Great explanation of imposter syndrome in photography, Ian. I think it bleeds into different aspects of your life. I'm a similar age and still do a few days a week as a driving instructor and I do project a certain image while teaching. I enjoy taking photographs and editing them. I actually feel that I can take quite a good photograph now but I've stopped letting anyone see them apart from my wife. I'm trying to wean myself from social media as I feel that it can become comparison hell! I'm now thinking of just concentrating on building a website and see what happens. I've sold a few prints on Etsy in the past, although I haven't tried much lately. It's not about the money, it's the buzz that someone likes your work enough to buy it.
Great vid thank you. I have this thing where I suffer from imposter syndrome (I am an amateur and not very good but been shooting 30 odd years)) then look at say RUclips channels and find images that might be good due to location (whether it be the lake district or anywhere else on the planet) and I often find the image shot and processed to be lacking in some way.. often just boring, not telling the story. I also have heard said youtubers explain this by fact they need to put out vids each week for the algorithm. For me its all about the quality ... if I were selling images, they would need to be top drawer. Thoughts?
Yes, quality is important. When I sell images via stock libraries a single dust spot on one image can lead to everything I have submitted in that batch being rejected. That perfectionism bleeds over into my other photography work. But then, I'm all too aware that perfectionism is also a trait of imposter syndrome. When I take a step back and look at things objectively it becomes a questions of the purpose of the image (or video in the case of YT). Images that I would reject for stock libraries I might be happy to use in a tutorial video (the lower resolution meaning that you can see dust spots and you the sharpness doesn't have to be critical). Regarding the need to 'feed the algoritham' for YT - for me it depends on what the purpose of the video is - the production values on my 'newsletter' videos are different to my 'evergreen' content. Newsletter HAVE to go out on time and quickly impart info. The evergreen tutorials I will put more time into because they will be relevant for a long time. Both feed the algoritham, both have different quality thresholds.
Great and honest, thought provoking video. It was meeting and listening to your talks on a cruise ship, that made me take my photography more seriously. On the downside, you've cost me a forune having to upgrade lol, but on the plus I am now making photos expodentially better than before, thanks to you and that chance meeting onboard. I'm now at the stage with my photography you should have surpassed many years ago, so I definitely get the "imposter syndrome" effect.
I just re read my post I think it can be mis construed... I hope you understand that I meant that you stand head and shoulders above me talent and knowledge wise, so I have the imposter syndrome and you shouldn't. You definitely inspire me 🙏
Great explanation of imposter syndrome in photography, Ian. I think it bleeds into different aspects of your life. I'm a similar age and still do a few days a week as a driving instructor and I do project a certain image while teaching.
I enjoy taking photographs and editing them. I actually feel that I can take quite a good photograph now but I've stopped letting anyone see them apart from my wife. I'm trying to wean myself from social media as I feel that it can become comparison hell! I'm now thinking of just concentrating on building a website and see what happens. I've sold a few prints on Etsy in the past, although I haven't tried much lately. It's not about the money, it's the buzz that someone likes your work enough to buy it.
Hi, this deserves more views, seriously well explained
Great vid thank you. I have this thing where I suffer from imposter syndrome (I am an amateur and not very good but been shooting 30 odd years)) then look at say RUclips channels and find images that might be good due to location (whether it be the lake district or anywhere else on the planet) and I often find the image shot and processed to be lacking in some way.. often just boring, not telling the story. I also have heard said youtubers explain this by fact they need to put out vids each week for the algorithm. For me its all about the quality ... if I were selling images, they would need to be top drawer. Thoughts?
Yes, quality is important. When I sell images via stock libraries a single dust spot on one image can lead to everything I have submitted in that batch being rejected. That perfectionism bleeds over into my other photography work. But then, I'm all too aware that perfectionism is also a trait of imposter syndrome. When I take a step back and look at things objectively it becomes a questions of the purpose of the image (or video in the case of YT). Images that I would reject for stock libraries I might be happy to use in a tutorial video (the lower resolution meaning that you can see dust spots and you the sharpness doesn't have to be critical). Regarding the need to 'feed the algoritham' for YT - for me it depends on what the purpose of the video is - the production values on my 'newsletter' videos are different to my 'evergreen' content. Newsletter HAVE to go out on time and quickly impart info. The evergreen tutorials I will put more time into because they will be relevant for a long time. Both feed the algoritham, both have different quality thresholds.
Great and honest, thought provoking video. It was meeting and listening to your talks on a cruise ship, that made me take my photography more seriously. On the downside, you've cost me a forune having to upgrade lol, but on the plus I am now making photos expodentially better than before, thanks to you and that chance meeting onboard. I'm now at the stage with my photography you should have surpassed many years ago, so I definitely get the "imposter syndrome" effect.
I'm really pleased my talks inspired your photography and yes your photography, I think, has surpassed mine now.
I just re read my post I think it can be mis construed... I hope you understand that I meant that you stand head and shoulders above me talent and knowledge wise, so I have the imposter syndrome and you shouldn't. You definitely inspire me 🙏