Pictas Focus: Project yourself into something new

Reignite your passion and inspire your creativity

© Nikki Finch

Hello everyone!

How's your New Year looking?

January always seems quite strange to me as I’m feeling my way into a new year, there’s so much pressure around a new start and a new you, yet here in Europe it’s cold and dark and it feels like there are still things to be nurtured. So, I prefer a much softer start to the year and tend to plan to support my journey rather than make resolutions that don’t work with my dopamine 😉

I’ve been letting go of what I no longer need, so, instead of adding more to my list it's often the start of a mental and physical clearout. What doesn’t resonate anymore goes, it’s a kind of ritual and my way to make space for newness to filter in and to allow my creative spark to stay fuelled.

In my corporate past, I worked in an environment full of pressure and projects with tight deadlines, and I found that I had no desire to design anything outside of work. I needed other outlets to connect back to my soul and allow that newness in.

Here’s the thing, we grow with change, right?

Let's talk photography for a moment.

If we asked a group of photographers to photograph a tree, we would see that same number of different interpretations of the tree. No two photographers are ever the same, each person sees something different, making your vision unique to you!

Your vision is shaped by your experiences and your view of the world influences your vision. What you say, what you do, how you think about yourself and your life.

So, what resonates with you, and why am I asking that?

As creators our experiences and stories can have a huge impact on the world. This can help create powerful projects that can create an emotional response in the viewer or inspire others to create change. Sometimes projects are simple and bring joy, yet these are equally powerful if they can change someone’s emotion and bring a smile back to someone’s face.

© Nikki Finch

Your vision matters.

Let me ask you this:

What do you want to create?
What are you drawn to?
What feeds your heart?
What do you want to convey?
Maybe you have a personal project?

I’ve found personal projects are a great way to reignite and push your creativity without day-to-day deadlines or customer narratives.

Something that inspires your creativity is a beautiful thing.

You may already have a personal project, if so would like to share, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

If you don’t have a personal project, there are so many reasons why you could benefit, and the benefits outweigh the time you invest in them.

Benefits:

Personal projects can help you move out of creative ruts and help develop your creativity.

They can help you develop your own style.

Experimentation improves your skills.

You don’t have to worry about failure.

New people will connect with you as your portfolio diversifies.

Your project can have a huge impact, it can help connect you to your audience by creating an emotional response within them or your project can be something you do just for your pleasure.

They are good for your mental health.

For me, having a personal project gives me so many benefits; it brings my focus into flow, and I'm no longer concerned with what’s happening externally as I explore what I see and feel. My batteries are recharged, and my creativity is fuelled. Any stresses disappear so my mind allows the space for answers to challenges or new ideas to come in.

Here are a few examples for personal projects to get your ideas flowing 😉

Pattern/Texture
Colour
Black and white
Minimal colour scheme
Abstraction
Nature
Macro
Wide angle
Family life
Street photography
Astrophotography
Specific time frame
Collage

Personal Project Tips

Do what you feel passionate about, it could be a heavy-hitting photojournalist project or macro shots of flowers. Photograph what moves you, it helps your dopamine levels and your enthusiasm, it brings your spark back.

Follow what makes your heart sing. It may feel so simple and easy, what’s not to love about that! Be guided by your intuition and follow the flow.

Change your gear to free yourself up more. Use a lens you don’t work with on a day-to-day basis. Leave your gear at home and just take your camera phone. Use what works for you.

Unless you are doing a timed project, time isn't important, you can take as long as you like days, months or even years. However, if you procrastinate be realistic and set yourself some goals with a timeframe.

Personal projects don't just have to be about photography, they might be a book of your poetry, researching family history or writing a blog.

Use them to jump out of your comfort zone and experiment with developing your creative expression.

Any boredom you may feel in your day job will be helped by reigniting your inspiration.

Evaluate as you go, and ask yourself what’s working well, what hasn’t worked and what can you do differently next time, this helps to push your creativity further.

Working in design my days were full on and I didn't want to create art or photography in my spare time, my passion had become part of the daily grind, so I kept my creative spark alive by learning new things and training in new fields. I had also inherited a rather dysfunctional creative team so I began to look at the mind and how it affects our behaviours.

This journey led me to what I do today and I am now an intuitive coach and mentor for creative entrepreneurs.

So if you are facing any challenges right now I'm here to help you break through the blocks and barriers so that you embrace your gifts, transform your life and live successfully with your dreams.

Reach out if you would like a free clarity call.

Let’s create, inspire and learn together!