Someone telling you to overcome Self-Doubt as a photographer is a bit like someone telling you to “just relax” when you are stressed out. But fortunately, there are ways to curb these gnawing feelings of self-doubt. First, lets’ take a look at what self doubt is all about.

What is Self Doubt?

Let’s face it, self doubt sucks! It is something that is felt by many in the freelancing space. But what exactly is Self Doubt?

Without diving too deeply into things, self doubt is essentially the feeling that you do not have what it takes to make it, that you are someone merely acting as or looking like a photographer, but not actually being a photographer.

As defined by verywell mind “Self Doubt is the psychological experience of feeling like a fake or a phony despite any genuine success that you have achieved. The irony is, that people with self doubt are often highly accomplished, impressive individuals. On the outside, there is no apparent reason for them to feel like an imposter, and yet they still do.”

Self doubt can show up as feeling like a fraud, like everyone else is far more competent than you are. It can even make you worry that one day your client will discover that you are not cut out for the job.

We all have some degree of self-limiting thoughts, or at least we have experienced them at some point in our lives. Those in the creative space are particularly prone to self doubt not believing their work is “good enough”. But is there a way to help ourselves curb these beliefs? Sure, there is!

Another word for self doubt is called imposter syndrome.

Let’s take a look at 3 ways to help you ditch the doubt and overcome imposter syndrome

3 ways to help you ditch the doubt and overcome imposter syndrome

1- Stop comparing yourself to others

This is especially true on social media. While these digital platforms provide a good place to market yourself and get inspiration, they are not a place for comparison. Remember that what we’re seeing on social media is a polished version of what people want us to see. So you will likely be comparing your unedited photos to super-polished images that have been shared on social media. Images which have been carefully chosen and curated to create a particular impression.

What we do not see in these online spaces is the other photographer’s struggle. Their own challenges, the countless hours they have had to go through to post such a photo. And perhaps even their challenge with facing their own imposter syndrome.

It is important for creatives in all fields to get inspiration from others. However, you need to be aware of when that inspiration turns to not feeling good enough. Social media spaces are excellent for connecting with other photographers, to get inspiration and to become part of online communities. But you need to be aware of the nature of these places and keep yourself from placing too much importance on comparing your work to the work of others.

We have something unique and valuable to share with the world. And art is a wonderful way to do this.

2- Focus on improvement, not perfection

A nice way to focus on improvement is to see where you have come from. You can do this by looking back at old photos or videos and seeing the improvements that you have made along the way. Doing some self-reflection in this way can give you concrete examples of your progress. The only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself. And yes, I know this is far easier said than done.

Celebrating your successes can also help you shift your perspective away from focusing on your failures to seeing your wins. Even the smallest improvement or success should be noted as an achievement, a sign that you’re moving towards becoming a better photographer.

When we focus on perfection, we see every imperfection as a failure, which can limit our creativity. This feeling of ‘falling short of perfection’ also can create a negative sense towards ourselves and our work. But, when we focus on improvement, we allow ourselves to notice and celebrate even the smallest of wins. These incremental wins will help to create a more positive overall sense of self

3- Focus on what is important to you

Why did you start photographing in the first place? What is your reason for even being a photographer?

At the crux of it, there is some form of story-telling involved and those stories still need to be told. Focusing on why you are doing what you are doing, can help you realign your motivation. This may help you shift your focus from “getting somewhere” to “being where you are”.

More often than not, the hardest challenge we face is not necessarily the challenge itself, but rather our perception of it. Changing that perception takes awareness, time, and practice.

By focusing on your reasons for doing what you do, you’ll shift your awareness to your passion for photography. Your passion for picking up your camera and wanting to get out there and capture something beautiful and unique. One of the best things you can do to combat imposter syndrome is to just keep shooting. Keep trying. Keep improving and keep celebrating your achievements – no matter how big or small they may be.

Do not let doubt get you down

It is also important to note that you are not unusual in your feelings of self-doubt. In fact, it is one of the more common feelings to have especially in a capitalist society that is geared towards making us feel that we are lacking in some way.

Do not let doubt stop you from picking up your camera and engaging with the incredible art of photography.