Pace Yourself

photo credit: tedreese

Here's a quick piece of advice taken from an old fable: “Slow and steady wins the race”

This moral, or saying, can be applied to many facets of photography (and everyday life). With advances in technology, things can get moving pretty quickly. New cameras and gear, faster rapid-fire, streamlined software, extended networks via the web, etc. It's great to be able to get so much done in such a short amount of time, but this quickened pace can lead to burn-out with your photography.

Take some time to evaluate your photographic pace and identify any areas that need to be trimmed back a bit. Also look at the activities that you don't seem to have time for, and figure out a way to adjust your schedule to make time.

  • PHOTO SHOOTS
    Whether it's for business or pleasure, keep a mindful eye on your schedule and don't bury yourself with shooting while leaving no time for post processing and photo sharing. Of if you're not so busy, don't let your outings be few and far between — get out and shoot, even if you're all alone.
  • OUT SHOOTING
    When you're out with your camera, don't take so many photos that 95% of them are trash or repeats (and be mindful of your memory card or film limitations). On the flip side, don't be so conservative that you miss a great shot.
  • BUYING NEW GEAR
    Once you start buying new toys it's hard to stop. Just be aware of your own budget and needs, and don't go overboard. Likewise, get yourself something every once in a while so you don't fall into a huge rut.
  • POST PROCESSING
    Post production can be tedious or fun — just depends on how you look at it. Try to spread out your post processing so you don't burn out. Once it becomes a chore, you'll start taking shortcuts, putting in minimal effort, and forgetting things.
  • POSTING ONLINE
    If you post photos to photo-sharing sites or a personal blog, find a good pace for posting. If you put up an entire shoot all at once, you'll overload your onlookers and leave them hanging for the next few weeks. Try to post photos at a rate that matches your rate of shooting and post processing.
  • LEARNING
    There are so many great resources out there for learning photography, especially the web. But don't overload your brain with so much new information that none of it sticks. Take your time and soak it up, most of the stuff out there will be around for a while… make use of bookmarking.

How else can this advice be applied to photography?