Baking often gets described as a science instead of an art, which might be true to some degree… But while we can get a recipe from someone else, we still have to adjust to the unique environment we’re working in, whether it’s dry, humid, using different brands of flour, etc. We have to experiment and test and trial it until we find the recipe that works best for our own environment.

And it’s not just baking that’s subject to this. As it turns out, creative success works pretty much the same way.

In this episode, Lisa sits down to address her recent podcast break, her success (finally!) at baking sourdough, and how that taught her that creativity is something we all have to hone through experimentation, trial and error, and persistence.

 Let’s dive in!

What’s in this episode:

• [00:21] Why we needed a podcast break
• [01:43] A personal baking success story (after a string of less successful experiments…)
• [03:27] Why following someone else’s photography “recipe” won’t work for you
• [05:20] Why practice and repetition are necessary for greatness when it comes to creativity

Tune in to this episode for a little pep talk on creativity and persistence!

SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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Did this episode help you rethink the way you think about finding success through creativity? Check out this episode Making Maternity Magic: Empowering Women, Staying Profitable, and Nurturing Creativity in Photography with Karli Braaten that shares how another photographer started her career!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Hey friend, welcome to the Art and Soul Show. I’m your host Lisa. Tune in here for pep talks, conversations, and advice on mindset, entrepreneurship, and creativity. This is a place you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera. This is the Art and Soul Show.

[00:00:21] Hello, my beautiful friends. Welcome back. It’s been a little while. I took a bit of a hiatus this summer. We got to the point earlier this June where we decided I could load my June schedule with tons of interviews and keep rolling all summer. To be honest, I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to take a break.

[00:00:42] After four years of doing the podcast, I decided that it just needed A refresh. I needed just to take a step back and just to end that really long four year season just where we left it. So after a bit of a hiatus, I have a [00:01:00] number of great Interviews scheduled for this fall and we’re getting back into the groove of podcasting.

[00:01:07] And I really wanted to pop on here and share with you some of the new direction that we’re going to be doing with the podcast. I will be doing a lot more solo episodes. So if there’s any topics you want me to cover or any questions you might have for me to answer, or just topics to address on the show, send me a note to [email protected] and and I will cover it on the show. I’m going to be doing a little bit more off the cuff episodes. They’re probably going to be a little bit shorter, just something to just hang with you, pop in your ear, give you a little pep talk every couple of weeks. So I actually want to share with you about my experience this weekend.

[00:01:43] I made my first successful loaf of sourdough bread over the weekend. And let me tell you, my friend, this was not my first loaf. Now, last fall, I attempted to make a starter from scratch, and it just wouldn’t work. I couldn’t get it to work. [00:02:00] And I honestly made some of the worst tasting loaves of bread I’ve ever tasted.

[00:02:04] In fact, one was so hard, it wasn’t even edible. And my son took it outside and he was playing hockey with it. It was that bad. But this fall I decided while I’m not a natural baker, I would try again and again and again until I got one right. And finally over this weekend. I got a good loaf of bread. My family was so excited.

[00:02:24] My son couldn’t wait to dive into it and make a sandwich. We actually ate it last night at 10 30 at night. It was so good, but also got me thinking about how as photographers, we are so hard on ourselves when we don’t get something right on the first try. When we maybe try someone’s preset or their action and we put it on our work and it doesn’t look the same at all, or even Good for that matter, because we often forget to really take into consideration all of the other factors, like with sourdough bread, no recipe actually tells you what the temperature is of the baker’s kitchen, or exactly how warm the water [00:03:00] they use is, or even the elevation they’re at, or even how to know if your starter is perfect or started to fall.

[00:03:06] You kind of have to wing that part and figure that part on your own. And I was thinking, that’s really like us as photographers, we could all be using the same ingredients. Like the same lens, the same settings, the camera and even the same actions. But we’re not going to get the same results as another photographer because of all those different variables that we kind of forget to take into consideration.

[00:03:27] So while trying to follow someone else’s recipe for their photography work is one way to learn, the magic really is going to happen when we discover what are sort of Unknown variables are figure them out and then learn to work with them like baking. It’s really going to take a lot of trial and error and failing forward.

[00:03:47] To be honest, the first edit I often do on an image isn’t the one I keep and I often throw it away and I get really frustrated with myself and I. I honestly hate it. So today’s pep talk is a little bit for me and it’s a little bit for you. [00:04:00] Really when we look at our favorite artist teaching, just look at them as recipes and remember that there are going to be some variables that you need to uncover, that you can take that recipe and you can make it your own.

[00:04:12] And you need to stop beating yourself up if you’re straight out of camera, looks nothing like someone else’s polished, edited image. Just relax, my friend, keep shooting, keep trying, keep editing. You will get there. I promise. The secret really is not giving up, taking breaks, trying different recipes and really finding one that works for you.

[00:04:33] It is so easy to feel discouraged when the results just don’t match our expectations too, especially in. Creative pursuits like baking and photography, the beauty really lies in the journey and all of those tiny little lessons that we’re learning along the way. And every successful baker knows that practice is essential, but they didn’t just wake up one day and really master the art of sourdough.

[00:04:58] They invested their [00:05:00] time, their energy, and I’m sure a fair share of. flower covered failures into their craft. Similarly, as photographers, we really must embrace that improvement’s going to come from our continuous effort and our experimentation. Each image we take really is that chance to learn something new, even if it doesn’t turn out as planned.

[00:05:20] So Think about how often we hear about the magic of practice, whether it’s a musician, maybe hitting all those right notes, or an athlete making the perfect shot, it’s repetition and dedication that really lead to that mastery. So as we go on our journey as photographers, we really start to identify our strengths and areas for improvement, just like that loaf of sourdough, that one that didn’t rise perfectly the first time, our photography skills aren’t going to bloom overnight too.

[00:05:48] So. It’s going to take that commitment to really keep pushing through those moments of self doubt. There’s always going to be times when we feel like giving up. I promise you, I still have those moments myself. Especially when we’re seeing those [00:06:00] highlight reels of everyone else on social media, and it’s natural to really compare our beginnings to someone else’s middle.

[00:06:05] But remember, my friend, every artist that you admire has gone through their own trials. They have likely faced rejection, no show clients, creative blocks, and really countless failed attempts. What really sets them apart, though, is their willingness to persist. To learn from each experience and to keep showing up.

[00:06:26] So even when the results aren’t what they’re hoping for, they still show up. So my friend, as you navigate your own photography journey. Give yourself a little more grace to play. Don’t hesitate to take those risks, try new techniques or new ideas, or really just step outside of your comfort zone. This is really where the real growth happens.

[00:06:48] It happens in those awkward moments too. They’re all part of that unique learning curve. So when you look at your work and you’re feeling frustrated, instead of letting that frustration take over, [00:07:00] ask yourself, what can you do differently next time? You could even keep a notebook or even I actually keep a notes app where I just will jot down some thoughts and ideas or even ideas and experiments.

[00:07:11] I want to try. If you document your progress, including maybe successes and failures, you’re going to be amazed at how much you actually learn. When you take the time to reflect on your journey. And my friend, remember every amazing photographer or great artists, or even great Baker has a story filled with ups and downs.

[00:07:28] It’s about showing up, staying curious, having that learner’s mindset and really nurturing that passion for photography. Now much like nurturing a sourdough starter until it’s ready to bake, we gotta baby that too. The more you practice and try, the more you’ll discover your own unique voice and style. So the next time you really find yourself feeling frustrated with a shoot or maybe even an edit, remind yourself that Every single attempt really just is a stepping stone in that [00:08:00] right direction and celebrate your wins.

[00:08:02] Post and share with us in our Facebook groups. These wins, even if it’s just a session, you know, that you think that you rocked or you feel that you finally have work that you, that looks like how you want to share it, share it with your friends, share it in our groups. Let us know that we can cheer you on all these wins.

[00:08:19] However small really are all part of your growth. And that is the fuel that’s going to keep pushing you through. Keep practicing, my friend. Keep pushing through. And most importantly, keep believing in yourself. Your hard work is going to pay off. Just keep baking those loaves and keep capturing those images.

[00:08:39] With each effort, you’re not only honing your skills, you’re crafting your own unique artistic journey, one delicious slice at a time. My friend, you have got this. Thank you so much for tuning in today. I am sending you so much of my light and my love today and every single day. I’ll see you [00:09:00] next time.