Photographic Training Courses in the UK, from getting started to setting up a photography business

Catherine on Business

Where do you get your inspiration from?

We all perform differently and the quality of the performance we give is often triggered by how inspired we are, how enriched we are by life and how the creative world influences us. We are all individual and different things make us tick-tock – what makes you?

Inspiration is a key ingredient to your success, so take control off how your inspiration is being fed as this will in turn affect its growth and development! The frequency of your inspirational ‘feed’ should always be monitored, a lot of photographers work so hard at keeping others inspired but forget that inspiring themselves is just as important. Inspiration in large volumes cannot happen every day, that would indeed be a tall order, however regular small doses are good idea.  Here’s what really works for me: I start my day in an artisan café listening to groovy music and surrounded by creative people as this has an inspiring influence upon my day, setting me off on the right foot and to the right beat. Your creative day should begin in a creative way, think what the great artists used to do in Paris, they would share coffee and brandy as the day begun. The environments in which you place yourself matter, this includes the right people wherever possible as well as the right surroundings.  Naturally a brandy might not be the ideal way to start the day for most of us, but find your morning inspiration and make use of it, be aware of how it affects you positively.

Plan out where your inspirational ‘feed’ will come from. How often are you buying magazines? Remember to vary them. How often do you sit down in the right environment and re-visit your photographic images? Spend real quality time with your photography, touch base with yourself as a photographic artist. Look at your shoots and consider the flow of images, are any patterns or trends emerging, has a certain style revealed itself within what you do? As a business development trainer I choose to visit business websites and research other business sectors as this is what inspires me and influences my approach to work and seminars.

I find it helps to use inspirational treats, rewards, as L’Oreal would say ‘because I’m worth it’!  My treats often entail visiting some of my favourite people’s sites.  In photography, my places of inspiration and reward start with Stuart Cooper:

Stuart’s style of photography tells a story, his images have texture, his site has a feel that unfolds like an excellent magazine. I treat myself and visit his website frequently.

http://www.cooper-photography.co.uk

I have a passion for travel and alternative photography so for this my place to visit is Jo Hansford’s fine art site.  Many will know this is a private interest of mine and it always triggers ideas.

http://www.johansfordphotography.com/fineart/fineart.html

Jessica Claire is the place I like to visit when I consider life as a photographer! Her work is excellent, the images are exceptional – she is one of those photographers I admire from a distance.

http://www.jessicaclaire.net/