How much talent do you think has been wasted from lack of confidence? I don’t know any statistics but I’d bet there has been a lot. You can’t fake confidence and if you feel unsure your subject will feel unsure, leaving you with an empty picture. For those of you who have ever doubted yourself, why do you think that is? Are you intimidated by other photographers? Do you feel like you lack the skills or equipment? If this is something that you REALLY want to do, your dream or passion, why are you letting foolish thinking get in your way. If you truly do lack the skill, practice. Find out your weakness and what you need to work on. BUT don’t give up! If you lack the equipment then make it a goal to save money for the things you need. I have been VERY tight for cash, my husband in school and having three kids, but it was a goal for us and I was able to achieve that goal. It does help having a very supportive husband. I would not be doing this if it wasn’t for him. It may take longer to get the things you want but again if this is something you really want to do you will not give up. Again you cannot fake confidence! Starting right now you need to change your thinking. If there was a photo that did not turn out how you wanted it to, talk it up! That’s what you meant to do. Nobody can tell you what is or isn’t art. If you talk your work up enough and explain that the “flaws” are really a work of art, people will believe it and start seeing what you see. I’m not saying take a hideous picture and try to sell it to an old lady but take what you have and find the beauty in it. This is the season for believing and we need to first believe in ourselves if we want anybody to believe in us. Something that has really helped me is networking. Finding other photographers in your area that you can bounce back ideas and thoughts on. They are either on the same page as you or have been where you are now. They can tell you what has helped them and give you friendly advice. One of the best things I ever heard when I first started was when my friend Heather told me that she looks back at her beginning work and cringes to think someone saw that… Sure enough 6 months after starting… I was cringing at what I once thought was fantastic. And that was an awesome feeling because it meant I’d grown! It really does help having somebody you can talk to when you need it the most. This is a good reason why you should look at other photographers in your area as friends and networks rather than competitors and someone to go up against. The main thing still, is if you don’t change your thinking and gain the confidence you need you are never going to get the pictures you want. So change your thinking today, right now and I know you’ll see a difference!

And don’t forget to enter to win Skye Hardwick’s Workshop Workbook!