If you are a photographer or testing the waters, you probably have realized how quickly it can turn into an intense passion. Photography can grab hold of you, and not let go. However, like any passion or profession, you get stuck in ruts. You begin to feel stagnant, uninspired, or disinterested. Sometimes, you need a break from your greatest passion to make the greatest strides. So here are four reasons why taking a break from photography can help you career.
1. Taking a Break Helps You Not Take Things for Granted
Cynthia Ozick said it best: “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”
It’s normal for human beings, and it’s one of our biggest flaws. No matter how wonderful something is, we get used to it, and slowly begin to not value or appreciate it as much. As photographers, we put ourselves in beautiful scenarios, sometimes on the daily. We do what we can for the “shot,” but never take a moment to pause, put the camera down, and appreciate how incredible our world is and the people who live in it. So, I force myself to not bring my camera on some trips or excursions. It’s kind of an odd feeling at first, and it’s sort of like not having your favorite toy or teddy bear with you as a kid. But when you wake up to that sunrise over the mountains or you take that walk along the beach, and your sole purpose is to just soak that moment in and not take the perfect photograph, you can just fully appreciate what’s around you. You won’t be taking a shot, but you’ll have a shot at always valuing what you photograph.
Disclaimer: I’m not saying it’s impossible to take photos and appreciate what you’re photographing. You definitely can. I’m simply saying that time away from the camera will do nothing but allow you to really take a breath and enjoy the moment fully, without thinking about all the details behind taking a fantastic shot.
2. Taking a Break Helps Recharge Your Creative Fuel Tank
This is very important, and I do this for anything creative, whether it’s design, writing, or photography. Sometimes taking a break from a project can really allow for you to recharge creatively. When you start to feel like you aren’t moving anywhere in your work or you feel lost, get out of the work space and go on a hike, enjoy time with friends, or hit the gym. Do something else you enjoy, and get away from your screen or camera. I promise, in those moments where you take a break, your mind will be recharged and you’ll think of a new idea or direction that can further your project.
(Heck, I took a break when I wrote this article — and it works. The creative juices were flowing afterwards.)
3. Taking a Break Helps You Refocus
Treat yourself like the camera you operate. Most cameras are built with an intelligent autofocus system, that requires a short release, then a light press of the shutter button to allow the camera to refocus on the area you want to capture, or the ability to manually focus through your lens focus ring. Imagine if you never refocused on a subject. What kind of results would that yield? You’d be taking the same shots without any diversity or creativity.
All photographers need a release from their work to refocus as well. You need time to take a look at the photos you’ve taken over the last few months. Ask yourself what you excel at and what you need improvement on. What goals do you have and are they attainable? Finally, are you taking the same kinds of photos over and over? Do you need to get out of your comfort zone and try a new type of photography? As a photographer that is self-taught, I have to continue to focus myself and never get comfortable with where I’m at. If you don’t refocus, you might get lost and your way might become burry.
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you,” Oprah Winfrey once said.
4. Taking a Break Allows for Reflection
As a photographer, it’s very easy to get caught up in the noise. With the way phones, cameras, and wearable technology are evolving, everyone has a camera that is capable and performs well. Everyone wants to be a photographer because of what they see on social media or the internet. Because of this, you need times to reflect. Ask yourself why you really want to be a photographer or why you choose to be a photographer. Why do you spend hours in the studio combing over and editing thousands of frames from the last shoot, knowing your client will only use a few? Why do you still wake up at 2am to hike into the mountains to photograph a sunrise, knowing of the possibility that you may not get the shot you are hoping for? It can’t just be about the money, or the fame, or the Instagram likes. There needs to be an innate desire to create and tell a story, a sense of wonder that can never be lost, and a fire lit inside of you. You have to possess a raw passion for photography, that is constant through the ups and the downs. Time away from your craft allows for you to reflect on your passion and where it lies. Find your passion, and then you’ll find your purpose through photography.
Listen, taking a break from photography won’t be easy. I’m like the Energizer Bunny, and I’m always like to be going. I immediately thought about all the content I’d miss out on or the moments I wouldn’t be able to capture, and I had to make myself take a break. But when I did, I came back more appreciative, creative, focused, and passionate about photography than ever before.
So give it a shot, and put that camera down.
