You May Be More Creative Than You Think

Have you ever looked at another photographer’s work and thought, “Wow, they’re really creative,” only to look at your own photographs and wonder why you can’t create images like that?

I used to feel the same way. For much of my career, I saw myself as analytical, logical, organized, and strategic. Those qualities served me well in banking and technology leadership. However, I often assumed that my analytical nature meant I wasn’t naturally creative.

I now see things very differently.

Creativity Isn’t Just for “Creative People”

The popular idea that some people are left-brained while others are right-brained makes creativity sound like something you either have or don’t have. However, creativity doesn’t work that way.

In fact, being analytical can actually help your creative photography. You can study light, understand composition, analyze why an image works, and then use that knowledge to experiment.

For me, the biggest change came when I stopped trying to prove that I was creative and simply started exploring.

How I Started Developing My Creativity

Reading about creativity helped me understand that creativity is something I can develop. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron introduced me to two ideas that became especially valuable: Morning Pages and Artist Dates.

Morning Pages helped me put ideas on paper without judging them. Artist Dates encouraged me to do something each week that fed my curiosity. Sometimes that meant photography. Other times, it meant visiting a museum, bookstore, garden, or simply exploring somewhere new.

Most importantly, I began experimenting with my photography. I tried intentional camera movement, multiple exposures, different lenses, unusual perspectives, and shooting from the hip. Not everything worked—and that was the point.

Look at What Else You Can See

I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t require making a strange or unusual photograph. Sometimes it simply means looking at something ordinary differently.

Instead of photographing an entire tree, photograph its shadows. Instead of photographing a person, look for their reflection. Look for shapes, colors, patterns, textures, and movement.

So the next time you pick up your camera, don’t ask yourself whether you are a creative photographer. Instead, ask one simple question:

What else can I see here?

You may not need to become more creative. You may simply need to recognize the creativity that was already there.