What is creativity and inspiration?
Both words mean different things to different people. I tend to think that creativity is the openness to look at the ordinary, differently or with a unique perspective. Combined with a bit of expertise and effort, one can sometimes turn the ordinary into something beautiful and inspiring.
Does one need inspiration to be creative or does one need to be creative to be inspiring? I think both concepts exist within us all. For inspiration to really evoke something in us, I believe we need to be actively doing our craft. As a creative person it’s very important to do what you do everyday. If you’re a photographer, you need to shoot and look at imagery everyday. If you’re a painter, you need to paint and draw everyday. If you’re a writer, you need to write and read everyday. If you do this consistently, you will not only get better at your craft - what you do everyday, will become who are.
“The more you do, the more you are!”
I sometimes think there’s a confusion between creativity and talent. They aren’t the same, although yet they compliment each other. Creativity has much to do with curiosity, open mindedness and even having a positive attitude - while talent and expertise have more to do with learning, problem solving, ability and hard work. The cool thing is, the more you work at both, the better they work together!
For me, I like to always stay busy working on side creative projects between commercial photography projects. Projects like Headshots Matter, an international initiative helping other photographers get new headshot business. Another one is a personal portrait project called 60 at 60, which is a self challenge to capture sixty Black & White portraits during 2023. And of course there’s always the photowalks I do. These projects help me keep myself creatively agile and inspired!
I also think it’s helpful to compliment a creative mindset with inspiring influences. What we surround ourselves with, matters greatly. For some, it’s music, others enjoy podcasts, some people love reading blogs or watching inspiring videos. Some creatives even thrive on calmness and quiet.
Here’s a few influences that I like:
Sean Tucker - a humble collection of inspiring videos about photography and the creative process.
Swiss Miss - a design blog run by Tina Roth Eisenberg, the founder of Creative Mornings.
John Mayer / Someday I’ll Fly - an inspiring music documentary about John Mayer’s story and his creative journey.
Creativity in Common - Clare Brennan’s inspiring Instagram account.
Dark Side of the Lens - a hauntingly beautiful video by Mickey Smith about photography and surfing.
Thom York / Unmade - beautiful and introspective
Chase Jarvis Live - a podcast about creativity, entrepreneurship and mindfulness
Fiona Lark - a beautifully inspiring Instagram account
The Blank Page - 8 Writers on Facing the Blank Page