Why is it?
Why is it that the food photographers you admire can consistently create outstanding images and you cannot?
Why is it that your favorite food blogger can write a great recipe, share a story and still manage to create amazing photos, post after post?
Why can’t you?
What is it that stops you from taking consistently amazing food photos?
You are convinced that you want to take better food photos. You know what it takes to create an image.
So why then can you not even consistently create photos? What stops you from shooting more food photos?
I know what it is. Because I have felt the same thing.
Something that pulls me down.
Every time I’ve wanted to create a personal project for growing my photography, he pops his head.
Even when I am at the shoot, trying to make one more photograph… he quietly tells me, “It is good enough Neel.”
One afternoon I was shooting for my personal project. It was something G was making that afternoon.
Shankarpale… it’s a sweet fried delight.
But it’s brown and boring. The dough is boring too.
She was making and asked me, are you planning to shoot this. Before I could say anything he said “No, the light isn’t too great today. Maybe next time”.
Good thing she didn’t hear what he said.
But I did.
I pulled him aside and said, “Do not speak for me, buddy!”
And that was that. I won the battle.
But he didn’t stop.
As I started to set up for the shot, he again jumped in. “No, you don’t need that background.”
“Shut up”, I said.
But he isn’t the giving up types.
I started making the shots. Here’s one of the early shots –
“That a great shot”, he said. But, I knew better.
I ignored him.
Because in reality, this shot is as boring as it gets. There is nothing fancy here. Same boring monotone in the background.
There are no colors. Dough is being cut into diamonds. Same boring monotone in the background.
So I made few changes and created more shots…
Moved me, moved the camera, changed the frame and took some more.
Did the composition dance.
Took few more photos and was wondering how to explore the subject further.
So what’s the difference?
Well, the big difference is in lighting. Specifically, how the light was now hitting the subject – as perceived by the camera.
There was one small change – I moved to change my camera angle to a slightly lower angle and as a result, the light was now coming from the back.
A boring subject like this worked much better with this light. The light, now at the back, was adding a nice shimmer on the surface. This light was now emphasizing the texture too.
Compare it to the first one.
So I was pondering some more… “how do I make it better”
And he popped up again.
“That’s enough Neel… it’s good enough.”
He was right.
I did take a lot of photos of that one subject.
I had been exploring this subject for a while… Trying different variations, changing light angle, camera angle, adding a prop, removing a prop… and more.
The photo was good enough. This is that photo.
“How many more photos are you going to take? Move to the next subject dude!!”
I almost wanted to choke him now.
He almost… almost convinced me to stop. But I knew that if I stopped now, it would be foolish.
To come all the way to this photo and not take one, two, three or more extra steps and make a good enough photo better.
Good thing I didn’t listen to him.
“Get out of my house. Now!!”
I took few more photos.
Here’s the final photo –
Compare “good enough” photo to “final photo”. Can you identify what’s different?
And no. He still didn’t get out of my house.
And this stubborn rascal still continues to push me, interrupt me, tries to convince me every time I am stretching myself.
Even as I am writing this, he is standing right behind me telling me to stop.
“It’s getting too long. Your readers won’t read this”.
But here’s the shocking thing…
He lives with you too.
That’s right. He lives with you and you’ve never realized it.
His name is Resistance. With a capital R.
Steven Pressfield helped me discover him. He showed me how Resistance can rise and make you give up on yourself.
I realized Resistance was following me everywhere. He sneaked up on me when I was least aware. Always trying to destroy my momentum, my progress and supplying me with very creative excuses so that I’d convince myself to quit.
And then…
Steven showed me how to find him, fight him and ignore him – step by step.
I am no expert by any means. But I have my days when I win and kick butt.
You know him too. Or maybe for you, it’s a “her” – the female voice.
She is the voice that’s in your head. She stops you from doing everything that’s even slightly uncomfortable.
If you have not been taking photographs as frequently as you want, she has probably overtaken you.
If you’ve wanted to create better food photos but haven’t been able, she has been feeding your brain on how to make excuses.
“I don’t have time”, this is her favorite excuse. “I am not improving my food photos because I don’t have time.”
Or this one…
“I need a new camera”. Yup. This one too. She likes to talk about gear.
She tells you that your camera or lens or background or props are not good enough. You need to buy something new before you can make great food photos.
It’s the same voice that’s in the back of your head asking you to stay mediocre.
Even when you starting photographing, she interrupts you. Tells you to settle for a less than an outstanding photograph.
This voice is with you. All. The. Time.
Once again, here’s the photo I made that afternoon.
I made these photographs because I won this one battle with Resistance that afternoon.
He was persistent and stopped me several times.
What if I had listened to him. What if I had stopped before getting to my final frame?
I almost didn’t make this photo.
I wonder how many times I let the Resistance win over last several weeks, months… heck years.
So many times he won… so many missed opportunities and lost photographs.
How many photos did you lose because of him (or her?)
How many times did you let that voice in your head win? How many photos could you have made?
How much time did you lose?
Imagine where your food photography could have been today.
Don’t let that voice win this battle any further. Decide to stop today.
But here’s the kicker… it’s not easy. It’s certainly won’t be a cakewalk. You cannot just “decide” and win.
You need a battle strategy, a game plan.
This voice in your head is persistent. Does not ever get tired. This voice is there always… when you want to wake up an hour early or want to make food photos or even want to eat healthy.
This voice doesn’t ever go away.
But here’s the thing…
Just like Steven Pressfield taught me, you can learn to deal with it too.
Steven Pressfield wrote a step-by-step manual (affiliate link; non-affiliate link) to conquer this voice in your head. This manual will give you everything you need to win this battle every time.
I am giving away this manual. You can, of course, buy this as well.
I am giving this book (affiliate link; non-affiliate link) away for free to two people.
Starting next week, I am sharing a special tool for food photographers. This tool has helped me conquer this voice in my head.
The tool is very easy to make. In fact, once this tool is completed you’ll feel more inspired about food photography than ever before.
I started making this tool two weeks ago. Just by starting this tool, I have felt more motivated to take food photos. More than ever.
And here’s the thing…
It has worked immensely well. I took three times more photos in last 4 weeks than before.
In coming weeks I’ll share –
The details about this tool – the tool that helped me take 300% more photos
Step-by-step details on how I made this tool (and how you can too)
How I am using this tool every day to exponentially increase how many photos I take
And that’s what we will talk about in the next part of this series.
If you’d like to learn more about this tool,
click here and enter the giveaway. In next week or so, I’ll start sharing more details with you.
Or click the button…
Now about that manual… written by Steven Pressfield. This short manual is called War of Art, it’s only 190 pages. You can learn about it (affiliate link) by clicking here.
That’s right it’s a short book.
I am giving it away to two of you.
Here’s how you can win…
How to Win the “Beat the Resistance” Giveaway
Here’s how you can win this book (affiliate link; non-affiliate link) by Steven Pressfield.
Step 1 – Make sure you have entered your name and email by
clicking here.
Step 2 – This step is really important. In the comments section below, leave your detailed answer to this question – What are the voice in your head that prevent you from improving your food photos?
Tell us about what does she/he say? What excuses does she/he bring up?
Leave your response before April 20th.
Two most detailed and best answers in the comments will win the manual on beating resistance from Steven Pressfield. I will personally pick two best comments and send them this book wherever Amazon ships.
You need to enter the giveaway by
clicking here. We will be announcing the two winners by April 27th.
If giveaways are not legal where you live, we won’t be able to announce you as the winner.
The post How I Started Creating More Food Photos (and How You Can Do it To) – Part 1 appeared first on Learn Food Photography & Food Styling.
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Day 10 – Modify Light for Better Food Photos
How to Prepare for Outstanding Food Photography – Day 28
Day 21 – Simple Food Styling Tips and Prop Styling Tips for Better Food Photos – Week 3 Recap
10 Simple Lighting Tips for Stunning Food Photos
Why New Food Photographers Fail (and a FREE Book to Help You Succeed)