#102- 3 Powerful Ways to Bounce Back from a creative block without sabotaging your self-esteem

We look at other photographers’ work and wish we had their talent, their clients, and their projects. But even without comparison, we often battle that nagging feeling: I don’t like my work. The photo didn’t turn out as planned, and now, despite the effort, you feel stuck.

And when you’re not happy with your work, here's what happens:

• Discouragement sets in

• You lose steam and motivation

• Frustration builds up

• You hold back from sharing your work, updating your portfolio, or even reaching out to potential clients

This is a place we don’t want to be in. It’s a dangerous place. It’s a spiral that can keep us stuck in negativity. Because the truth is, our mindset can block creativity and growth. Creativity thrives in a light, nimble space—not one filled with self-criticism. 

So how can we move forward when we don’t like what we’ve created? 

What do we do to bounce back when we’re not happy with our work, we’re feeling stuck and don’t know how to reset to get back into creative mode? 

Here are three ways to bounce back & start creating beautiful work without sabotaging your creativity or self-esteem. 

1. Remind yourself: Not every photo will be a masterpiece

Even the greatest artists didn’t create masterpieces every time. Da Vinci didn’t paint another Mona Lisa after the first. Van Gogh gave us Starry Night, but not every piece was iconic.

Every photograph you take, whether you like it or not, is a step forward. It’s a learning experience. You can’t reach your best work without creating the pieces you don’t love. It’s part of the process.

When you’re unhappy with a photo, see it as a necessary step toward creating something great. The more you create, the closer you get to the work you will love. Every shot brings you closer to mastering your craft.

So,one way to shift your energy to bounce back is to remind yourself that every work is taking you one step closer to becoming that master artist, that master photographer, you want to be. Shake it out and keep creating because there’s only one way to go, and that is forward. 

2. Share Your Work Anyway

It’s tempting to hold back when you’re not proud of a piece, but sometimes sharing is the best thing you can do. Why? Because how you see your work isn’t how everyone else will. You may be critical of that one photo, but to someone else, it might be their favorite.

Sharing opens the door to new ideas, thoughts, feedback, and perspectives. That one photo you don’t like? It could be the very piece that lands you a new client or ends up on the cover of a magazine. You never know how your work will be received, and holding back from sharing it closes opportunities that you may not have seen but were there.

Sharing also helps in detaching from the results. It’s an exercise in letting go of perfection and embracing growth. The more you share, the more comfortable you become with showing your work, regardless of how you feel about it. As a creative, we must develop this skill because, like we established, not every photo will be a masterpiece. To move from one creation to the other without getting stuck on their success or failure is the way to creative living without fear. 

3. Pause and Analyze

Sometimes, when we’re unhappy with our work, We think we need to work garder on it. The harder we work, the better we will get at it. We want to dive right back in and “fix” our photography by practicing more. And that’s definitely needed. Practice is the key to improving but not without pausing first. 

Before rushing off to work harder, it is imperative to take a pause.

Sit down with a cup of tea, coffee, or even a glass of wine, and give yourself space to reflect. Break down the photo. Look at the lighting, composition, styling, colors, and editing. What didn’t work? What did? Often, it’s just one or two elements that didn’t come together as expected. There are always aspects that are great and only a few need attention. That’s your cue. Focus on what needs practice and channel your energy on those aspects.

This allows you to get clarity on what to focus on. By practicing without knowing which areas to target and improve, you’ll be back in the same spiral of dissatisfaction. By pausing and reflecting, you can work smarter, not harder. Sometimes, moving fast requires us to slow down first.

Conclusion 

These three strategies—accepting imperfection, sharing your work, and pausing to reflect—can help you bounce back when you’re not feeling your best. Creativity is a long journey, and every photo, even the ones you don’t like, are essential steps along the way.

Keep creating, keep growing, and remember, every piece of work is taking you closer to your masterpiece.