What Keeps Me Inspired?

Right out of college I started working at a photography studio, where I was putting in up to 60 hours a week. After a while in this role, I began to feel the crushing, disheartening effects of burnout. I felt trapped and uninspired as a creative.

After working photographing in the studio for nearly three years, turning my career around and recovering from burnout took drastic measures. I quit my job and found another one unrelated to photography that wouldn’t require me to work weekends, evenings, or holidays. The new schedule sounded magical. My only goal for changing directions in my career was to feel happy again.

I’m so thankful that it didn’t take too long for me to start feeling positive again, but later, as I started to build my own business, this experience of burnout was always in the back of my mind. How could I create a photography business that I could sustain for years without feeling burnt out or uninspired?

Well, things that are meant to be always work themselves out, right? I didn’t have a plan, but the solution came to me, regardless.

In the last few years, I’ve realized that I am continually inspired by nature, and the wilder, the better. The more time I spend outside, the more refreshed I feel. I especially love hiking and backpacking. Along with seeing stunning sights, it’s a physical and mental challenge, with an endless array of goals to aspire to.

After noticing this, I realized that I could combine my passion for photography with my love for the outdoors. Adventure photography integrates the two and fuels my inspiration rather than draining it.

I predict that my adventures, with and without clients, will only become more outrageous and beautiful. I’m looking forward to summiting more mountains, exploring new areas (visiting Iceland, and Havasupai are two of my favorites so far), and taking advantage of every golden hour of sunlight I can.  

What keeps you inspired and loving life? Let me know in the comments!

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