Whether you’re starting or growing your own creative business, it’s important to make time for personal projects.
Why?
Because what tends to happen in your business is you start to create based on what your clients want and like. You need to earn money, you need to pay bills so you need paying clients. Of course the best case scenario is to have clients that love exactly what you want to create but that doesn’t always happen.
I’ll give you an example from my photography biz – I usually photograph kids and their families whether it’s portraits or their special events like Bat Mitzvahs. During these sessions, I know what the client is looking for so that’s what I photograph but I do also mix in about 20% of what I want to photograph.
When I want to create 100% for ME, push the boundaries, try out new techniques and grow as an artist , I turn to personal projects. This is where I come up with different scenarios and concepts, try out new editing techniques and just have fun with making mistakes. If something doesn’t work out, there’s no pressure. I just try something different next time. Personal projects give you freedom and room to grow artistically.
Aside from filling a creative need, as you grow, you then in turn have more to offer your clients. Put your work out there, and you may also get attention and unexpected new opportunities!
It doesn’t have to be perfect, the goal is to just have fun doing what you love to do without any expectations tied to it.
Yesterday I applied to what will be my 3rd round of the B&H Photo Portfolio Development Series. It’s purely for my own personal creativity – to experiment with photography the way I want to. If I get selected, at the end of this 6 month program, I have the potential to be included in a gallery show and have a book created of my work. Being in a program with other photographers and learning from one another helps us each to grow.
What is it that you’ve been wanting to try? It doesn’t have to be related to your business. You don’t need to make a huge time commitment, just get started and see where it leads.
I’d love to hear about a personal project you want to get started on. Tell me in the comments.
Life Happens Now!
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