How to Reignite Your Passion as a Creative
Underground Poker Night With Caviar & Whiskey.
Lighting: Aputure 300D Light on right side with scrim jim diffuser. Camera Settings: Nikon Z7, ISO 100 1/30 Shutter F/7.1 70mm
I have a theory that everyone is creative.
The best evidence of this comes during childhood. Remember when you didn’t have a care in the world but to make ‘magic potions’ out of leaves and dirt, spend hours building forts, and make up secret languages with your best friend? Those were the days!
Some of us defined ourselves by our creativity and eventually built a career out of it, and others slowly moved into more structured careers. As a working creative, I count myself to be super lucky to be able to do what I love and make money; but as any working creative will tell you, things change when you start monetizing your passion.
You start getting paid to make art for other people, and then a month passes, and another month, and pretty soon it’s been a long time since you’ve made anything for yourself. You start to feel guilty. Your brain kicks into overdrive. Suddenly, you find yourself in the lost, lonely world of writer’s block, or you can’t think of a half-decent melody for the life of you, or your blank canvas haunts you in your dreams. Finally, you face the truth: You feel flat out uninspired, you wonder, have I lost it?!
I know, it’s dark.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love photographing for other people; I get a lot out of it. But when I shoot for someone else, I’m ultimately shooting for their brand, not mine. And while it still exercises my creative muscles and challenges me to keep my technical skills sharp, it’s not the same. Any artist will tell you, it’s as much about making something good as it is about you expressing yourself and processing your human experience. And that’s not always something you can do within the confines of paid work.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: Just because my photography is objectively good it doesn’t mean I’m off the hook. I need to dig deeper. I need to actively look for inspiration, I need to continue to evolve as an artist, to find my voice, and then find it again.
So that’s what this blog is about; it’s about reigniting your passion as a creative. It’s not a fancy how-to blog or comprehensive list by any means, it’s just a few things I’ve been doing lately to reclaim my art, find my voice, and reignite my passion.
Do Something Else Creative
Lately, I’ve been doing paint-by-numbers to unwind. Why? Because I need new art for my house! Jk :) I do it because it’s fun and it helps me turn my brain off. And when it’s done, I feel accomplished.
Your creative brain is not rigid. Art breeds art. So get out from behind the lens and do something creative that your ego is not attached to. Exercise your creative brain by making something with your hands. Interact with textiles and materials. Get your hands dirty.
I think people are meant to be makers; it’s just downright therapeutic.
I’m convinced it’s the reason everyone started color coordinating their bookshelves and learning how to make bread (I swear, even my gluten-free friends have hopped on that grain train).
When you exercise your own creative brain with things that aren’t related to photography (or music, or architecture, or whatever your primary creative passion), your creative brain refreshes, inspires, and expands.
Surround Yourself With People Who Share Your Passion
My passion first and foremost is food, and one of my favorite things to do is to cook for my foodie friends. You know, the kind of friends who get excited over a pretty garnish and never ask for menu alterations. Those are my people! I can always count on oohs and ahhs, clean plates, and enthusiastic reviews. It makes me feel good about myself and reminds me why I love to do what I do.
If you’re a dancer - Take a friend to the ballet
If you’re a sculptor - Go to a gallery opening and mingle
If you’re a bartender - Go to an industry meetup
Observe The World
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your art is… nothing. Really! It’s so easy to forget that there is endless inspiration around every corner. You don’t have to go looking for it, you just have to be present and open. So take a break to simply observe the world around you.
Some of my greatest inspiration has come from trying out a new restaurant in downtown L.A., going to a museum, hunkering down in a cafe to people-watch, traveling, or staring into the ocean from my boat.
Remember What You Used to Do for Fun
Do you remember that feeling of being so lost in your imagination, you didn’t even notice when it got dark. Of outright forgetting to break for lunch because you were in the middle of making something? A fort, a song, a costume, a lego structure...That ‘thing’ you used to do for fun when you were a kid is a building block of who you are as an artist today.
What did you use to do before you ever got paid?
For me, I was never a hobby photographer. But I became one because of my love for food. Growing up in Syria, food was such a big part of the culture. It was a love language of tradition, family, and connection. Since I can remember, I’ve loved making food with my hands and sharing it with other people. So it’s no surprise that I was drawn to food photography because of the food, flavors, and stories behind the pictures.
In today’s world, we’re all so obsessed with documenting. It’s a sad symptom of our generation. But the truth is…
...if you’re not documenting or monetizing something, it doesn’t mean it’s a waste of time. Take a lesson from your younger self and just do it for fun.
Take a break from social media, leave your tool at home, and go experience your passion the way you did when you were a kid.
If you’re an architect - Go stare at that building that inspired you
If you’re a musician - Lay on your bedroom floor and listen to your favorite album
If you’re a photographer - Spend an afternoon browsing the flea market
Relieving yourself of the pressure to document and create might take a few days or even weeks. We’re so conditioned to be ‘productive’, that it can feel counterintuitive to take a break. But it’s worth it. It cleans your palate and saves you from burnout.
The life of an artist is never passive; therefore, I hope this blog helps you actively reconnect with yourself as an artist and reclaim the joy of simply creating!
Part of this journey for me means learning to be vulnerable with my fellow creative community and honest about my process. Because as much as we might feel alone as creatives, many of us are going through the same things.
So with that in mind...
How do you feed your creativity? How do you keep the magic alive?
I’m pleased to say that over the last few weeks I’ve put in the work, and you know what? My photography has changed for the better. I’ve had more energy to shoot for myself. I’ve gotten really clear about the kind of content I want to put out on social media, and I’m just flat-out inspired. So although I don’t claim to be an expert on this, I can tell you firsthand that these tips really work.
I hope this blog helps you explore, expand, and evolve who you are as an artist. More than anything, I hope it helps you see your art from a new perspective to reignite your passion as a creative.