The winner of the mentoring giveaway is Ale Fragoso!

Registration will open on August 1st!

I have also been so hell bent on figuring out how to market myself that I have almost stopped producing new work, which makes me feel absolutely horrible.

Right now I am trying to rework an old series and expand another one and I haven’t taken the time to just sit with that childlike wonder you talked about here and see what comes without judgement or expectation.

Thank you so much for this, Brooke! You really are a gem. <3

Thank you for the great words of wisdom and awesome photographs that with them!

From
Michelle

I think I struggle most with 1. Overthinking – I get so many ideas I sometimes can’t choose one and end up feeling adrift
2. Self doubt & second guessing: there’s a lot of pressure to have a signature look and I don’t always feel I fit into that. I do have some preferred techniques but it often depends on my mood and what I’m hoping to communicate.

Mentoring would help with overcoming (or at least heading towards overcoming) that overthinking/self doubt and reluctance to “put myself out there” because I always think I can do better/be better.

I just wanted to start off by saying right now I am not in a good space. I’ve been having frequent anxiety attacks. The isolation from all my friends and family back on the other side of the country is really starting to kick in, and it’s really hard for me to focus on anything right now.

“You must travel the long road to learn about the world. You must learn about every thorn that sticks in your foot, every wild wind that chills your bones. You must suffer for your art, because the best things are not easy.”

This quote in your blog post really stuck out to me. In a weird way, I feel like I am supposed to be feeling like this. I feel like a few years ago when I started thinking about my life, and what was going to happen, I pretty much accepted that I was going to hit a bump in the road.

To your two questions:
1. What do you think about expectation and creativity?

In my case, I definitely can say that expectation limits me, however at the same time it motivates me to create something that I’m proud of.

Your other questions:
1. Creative blocks I’ve been facing recently.

Well, I just moved across the country. The geography here in California is much different than at home. I’m in a beach town, and I can’t really find any lakes or forests around here, which I almost shot entirely in back at Massachusetts. I’ve been spending so much time all day applying for jobs too, and I honestly get tired. I think I want to try self portraiture, although I’m honestly a little scared.

2. How this mentoring session will help me:
Honestly, I used to think that I was able to do things on my own. I was really shy when it came to accepting help, but I am ready to receive the help from someone else, especially someone whos work I connect with. The mentoring session . Additionally, I went to one portfolio review, which was really helpful, but I would be so grateful in receiving a one page detailed critique of my work. My style has been changing recently, and I personally think it is changing in a much better way. I think my work is becoming stronger conceptually, and I am breaking free from repeating the same image over and over again.

I want to grow. I know I do. Despite anxiety, feeling lost in moving, I am determined to not give up and continue to grow. Because I will not let it get me. I already cut the most toxic person out of my life, and I am not going to let my anxiety take all of that away from me. I am ready.

Love,
Sam

I’d love a mentoring session with you despite the fact that my work is quite different from yours. I think getting a different perspective and fresh look is always helpful and I feel like I can learn a lot from your passion for your art and for teaching.