I think this just might be my new favorite set of photos I’ve taken in a while and I’m so excited to finally share them with you! I’ve been realizing that after playing with a camera for 17 years and photographing more seriously for 12, I’ve just been feeling a lack of satisfaction in my work because everything starts to feel the same.
For a while there I was terrified feeling like I was falling out of love with my craft but I’m realizing lately that what really was missing was a good challenge— something that really pushes me to get off auto pilot, try something new, learn, grown, and stretch my skills. THAT is where I have really been finding creative satisfaction lately and it genuinely feels like falling in love with photography all over again.
I was inspired to do this shoot after an exhaustingly stressful day where I came home and all I wanted to do was sink into a hot bath (which I hadn’t been able to do at all while we were living in the apartment). I lit a candle and stepped into the water and was immediately filled with inspiration over the way the gold light danced over the black water, the way the shadows formed over my hands and legs, and how the steam covering the mirror took on an almost dreamlike glow from the reflection of candle light.
I had never done a shoot lit solely by candle light so I had no idea what to expect or if it would even work but I think it’s the thrill in trying something new that makes creativity even more invigorating. Pair it with navigating unchartered territory of a tub/bathroom shoot location and working with a mostly nude model in a way that still felt and looked like my work— it was just the challenge I needed to refuel my creativity. The cherry on top is that I shot almost all of these at 2.8 when I typically shoot all my work at 1.4 so yes, lots of new things for me at this shoot!
What about you? Do you find more satisfaction in life when you’re sticking with the comfort of familiarity or do you tend to find it more when you’re taking risks and trying new things?
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