NoBs Digital Dogbowl

Keeping The Creative Juices Flowing by Rob Provencher

Sometimes, it's tough getting into a creative 'head space'. Our profession more often than not asks we be just that: creative, artistic, able to create new and exciting images over and over.

Over the years, I have looked into what it takes to be creative. I also discovered along the way some techniques and philosophies on the fundamentals of creativity. Years ago, somewhere around 1987, I asked my subconscious to come up with an answer to the creativity dilemma. I wanted to know more, didn't know where to look, or didn't even know if I would recognize the answer if and when it came into my life. But, I asked anyway (By the way, that is a cool technique. Ask your subconscious for something, then let it go, and wait for the answer.)

The answer came to me within weeks in the form of a guy I had met. No doubt, this guy was the most creative person I ever met. He was an interior designer, flamboyantly gay, and very, very creative. I wasn't offended, put off, or judgmental of his lifestyle (again, more creative strategies....be open and eager to look anywhere for answers). I learned much from this person, and he set the stage for what became a large part of my creative energy. I am grateful for the stuff I learned from him.

What did I specifically learn from him? I learned that the creative process requires that you have unwaivering faith that an answer will come, no matter what the circumstances, and I also learned that a large part of the creative process is having an unlimited supply of confidence in your ability to find solutions and just know that you will create. In other words, if you are worried, filled with angst, or stressed because you do not have a specific road map, you are taking away your ability to tap into your creative pool. Fear in any form is a creativity killer.

I put this into practice shortly after becoming aware of what this guy was teaching me. I was amazed that I met him and knew that because I had asked for answers, the answers came. Within a week, I was doing an engagement session. I still remember sitting there on the rocks at the local park in our city waiting for the couple to show up, worried about what "poses" I was going to do. I was stressed. Then it hit me like a truck, and the lights went on in my head. One of those 'ha haaa!!!" moments. I decided then and there to stop worrying about it and to go with the flow. A new feeling for me, and I did just that. What a great feeling, and what a great shoot I had! I had more creativity and confidence than ever before, and that started to bring out my creative energy like never before. But, I would not have likely gone through that experience had I not asked and been open.

Over the years, I have developed more ideas and thoughts on how to tap into creativity. Although each one of us will learn at different paces, the fundamentals are sound, universal, and will work if we apply them. By the way, when all hell is breaking loose, and the sky is falling and everything is going for a crap around you, that's the time to stop trying, let it go, crack open a bottle of wine, or go for a ride, and go out and eat, or whatever you need to do to let it all go and look at the circumstances from a fresh and new angle. You can turn any - ANY - situation into gold, if you have the right attitude. Attitude is a big player in the creativity game. Avoid all the negative emotions, for they will kill creativity faster than anything.

Master The Technique

Monte Zucker taught thousands of photographers the same basic techniques over and over and for decades. It was based on one simple lighting pattern (modified loop lighting) and three poses. He could create stunning images over and over and over, and used those essential strategies consistently. He taught many others the same strategies, and they, too, have created their own unique creative voice, using the same basic one lighting pattern/three pose style. Think of Clay Blackmore as a prime example. You must know the technical side of things. Master them. Then forget them. The Beatles played for years before they found their creative voice. They would play in Hamburg seven days a week, eight hours a day, over and over and over, month after month. Did they master the basics? Same with Jimmy Hendrix. Know your gear, know the basics of posing and lighting, and then forget them so you can "jam" from the heart and soul. There are no shortcuts, although some of us will learn faster than others. Having a serious passion helps too. It keeps us going through the rough roads and dark spots, but you must master the basics until they are in your blood, so you can forget them.

Swipe Files (Creative Theft)

It's called creative theft. In my car I have a binder loaded with hundreds of samples of wedding images that I've collected over the years. In my studio I have a similar binder for studio sessions. On my way to weddings or while waiting for a session to show up, I will go through these and 'borrow' ideas. Ideas are not copyrighted. No one owns them, and all ideas came from somewhere else. So, why not use 'em, and better yet, change 'em enough, add your own 'creative twist' and call it your own. In the Wedding Success System, James and I created the Field Guide, which is a small, portable (easily hidden and accessible on the fly for ideas) guide used for that purpose. In the forum's Dangerous Downloads members have access to 2 posing guides I created. Both are 8.5"x11" and over 100 pages each. One is dedicated to weddings and the other all things studio, including families, couples, babies, fairies, and much, much more for members to "swipe".

Faith

You need undying faith. Know deep in your heart that you will find creative angles. Negative emotions like fear, cynicism, jealousy, anger, impatience, anal-retentiveness, gossip, self-doubt, self-consciousness etc., etc. will dampen your ability to believe.

Attitude

Show up with a great attitude. You will be creative, and your clients will love you. Be positive, enthusiastic, hopeful, prosperous, energetic, outgoing, fun, etc., etc. and you are on the right track to creativity.

Tackle Fears

In one of my 'stump' speeches that I've created and have given to many groups over the years, called "Rob's Top Ten Rules for Success in Life and in Business," one of the rules that I outline is "DO WHAT YOU FEAR." Tackle your fears, and you will tap into new creative sources you never knew you had. Every fear has a hidden nugget of potential. Knock out the fear, and you discover this new skill and energy. Avoid it, and it stays hidden, locked away never to be found. There is only one way through this: face the fear directly. There is a way to "study it," "analyze it," or take a workshop on it. Just do it. Here's a few more thoughts from my speech:

• The emotional dragon called fear controls us more than any other. Like all negative emotions, not letting them control us is vital to success.Fears are learned mostly from our peers. Fear of embarrassment is a plague; we fail to take risks because we think we'll look stupid. The urge to belong and be accepted is so powerful.
• Mastery of fears is a lifelong quest.
• Conquering fear creates more opportunity for growth than any other experience.
• The right thing to do is not always the easiest. You might sacrifice popularity for rightness, but you'll lose self-esteem for wrongness. Don't be afraid to say no.

Follow Templates

Yes, following a template can get you to creativity. That's what Monte Zucker taught. A 'system'. It's what swipe files are. Think about the five essential poses that we teach. That's a great way to follow a quick and dirty template and then create some cool new ideas based on them. Sometimes you need to get essential, bare bone poses, so clients basic expectations are met. Then, you go nuts. Shoot something wild and outrageous for yourself. Be creative. As Joyce Wilson would say about her sessions, "I shoot something for the client, then something for me."

Keep Open

Be open to ideas and directions. You never know where a creative idea will come from. But if you are closed, you won't even begin the creative process.

Ask: What if?

Ask yourself weird, off the wall questions. "What if I shot this from up high, down low, from behind, in the parking lot beside the park, or whatever?" Look at your photography, marketing, selling, literature, processes and all, and ask "what if". Just have fun. Let your imagination run wild and be outrageous. All creative impulses start with ideas- more often than not, the unexpected.

Sleep On It

Again, ask your subconscious deep, compelling questions. Use affirmations like: " I am a source of creative energy and produce an abundance of high impact images from each and every session." It works, dunno why, don't care, just know it works. I have a stack of recipe cards that I've written out my goals and affirmations on. I try to read and meditate on each card before going to sleep and when I wake up in the morning. I even bring them with me when I travel. I manage to do this about 80% of the time.

Fake It Keep Moving/Momentum

Not feeling creative? Then keep the momentum going. Move, move, move and create momentum. It will hit you, and your subjects will enjoy the ride. You can't always be in a state of creativity, nor should you wait for the 'feeling'. The best authors know this. The key to writing is to just sit and write. Get going and the inspiration and creativity will show up.

Back to the newsletter