of the project so you can see your strengths and pain points.
L'entra?nement et la persévérance sont clés pour obtenir de meilleurs résultats et d'atteindre des objectifs. Sans échec, il n'y a pas d'évolution.
En tant que photographe professionnelle, nous sommes artisans, prestataires de services pour la plus part. Mais il ne faut pas oublier notre ame d’artiste et continuer avec des projets personnels afin de continuer à s’améliorer en se créant des défis, des objectifs, prendre du plaisir et développer notre créativité qui nous servira en tout point.
Photography is not training it is an act. I never try to shoot, I shoot as my best I can at that moment. It is same as to live , every moment is unique
A fifth lesson from failure is to learn from others. You can find inspiration and guidance from other photographers who have faced similar challenges and overcome them. You can study their work, read their stories, watch their tutorials, or even reach out to them for advice. You can also join communities and groups where you can share your experiences and learn from each other. By learning from others, you can avoid some common pitfalls and discover new solutions.
One thing I find extremely helpful is fostering a community where I can ask questions and share failures. A true community will provide safe space to process failures and receive professional advice and solutions that work best for me. By knowing people who have gone through the same path, it fosters learning and growth creatively through communing with others.
L'expérience des autres peut être bénéfique pour faire évoluer la n?tre. En revanche, il ne faut pas se calquer a un autre photographe et espèrer que celà fonctionne car ?a ne sera pas le cas. Chaque photographe est différent. Mais piocher quelques conseils est une bonne chose
I will always take contacts or find a way of connecting with fellow photographers especially when I realized there's so much to take from their works. Join a community of photographers that will help me grow by sharing my thoughts, my work and even asking relevant questions.
My own journey has emphasized the value of seeking inspiration and knowledge from fellow photographers. By studying the work of others, engaging in mentorship, and actively participating in the photography community, we can gain fresh perspectives, discover new techniques, and expand our creative horizons. Collaboration and mentorship are powerful ways to accelerate our growth as photographers.
Innovación a través de la Adversidad: A menudo, el fracaso en la fotografía se convierte en el trampolín para la innovación. Las limitaciones y desafíos pueden inspirar soluciones creativas y técnicas novedosas. Al enfrentar el fracaso con una mente abierta, los fotógrafos pueden descubrir enfoques únicos que no habrían considerado de otra manera.
A sixth and final lesson from failure is to enjoy the journey. Photography is not only about the final product, but also about the experience and the process. You can have fun and express yourself through your photos, and appreciate the opportunities and challenges that come along the way. You can also celebrate your achievements and acknowledge your efforts, and not let failure define you. By enjoying the journey, you can stay motivated and passionate about photography.
Photography is fun! Ridiculously fun! Even on the hard days I remind myself of how cool this job is and how I turned something that I only started because it was fun and interesting into something fun and interesting that sustains me.
One thing I've found helpful in my photography journey is having a safe place to fail with like minded photographers. We all learn from failure and we can also learn from other people's failure as well. Having a core group where you can push each other, and share obstacles and successes makes the journey sweeter. When we feel like a failure or even face the dreaded imposter syndrome, talking to other photographers who understand what you are going through is a gift!
As with anything in life, failure is an integral part of success. Embrace it. Continuing to try new things and failing will ultimately make you a better photographer and could lead to developing your own style.
The greatest skill of any photographer, imho, is the ability to problem solve. To ideate, plan, think creatively, then arrive at a job and have to throw all those plans and ideas out and figure out something new on the spot, isong experience, gut, and creativity. That’s what makes photography rewarding and endlessly interesting to me. The only way you fail is by giving up, or not trying. Every solid, thoughtful effort is a win.
Growth in most things, photography included, isn’t always linear. If we get into the mind set that that everything we try will move us forward then we become susceptible to lack of inspiration. It’s the trials and tribulations that allow us to embrace the success with gusto and vigor. All of this together helps us to navigate our path. One without the other does not lead us to where we want to be.
You’re going to have some hard lessons and you have to know that and you have to understand that. There was one time I had a great shoot and I was so excited about the photos. I should have immediately uploaded them to my computer. But I didn’t. I continued to mess with them and then I accidentally formatted the card and lost the entire day's photos. I was devastated and I never made that mistake again. Lesson learned.
Here I will tell you my biggest mistakes! - many times after editing photos in my laptop I forgot to put back my simcard. Now I have 10 of them packed in my camera backpack - I also forgot to charge batteries. Now I have 4 of them. - I forgot to change ISO for lower ( after taking photos at night) - I forgot to switch of a bracketing mode, and I wondered why I can't take multiple images - when I bought a new camera I always forget to update the date ( that's why I couldn't participate in photo competition when the date was important). I eliminated those mistakes but sometimes i still make some new. Just don't judge yourself. The more your practice the less mistakes you will make. And if you make them, just let it go and learn from it!
We often learn more from our mistakes vs wins, but we have to make a conscious effort to do so. And be sure to understand the details of the mistake and what made it a failure. It could be that the idea was sound but the implementation needs tweaking vs trashing the entire thing. And this applies to more than just shooting - it also applies to running a photography business as well.
When I wasn't yet a photographer, I've seen a friend loose three years worth of photos. It felt devastating. When learning photography, I've always kept this memory close by and protected my data as much as possible. Be wary of Murphy's law, data will be lost no mater what, so make sure you have redundancy in your back-ups.
échec n’est pas le bon mot. Du coup je n’ai pas argumenté sur les sujets. Il n’y a qu’expériences et apprentissages. L’important est de rester fidèle à soi.