Shoot every day .. or you'll regret it I promise you.

Creativity is like a muscle, the more you use it the better it gets.  Ask anyone that has tried to learn a new sport or activity.. practice makes perfect.

So what?  So it comes down to this.  In photography, you have to be "On" when you show up on the job.  That's what your client is paying for.  They don't pay you to have a day off.  In fact if you do have a bad day, it will effect you long run.  Word of mouth is a bitch.

What's more, you need to be having fun, so all the tech stuff is going on as smooth as silk in the background, you don't even have to think about it, so that you can focus on getting your subject to relax and get that perfect shot.

So how do you get into that zone?  Well, its getting in the rhythm, shooting as much as you can.  How do I know this?  Cause I'm feeling it now.

I did a full day shoot a couple of days ago, and felt the rust in my head as I started the shoot.  It didn't help that I was using new gear (that I hadn't had much practice with) , on a job for a new client, with a basic idea of what they wanted to achieve.  Still I did the job, and by the end of the day, I was back in the rhythm, and doing some good stuff. Not great stuff, but good stuff.  Get back to the office and download, look at what I've got, and I can squeak through.  Not a position I like to be in.  I like coming home and feeling like I kicked it out of the park.  

I've know this for a while, come back from a holiday, and it usually takes a day or so of solid shooting to get the feel for it back.  I don't know why I forget it.  

How to get there?  You might not have a job or three a day to keep things flowing, but you can assign yourself a few shoots.  Photography friends. family, anyone that you trust and will let you shoot them.  But here's the footnote, you must in your head treat it like a professional assignment.  Do all your prep, get your gear ready, shoot it like it like you mean it, and aim for that gold.

So I'm going to talk my own advice.  Shoot anything and everything, with the idea in mind that I can sell it for stock, art or other.  Wish me luck