5 Reasons You Need To Find Your True Voice
Your voice is more than “turning the everyday mundane into beautiful images.”
5 Reasons You Need To Find Your True Voice
We each have a message to share with the world that is unique to us. And just as our lives and stories evolve over time, so does our message to the world.
When we talk about voice, we are not just talking about the words we say or write. We are also talking about visual images themselves, how they draw us in, and how we become emotionally moved by what we see.
When I have asked students to tell me about their work, they might say things like “I am drawn to funny moments” or “I am drawn to quiet moments,” for example. When I ask them to dig a bit deeper, I often get some variation of “I want to show real life moments,” or “the beauty of the every day,” or “I want to capture life as it is because even if it is messy, it is beautiful.”
Do any of these sound familiar to you?
Award Winning Photo by NMFA Alumni Ana Backhaus
While these answers may be true, and the sentiment is lovely, they are still too surface-based. Not to mention, they are not unique to any ONE documentary family photographer (They are on almost every documentary family photographer website I have seen, and I have seen A LOT ;) )
Following this exchange with my students, inevitably, one of the questions I get asked the most is, how do I know my true style? My true photographic voice?
Your photographic voice cannot just be summed up into a style, genre, or mood. Photographic voice is something that is unique to you, coming from your own story and experiences. It is how you see the world, how you approach your photography, how you decide when to click the shutter, and which photos you choose to share with the world.
The truth is, your voice and your message are truly your own. And it is damn powerful!
And while it is easy to get wrapped up in how other photographers compose an image, how they edit their photos, how close or far they are from their subjects, and how exactly they shot something because “dammit, I want to shoot something like that too,” really being able to slow down and evaluate the world from YOUR unique perspective is what will lead to finding your voice and will drive more clarity and confidence in your work.
Award Winning Photo by NMFA Alumni Student Jordan Lyall
Finding your voice takes introspection, evaluation, and time. But, the sooner you can start really paying attention to and focusing on what your message to the world is, the better equipped you will be for putting yourself out into the world, whether for getting clients, submitting to an exhibit, or publishing a project.
It takes a lot of work to get there (and thankfully, there is amazing guidance and mentors out there to help you if you are feeling stuck), but before you even get started on the path to finding it, we want you to understand WHY finding your photographic voice is so important.
Here are 5 Reasons you need to find your TRUE voice:
1. Finding YOUR true and unique photographic voice is crucial to gaining clarity in your photography, allowing you to put more of yourself and your work out into the world.
2. Your point of view has the ability to shape how the viewer of the image is feeling and can offer them a different perspective, show them something they may not have realized before, or even reassure them about something they were feeling uncertain about.
3. Whether you are writing an artist statement, CV, social media post, marketing piece, or the “About Me” and other copy for your website, true impact only happens if you have found your unique message and can articulate that message clearly. In addition to this, your images need to align with the written and verbal message you are putting out there about your work.
4. When your images mean more to you than “Beauty in the ordinary every day,” you value your work more, and in turn, others will value your work more.
5. We all want to stand out in the crowd of incredible photographers. Honing in YOUR voice will make that happen!!
Are you ready to dig deep and find clarity in your voice? In your business? In your goals?
Let us guide and support you in the No More F*ckin’ Around year-long mentoring with Jenna Shouldice, and me, Ash Raddatz!
Enrollment is now open!!
We've created No More F*ckin’ Around to take you from just one of the crowd to STAND OUT photographer and business owner.
When you have courage in your voice, you experience the ripple effect of opportunities
Check out the details here and grab your spot now to get your choice of Documentary Photography Contract (up to a €349 value) when you enroll by December 15, 2023
And take advantage of the exchange rate and €500 off, making the program the lowest price it has ever been!!
We are excited to see you evolve and kick some serious ass over the 12 months!
x,
Ash
ps. if you have any questions or need a special pricing plan, get in touch by emailing us at hello@dfpeducation.com