Giving 110% Isn’t Worth It
The Struggle With Perfectionism
Some of the best advice I have ever been given was to stop trying to give 110% when the end user thinks my 80% is amazing! I have long been struggling with striving for perfection. I’m the type of person who could look at any of my photos and see 20 things I could change. The question is, as you’re scrolling through your Instagram or Facebook feed, how many could YOU spot?
I understand that you always want to put your best foot forward, take pride in your work, and want to get better at whatever your craft may be. The question I have for you is, how much time do you put into taking something from really good to great. Chances are, to move the needle just a hair past really good, takes a lot of time. Are those changes even noticed? All that time and energy you put into turning something in your eyes from really good to great, what else could you be doing?
As I reflect on this while sitting in a coffee shop, going on my 15th hour of being on the go today, what could I have stopped at good enough so I could spend time being a better friend, son, or sibling? We beat ourselves up thinking we need to keep grinding away, when the people around us were ecstatic with us a long time ago.
How do we stop at 80%? Give yourself a deadline. Devote an amount of time to the project and then walk away. Be at peace with your decision. If you’re so compelled, come back at a later time, but be at peace that whatever you just did, is good enough.
Strive to create happiness within, but remember people think more of you and what you do way more than you give yourself credit for.
5 Things Beginner Photographers Should Do!
Dive in to improve your photography today!
You just picked up your first DLSR or Mirrorless camera. You look at the camera and you are overcome with excitement, but it hits you like a ton of bricks, ‘what the heck do all these buttons do?!’ and ‘why aren’t my photos works of art?!’ Keep reading to learn a few tips on how to improve your photography!
Touch Every Button!… Then keep doing it.
Not sure what something does? Turn it on and take a picture. Did anything happen? Maybe, maybe not. Just keep looking around, reading up on, and get familiar with your camera. You’re probably realizing pretty quickly that there’s A LOT more to cameras than your iPhones… this is a good thing.
Understand how the ‘exposure triangle’ works.
To shoot better photos understand how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together.
Images blurry? It probably has something to do with shutter speed. Try making it a faster shutter (maybe 1/160).
Want a creamier background? Try lowering the aperture closer to 2 (maybe in the 1’s for fancy lenses)
Images dark? Try bumping up the ISO… but be careful, this is artificial light and the higher the number (3200+) the more grain that is introduced.
Understand how these 3 pieces work together!
Watch videos/read books.
YouTube University is amazing. There are so many great photographers out there that are just spewing knowledge… and it’s FREE! Anything from how your camera works (see point 1), to better composition, to color grading (Lightroom and Photoshop). Get lost in learning.
Find people who will help.
No one picks up a camera on their first try and produces exhibit-worthy photos. Chances are the best of the best had people help them and teach them their own thought process on what they are looking at and how they want to capture a scene. Hold on to them and don’t let go until they are practically annoyed. Ask questions, and LOTS of them!
Have fun!
You just got your first camera. You clearly bought it for a reason. Have fun with the process, find people to learn from, research things that interest you and take LOTS of photos. The more you shoot, the more you understand your camera, and the better photographer you will become… Have fun and enjoy the journey!