October 12, 2023 • 31 mins
In this episode of "The Savory Shot," host Mica dives into the importance of personal projects for creators. She shares personal stories and insights, emphasizing how personal projects ignite creativity, fuel growth, and differentiate photographers in the industry. Through practical advice and relatable experiences, Mica inspires listeners to embrace personal projects as a means of self-expression, professional development, and client attraction.
Savory Shot Shownote: https://micamccook.com/guests/creativeprojectsandpers/ Website: https://micamccook.com/podcast Instagram: www.instragram.com/mica.mccook Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesavoryshotpodcast Would you like to be a guest on the show? Fill out the guest form, and we'll be in touch soon.
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Episode Transcript
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Mica (00:00):
Welcome.
To the 34th episode of The Savory Shot.
Y'all, has it really been 34 episodes?
Dang!
Well, if you don't knowwho I am, that's alright.
Welcome to the show.
I'm your host, with the most, Mica McCook.
(00:21):
And I'm a food photographer.
First and foremost, I just wantto pause and express my gratitude.
I cannot start this showwithout saying thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,thank you for being here.
Every time you tune in, every messageyou send, every comment, every share,
(00:41):
it fuels this journey we're on together.
Y'all, I never have to worry about beingon E, because y'all fill this tank up.
Every.
Time.
You show up.
Every.
Episode.
Y'all, I've grown.
I've evolved.
I've laughed.
Maybe even shed a tearor two on this podcast.
(01:05):
And that's all thanks to you.
I've said it once andI'll say it every episode.
This podcast exists becauseof you, the listener.
So thank you.
Grazie.
Danke.
Arigato!
And all the bazillionways to say thank you.
(01:26):
Seriously, it's wild tothink of where this podcast
started and where it's at now.
Those early episodes?
Man, what a trip.
They were diamonds in the rough.
But they were real, theywere raw, they were special.
And they continue to be special.
(01:47):
Y'all, this podcast...
This is a labor of love.
It's just me over here.
It's a one, one woman show.
And I love it.
This is the kind of personal projectthat just keeps my head in the game.
And we need thosepersonal projects, right?
The ones that remind us why weeven got into this whole industry.
(02:10):
And that's what I want to talk about.
Today's episode is about those projects.
That make our hearts raceand our souls light up.
I'm talking about your test shoots.
Your personal projects.
The shoots where you can stretchyour creative legs and go wild.
You know what I'm talking about.
(02:31):
Those shoots are thelifeline to your career.
It's a must.
You should be doing personalprojects every quarter, every month.
But, before I get intothat, grab your to go drink.
I got my cafefefe.
Find that cozy spot andlet's start the show.
(03:28):
You ever have those days whereyou're just staring at your gear,
fingers itching to create something?
Anything?
You know what I'm talking about.
Spark, that little nudge, pushingyou to do something different.
I'm not talking about the usualclient briefs or those routine gigs,
which, don't get me wrong, are great.
(03:51):
But they don't always light that fire.
Nah, boo.
I'm talking about those ideas thatcome to you in the dead of night, or
during a long shower, or even whenyou're biting into your favorite food.
I'm talking about those, "Ah ha!"
Those...
"Oh my god!"
Those, "Oh my god, weshould totally do this!"
(04:12):
Those, "What if we grabbedthis and then did this?"
The ones where your heartraces just thinking about them.
They're spontaneous.
They're wild.
And sometimes they feel so out therethat you wonder if they even make sense.
(04:33):
Like, let's grab a cheeseburger and paintit in glitter, or let's throw popcorn
out of a rocket and photograph that.
Y'all, we've done some crazythings, but it's in those moments.
(04:54):
Those raw, unfiltered thoughts.
Magic happens.
Those are the seeds ofyour personal projects.
The ones that are 100 percent you.
No compromises.
No boundaries.
No "We've got to stick to the shot list."
Just pure, creative energy.
(05:16):
I'm excited just talking about it.
And today, we're diving deep intowhy those seeds are so crucial
and how to let them flourish.
Now let's get real for a moment.
How many times have you caughtyourself daydreaming about
(05:38):
a project that's all yours?
You're not bound by client requirements.
No deadlines, no external expectations.
Just 100 percent unlimited creation.
We've all been there.
Heck, I was just there yesterday.
And there's a reason those dreams linger.
This reminds me of my high schooldays when I had a cell phone and I
(06:01):
had that plan where I had 500 minutes,500 minutes, monthly minutes, to
talk on the phone and then after nineo'clock, I had unlimited minutes.
Anytime before nine o'clock, you do notcall me unless the building's on fire.
Like, I gotta preserve these minutes.
But baby, come nine o'clock,I'm gossiping with everybody.
(06:24):
The sky's the limit ofwhat I could talk about.
Those 500 minutes.
That's a bare necessity.
Who, what, when, where, why?
Keep it under five.
But nine o'clock p.
m.
conversations?
Man, I could, I couldreally embellish shit.
Add emotions, things and stuff.
(06:46):
That's when I view personalprojects and paid projects.
Those paid projects,that's the 500 minutes.
Who, what, when, where, why?
Do what you gotta do.
You gotta get shot lists, gotta getwhat the client needs and wants,
and you don't go over a minute.
But those personal projects, that'sthe nine o'clock conversations.
(07:07):
That's the gossip.
Personal projects, they're like a mirror.
They reflect our deepest passions,our quirks, our whimsies.
They're the things we do, even if noone was watching or paying, because they
resonate with the very core of who we are.
They bring out our authentic self,the version of us that's not altered
(07:31):
or refined for the outside world.
If you ever feel stuck in a rut,like you're repeating the same
pattern, shooting similar photos.
You're, you're on this,this creative hamster wheel.
And you're running and you'rerunning and you're running and
you're running and you're, Andyou're running, running, running,
running, running, running, running.
(07:51):
And you're creating the same shit.
Well, personal projects are your way out.
They're the rejuvenating breaks weneed, giving us the space to experiment,
to fail without real consequence,and to discover new horizons.
They're the challenges we giveourselves, not because we have
(08:13):
to, but because we crave growth.
Y'all, my growth did not happenin the photo shoots with clients.
That's the test.
That's where you apply what youlearned in your personal shoots.
My personal shoots, that's where I grew.
That's where I improved.
Because I could mess up.
(08:35):
Repeatedly, over and over, andthere's no real consequences.
There's not thousands of dollars.
There's not clients who flew in from town.
Your test shoots is that opportunityto fuck it up and fuck it up again.
That way when you show up on the shootand you just whip out your magic wand
and you're like, Boom, boom, boom!
They go, how'd she do that?
(08:56):
She's talented!
First time!
They don't know...
They don't know all the hours thatyou've put in on your personal shoots.
They don't know all the kinksthat you worked out beforehand.
Your test shoots, that's your practice.
Your client shoots,that's where you apply.
That's the job.
I want to say this, and I'm a quote.
(09:16):
Uh, Sister Wives, RobynBrown from Sister Wives.
I'm going to quote her.
I want to say something to you and I wantyou to download it into your hard drives.
I never in a million years thoughtthat I would quote Robyn Brown
because I do not like that woman.
Shout out to anyone whowatches Sister Wives.
(09:37):
If you watch it, come gossip with mebecause I got some things to talk about.
But back to this.
Lastly and most importantly.
When you pour your heart and soul intoa project, clients, the ones, the dream
ones that you've been binding for, well,they see it and they connect with it.
Your projects are what they zoom in on.
(10:01):
Yeah, I said it.
You heard it right.
Think about your personal projectsas a map, a beautifully crafted,
soulful map that showcases you.
Showcases your journey, yourcapabilities, your evolution.
They want to see what'snew, real, raw, and untamed.
(10:25):
Because for them, it's gold.
Here's why.
When your client stumbles onyour portfolio, they're not just
looking for technical prowess.
If that was their only requirement,they got 20, 30 other photographers
that they can go and hush and hire.
They're hunting for personality.
For flair.
(10:45):
For that unique touchthat only you can give.
And you know how you find thatunique touch that only you can give?
Well, it ain't reading books.
It ain't watching videos.
It's from getting that cameraout and trying some things out.
It's right there in those projects.
The ones that you didjust for the love of it.
(11:07):
Your personal projects are likewindows into your creative mind.
They want to see your vision.
They want your ideas.
They want to see your abilityto take a concept and turn
it into motherfucking art.
They not only want to see that,but they want to see what you
can do with their brand and turnit in to motherfucking art too.
(11:32):
These projects, they tell astory of your commitment, of
your passion, your dedication.
It says, hey, I'm committed to creating.
I'm committed to experimenting.
I'm committed to evolving.
And that narrative, youknow, it's compelling.
It speaks of a professional constantlythrives on creativity and growth.
(11:57):
Your work from the year beforeshould look drastically different
than the work you're creating now.
You should always be striving to pushyourselves, to push your creative limits.
And, baby, I had to tell you...
You can't do that in a paid gigbecause you need to deliver on
(12:20):
command when you're doing a paid gig.
But when you are alone with yourother fellow creatives and you
guys are just trying some shit out.
It might work, it might not.
You might walk away with some beautifulstuff or you might walk away with shit.
I mean, I've, I've had shoots likethat too where I, it just didn't work.
(12:41):
But that's the beautyof those test shoots.
So you want those personal projectsbecause you need to grow, you need
to thrive on creativity and growth.
Now if that isn't enough of areason for them to matter, then
I don't know what to tell you.
I don't know what to tell you.
I, I shake my hands off the problem.
(13:01):
But if you are a listener of the show,then I know you're doing the work.
I know you're doing them test shoots,so I don't got to worry about you boo.
I know that there's at least one ortwo of a side eye, eye rolling, neck
(13:27):
twisting, like, Mica, I got bills.
I ain't got time for personal projects.
I get it.
I get it.
I get it.
Don't, don't get mad at me.
I get it.
Juggling personal work andpaid work, it ain't easy.
Bills gotta get paid, right?
Ain't nothing going on but the rent.
(13:48):
You gotta have a J O B.
If you wanna be with me.
There ain't nothin goinon but the rent-ah!
Yeah, okay.
Oh man, I've missed a soloepisode with just my with just me.
(14:09):
Seriously though, imagine your creativeenergy is this huge, bustling pot of soup.
I'ma channel my my my Mexican side,I'ma say that my soup is a caldo soup.
Shout out to my mom.
I hope she makes me some or maybeshe'll teach me how to make it because
she's so stingy with her recipe.
Come on, mama.
(14:31):
But seriously, imagine your creativeenergy is this huge bubbling pot of soup.
You've got different ingredients in there.
You got the, the carrots and thepeas of client work, the spicy herbs
of deadlines, and then there's thisrich broth, the essence of your
creativity, your personal projects.
(14:54):
Those secret spices that giveyour soup that um, that flavor.
The flavor that sets it apartfrom any other soup out there.
Now here's the catch.
How do you make sure this soup doesn'tbecome all about the carrots and the peas?
(15:16):
How do you keep that flavor alive?
How do you make sure thatthere's something more than
salt and pepper in your soup?
Like I said, I don't want nobodyrolling their eyes at me and twisting
their necks and snapping their fingersbecause let's be clear about one thing.
Paid gigs are essential.
They pay the bills.
(15:36):
They put food on the table.
And if you're booking the kindof gigs that you want to be
booking, they're satisfying.
Completing a challenging clientbrief, seeing your work out
there, getting that appreciation.
It's a high.
I get it.
I understand it, but boo thangs.
Constantly working on paid gigs cansometimes feel like you're on a treadmill.
(16:01):
You're running.
You're running, and you're running, andyou're running, and you're sweating,
and you're running, and you're like, Ah,Shane, I've been on here for 15 minutes.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, I'm running,I'm running, I'm running.
But you're not always sure if you'regoing in the direction you truly desire.
It reminds me of.
I did this race a while back, way wayback, like, like 20, 000 years ago.
(16:24):
But I did this race called the Austin10 20 and it was 10 miles, 20 bands.
And they're like, don't bring yourheadphones because we're going to
have all these bands playing and it'sgoing to be live music and it's going
to be awesome, it's going to be fun.
And so I didn't bring my headphones.
And it was the most boring motherfuckingrace I ever did in my life.
(16:45):
Because as soon as youpass by a band, you just.
It would just go, you know, andthen it'd be like super quiet
for like two, three miles.
So I, well, I mean, itmade sense in my brain.
I don't know why I just told you this.
So that is kind of what I view as...
(17:05):
Overworking yourself and just constantlyworking on paid gigs, you say you're
just running this this route and thenevery so often you'll get a client work
and it'll pass by real fast but it's notreally what you want to be listening to
and it's not what you really enjoy doing.
Well, that's why you haveyour personal projects.
(17:25):
I view personal projects like pit stops.
They're your refreshers, your coffee shop.
They're that weekend getaway inthe middle of a hectic month.
Or those day, day trips where youdrive off with no destination in mind.
They rejuvenate you.
They remind you why you fell in lovewith your craft in the first place.
(17:48):
All right, all right, all right.
I know I'm getting some side eyesfrom some of you because you're
like Mica, you still haven'tsaid, how do you balance the two?
I get it.
I get it.
Chill out, chill out.
For anyone who is struggling withhow to balance between your paid gigs
and your personal gigs, I'll tellyou what works for me and then you
(18:09):
decide if that's your jam, that's yourcup of tea, if that works for you,
then go for it, shoot for the moon.
And if not, findsomething else that works.
But the first thing Ido is I schedule it in.
It's in my calendar, y'all.
Treat your personal projects withas much respect as your paid gigs.
Block out time for them, likeyou would for a meeting, like you
would for a doctor's appointment.
(18:30):
That is time reserved for your craft.
I have it on my calendar once a week.
I do my shoots once a week.
The second thing is, I find someway to hold myself accountable.
And that could be differentfor every one of y'all.
You can have a bestie, a foodphotog bestie, where you guys
(18:50):
just hold each other accountable.
You could share your progress andpost updates on your social media.
You could say, you know what, I'm gonnapost every Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
a new project that I'm working on.
And the other thing is,is know when to pull back.
Do not get in the studio for thesake of getting in the studio.
(19:11):
You need to recognize when you'restretching yourself too thin.
It's okay to press pause ifyou're feeling burned out.
Don't get in the studio for thesake of getting in the studio.
If you're not inspired,you're not inspired.
So go do something that does inspire you.
Go, go hang out with your friends.
Go out to eat to a couple of restaurants.
Go look at some food magazinesor, or read some cookbooks.
Do what you gotta do to getyourself back in the headspace.
(19:34):
But if you are feeling burnedout, it's okay to press pause.
Do what you gotta do.
Cause it's a marathon.
It's not a sprint.
See, every time I thinkabout the word marathon.
All right, another story,bear with me y'all.
When I was in middle school, I joinedthe track and field afternoon program and
I wanted to get right in to the races.
(19:54):
I was like, put me in coach,I'm ready to run, you know.
The only spots that wereavailable that were open.
Was this long distance run.
You had to like run three lapsaround around the track and I was
like well I'll do that all the time.
They signed me up for it.
It was my first race and as soonas the the little gun went off
(20:16):
pow, I was took off I was runningfast and I was winning first place.
I ran around that first, made thatfirst lap and and I remembered shit.
I have to have to run aroundit again Y'all, I didn't even
make it to the finish line.
I was so out of it.
I just walked.
(20:38):
And my coach came and got me andshe's like, come on, you know,
and, and I, I quit after that.
Yeah, I, I didn't, I didn't, uh, run intrack and field anymore, but I did still
enjoy running just for a form of exerciseand, you know, I'd go around the, the
track and field during my gym class,but that got me to thinking, you know,
(20:59):
how do people make it through marathons?
People have asked me,how did you run 10 miles?
How do you run three miles?
And it's like, it's not a sprint.
It's, it's, it's, it's a pace.
You go at whatever pace you're going.
You walk when you need to walk.
You run when you can run.
The whole point is your body goes throughstages as you go through each mile.
(21:21):
Well, I like to think ofyour creativity the same way.
When you feel creative, when youfeel energized, get in the studio
and start making some shit happen.
When you're feeling burnt out,when the thought of taking your
camera out just makes you go, ugh,I don't, I don't want to do it.
Like, I don't feel like I'mgonna get anything out of this.
(21:42):
Then, take a pause and go dothings that are inspiring.
Go to an art museum.
Go look at some photography books.
Go watch one of those artsy fartsy movies.
Do whatever you gotta do tosurround yourself with, with art.
And support yourself in that way.
That can be a personal project, too.
(22:02):
Think about that.
This TED Talk has been broughtto you by Mic I'm kidding.
I'm kidding.
But the point I'm tryingto make is this, y'all.
Balancing paid gigs withpersonal projects, it isn't
about choosing one or the other.
Because that ain't gonna happen.
Unless you win the lottery andyou can just do personal projects
(22:23):
for the rest of your life.
Which, that's what yourgirl is trying to do.
She's trying to win that biglottery, that Texas Powerball.
But seriously, Balancing paid gigswith your personal projects is about
harmonizing the two to create a symphonywhere the highs and the lows, the
(22:43):
crescendos, the pauses, they all cometogether to craft your distinct melody
in this orchestra of the creative world.
Someone said once about paid gigs, dotwo for the wallet, one for the heart.
Yeah, that's it.
That's what they said.
They said two for thewallet, one for the heart.
So, think of it that way.
(23:06):
Aim for that every month.
Two for the wallet, one for the heart.
Okay, I am going to use a tired, tiredanalogy that everybody's used, but it's
so relevant to what we're talking aboutthat I'm gonna say it again and I'm gonna
(23:29):
keep saying it because it's so damn good.
Like Noah's Ark.
If you build it, they will come.
If you want to work with specific brands,then you need to figure out the milkshake
that will bring the clients to the yard.
All right?
I had to, I know that one iscorny, but y'all know I can't pass
(23:51):
up a good, a good corny analogy.
My milkshake brings all the boys to theyard and they're like it's better than
yours, they're like is better than yours.
Bethany, I can teach you,but I have to charge.
In this case, I am not charging you.
I am sharing what I know and, allI demand in payment is bagels with
(24:15):
cream cheese, lots of coffee, a HarryPotter wand and um, yeah, and barbeque.
Get me some fatty brisket and square.
You hit me up in the DMs, youtell me how much you want this
career to work, and I believe it.
And I feel it.
You're dreamers.
(24:36):
With fire in your eyes.
And you want to workwith those dream brands.
Y'all tell me, oh, I wouldlove to work with so and so.
Man, it would be so awesome if Icould do this with that client.
You tell me that, anddoubt creeps in sometimes.
Sometimes you ask, willthey even notice me?
(24:56):
Will they even care?
Do they even see me,the work that I'm doing?
What's the point of doing all this?
What's the point of posting on Instagram?
What's the point?
The only thing I can say.
The only thing I can encourage is tokeep doing those personal projects.
Keep doing those shotsyou take from the heart.
That's your foghorn.
(25:16):
That's your, hooty hoo!
Every click, every frame, is youshouting out to the universe.
Yo!
Here I am!
Look what I can do!
And as you should, boo!
As you should!
You should be loud.
You should be putting your work out there.
(25:37):
You should be throwing thisout to the world, unafraid.
So take charge.
Be fearless.
Build your milkshake.
Bring them clients to your yard.
(26:00):
The entire time I was saying that, Icould just see, uh, what's her face
doing her little dance in the video.
My milkshake brings all theboys to the uni I'm gonna play
that in my next test shoot.
Just on repeat.
My milkshake bringsall the boys to the uni
And your girl was dancing like ahussy to that song in the clubs.
(26:24):
It did not stop me.
It's a good song.
Oh.
Really though, do thosepersonal projects, y'all.
Schedule them.
Weekly.
Trust me.
When you do, the universewill sit up It will notice.
(26:47):
Those floodgates, they'll open.
Those opportunities.
Those dreams.
They'll come to life.
Alright, y'all.
My warriors.
My creative warriors.
Time to wrap this baby up.
I'm out of coffee.
I'm out of time.
I'm out of jokes.
(27:08):
I'm out of dignity.
I'm out of it all.
But before I go, I wanty'all to take a moment.
I want you to close your eyes.
I want you to put yourhand over your heart.
(27:29):
I don't know what sideof the body it's on.
I think, I think it's on the right.
What, what, what hand do we use to salute?
Whatever hand we use tosalute, feel that heartbeat.
Look for that heartbeat.
Feel it.
That steady, the thump.
That's your purpose.
That's your drive.
That's the echo of everydream you've ever had.
(27:51):
And it's calling out to you.
Y'all, when the nights are long and...
It's just, things just seem like they'resteep, they're endless, and it's just
this constant uphill battle of bullshit,and fuck, I can't do this anymore.
I want y'all to remember this episode.
(28:15):
Remember this conversation we're having.
I want y'all to remember that everypassion project, every midnight oil
you burn, every risk you take, it'sall leading up to something phenomenal.
Your why is powerful.
Your why is valid.
(28:36):
So if you don't know whatyour why is, go find it.
Go find it.
Go write it down.
Go etch it.
Get it tattooed somewhere.
Have it right there, present.
Because it's in those moments whenyou have nothing left to give, you can
look at your why, your purpose, andyou can see that it's worth chasing.
(29:00):
For real, for real, I'm about to leave.
Like, for real.
And I got one teeny, itty bitty, tiny,little bit favor task to ask of you.
I don't ask for a lot.
I'm gonna ask for this.
I want you to pick up that oneproject you've been hesitant about.
(29:21):
That one idea that's beentickling the back of your mind.
The one where you're like, Eh,I don't know if I can do that.
That seems a little crazy, or...
The one that's like, uh, but I don'tknow if anybody's gonna really like it.
I want you to find that idea.
And I want you to dive into it.
Head first.
(29:41):
Like you're an Olympic diver.
Just dive into it.
And give it your all.
Because the world doesn't know it yet.
But, it's waiting.
And it's eagerly waiting forwhat you've got to offer.
Remember BooThangs, you'renot just any creative.
(30:02):
You are a force to be reckoned with.
A tidal wave in a sea of sameness.
You're that purple zebra ina sea of black and white.
So, don't diminish that light.
Don't ever do that.
Don't ever diminish that spark.
And if you feel yourselffading, come on back here.
(30:25):
Shit, I'll give you apep talk of a lifetime.
We'll fan those flames together.
Until then, keep shining,keep dreaming, keep creating.
You've got this.
The world is waiting.
I'm waiting.
So y'all, I'm sending all my love,all my positive vibes your way.
(30:48):
Stay bold, stay true, butmore importantly, stay you.
Welcome.
To the 34th episode of The Savory Shot.
Y'all, has it really been 34 episodes?
Dang!
Well, if you don't knowwho I am, that's alright.
Welcome to the show.
I'm your host, with the most, Mica McCook.
(00:21):
And I'm a food photographer.
First and foremost, I just wantto pause and express my gratitude.
I cannot start this showwithout saying thank you.
So from the bottom of my heart,thank you for being here.
Every time you tune in, every messageyou send, every comment, every share,
(00:41):
it fuels this journey we're on together.
Y'all, I never have to worry about beingon E, because y'all fill this tank up.
Every.
Time.
You show up.
Every.
Episode.
Y'all, I've grown.
I've evolved.
I've laughed.
Maybe even shed a tearor two on this podcast.
(01:05):
And that's all thanks to you.
I've said it once andI'll say it every episode.
This podcast exists becauseof you, the listener.
So thank you.
Grazie.
Danke.
Arigato!
And all the bazillionways to say thank you.
(01:26):
Seriously, it's wild tothink of where this podcast
started and where it's at now.
Those early episodes?
Man, what a trip.
They were diamonds in the rough.
But they were real, theywere raw, they were special.
And they continue to be special.
(01:47):
Y'all, this podcast...
This is a labor of love.
It's just me over here.
It's a one, one woman show.
And I love it.
This is the kind of personal projectthat just keeps my head in the game.
And we need thosepersonal projects, right?
The ones that remind us why weeven got into this whole industry.
(02:10):
And that's what I want to talk about.
Today's episode is about those projects.
That make our hearts raceand our souls light up.
I'm talking about your test shoots.
Your personal projects.
The shoots where you can stretchyour creative legs and go wild.
You know what I'm talking about.
(02:31):
Those shoots are thelifeline to your career.
It's a must.
You should be doing personalprojects every quarter, every month.
But, before I get intothat, grab your to go drink.
I got my cafefefe.
Find that cozy spot andlet's start the show.
(03:28):
You ever have those days whereyou're just staring at your gear,
fingers itching to create something?
Anything?
You know what I'm talking about.
Spark, that little nudge, pushingyou to do something different.
I'm not talking about the usualclient briefs or those routine gigs,
which, don't get me wrong, are great.
(03:51):
But they don't always light that fire.
Nah, boo.
I'm talking about those ideas thatcome to you in the dead of night, or
during a long shower, or even whenyou're biting into your favorite food.
I'm talking about those, "Ah ha!"
Those...
"Oh my god!"
Those, "Oh my god, weshould totally do this!"
(04:12):
Those, "What if we grabbedthis and then did this?"
The ones where your heartraces just thinking about them.
They're spontaneous.
They're wild.
And sometimes they feel so out therethat you wonder if they even make sense.
(04:33):
Like, let's grab a cheeseburger and paintit in glitter, or let's throw popcorn
out of a rocket and photograph that.
Y'all, we've done some crazythings, but it's in those moments.
(04:54):
Those raw, unfiltered thoughts.
Magic happens.
Those are the seeds ofyour personal projects.
The ones that are 100 percent you.
No compromises.
No boundaries.
No "We've got to stick to the shot list."
Just pure, creative energy.
(05:16):
I'm excited just talking about it.
And today, we're diving deep intowhy those seeds are so crucial
and how to let them flourish.
Now let's get real for a moment.
How many times have you caughtyourself daydreaming about
(05:38):
a project that's all yours?
You're not bound by client requirements.
No deadlines, no external expectations.
Just 100 percent unlimited creation.
We've all been there.
Heck, I was just there yesterday.
And there's a reason those dreams linger.
This reminds me of my high schooldays when I had a cell phone and I
(06:01):
had that plan where I had 500 minutes,500 minutes, monthly minutes, to
talk on the phone and then after nineo'clock, I had unlimited minutes.
Anytime before nine o'clock, you do notcall me unless the building's on fire.
Like, I gotta preserve these minutes.
But baby, come nine o'clock,I'm gossiping with everybody.
(06:24):
The sky's the limit ofwhat I could talk about.
Those 500 minutes.
That's a bare necessity.
Who, what, when, where, why?
Keep it under five.
But nine o'clock p.
m.
conversations?
Man, I could, I couldreally embellish shit.
Add emotions, things and stuff.
(06:46):
That's when I view personalprojects and paid projects.
Those paid projects,that's the 500 minutes.
Who, what, when, where, why?
Do what you gotta do.
You gotta get shot lists, gotta getwhat the client needs and wants,
and you don't go over a minute.
But those personal projects, that'sthe nine o'clock conversations.
(07:07):
That's the gossip.
Personal projects, they're like a mirror.
They reflect our deepest passions,our quirks, our whimsies.
They're the things we do, even if noone was watching or paying, because they
resonate with the very core of who we are.
They bring out our authentic self,the version of us that's not altered
(07:31):
or refined for the outside world.
If you ever feel stuck in a rut,like you're repeating the same
pattern, shooting similar photos.
You're, you're on this,this creative hamster wheel.
And you're running and you'rerunning and you're running and
you're running and you're, Andyou're running, running, running,
running, running, running, running.
(07:51):
And you're creating the same shit.
Well, personal projects are your way out.
They're the rejuvenating breaks weneed, giving us the space to experiment,
to fail without real consequence,and to discover new horizons.
They're the challenges we giveourselves, not because we have
(08:13):
to, but because we crave growth.
Y'all, my growth did not happenin the photo shoots with clients.
That's the test.
That's where you apply what youlearned in your personal shoots.
My personal shoots, that's where I grew.
That's where I improved.
Because I could mess up.
(08:35):
Repeatedly, over and over, andthere's no real consequences.
There's not thousands of dollars.
There's not clients who flew in from town.
Your test shoots is that opportunityto fuck it up and fuck it up again.
That way when you show up on the shootand you just whip out your magic wand
and you're like, Boom, boom, boom!
They go, how'd she do that?
(08:56):
She's talented!
First time!
They don't know...
They don't know all the hours thatyou've put in on your personal shoots.
They don't know all the kinksthat you worked out beforehand.
Your test shoots, that's your practice.
Your client shoots,that's where you apply.
That's the job.
I want to say this, and I'm a quote.
(09:16):
Uh, Sister Wives, RobynBrown from Sister Wives.
I'm going to quote her.
I want to say something to you and I wantyou to download it into your hard drives.
I never in a million years thoughtthat I would quote Robyn Brown
because I do not like that woman.
Shout out to anyone whowatches Sister Wives.
(09:37):
If you watch it, come gossip with mebecause I got some things to talk about.
But back to this.
Lastly and most importantly.
When you pour your heart and soul intoa project, clients, the ones, the dream
ones that you've been binding for, well,they see it and they connect with it.
Your projects are what they zoom in on.
(10:01):
Yeah, I said it.
You heard it right.
Think about your personal projectsas a map, a beautifully crafted,
soulful map that showcases you.
Showcases your journey, yourcapabilities, your evolution.
They want to see what'snew, real, raw, and untamed.
(10:25):
Because for them, it's gold.
Here's why.
When your client stumbles onyour portfolio, they're not just
looking for technical prowess.
If that was their only requirement,they got 20, 30 other photographers
that they can go and hush and hire.
They're hunting for personality.
For flair.
(10:45):
For that unique touchthat only you can give.
And you know how you find thatunique touch that only you can give?
Well, it ain't reading books.
It ain't watching videos.
It's from getting that cameraout and trying some things out.
It's right there in those projects.
The ones that you didjust for the love of it.
(11:07):
Your personal projects are likewindows into your creative mind.
They want to see your vision.
They want your ideas.
They want to see your abilityto take a concept and turn
it into motherfucking art.
They not only want to see that,but they want to see what you
can do with their brand and turnit in to motherfucking art too.
(11:32):
These projects, they tell astory of your commitment, of
your passion, your dedication.
It says, hey, I'm committed to creating.
I'm committed to experimenting.
I'm committed to evolving.
And that narrative, youknow, it's compelling.
It speaks of a professional constantlythrives on creativity and growth.
(11:57):
Your work from the year beforeshould look drastically different
than the work you're creating now.
You should always be striving to pushyourselves, to push your creative limits.
And, baby, I had to tell you...
You can't do that in a paid gigbecause you need to deliver on
(12:20):
command when you're doing a paid gig.
But when you are alone with yourother fellow creatives and you
guys are just trying some shit out.
It might work, it might not.
You might walk away with some beautifulstuff or you might walk away with shit.
I mean, I've, I've had shoots likethat too where I, it just didn't work.
(12:41):
But that's the beautyof those test shoots.
So you want those personal projectsbecause you need to grow, you need
to thrive on creativity and growth.
Now if that isn't enough of areason for them to matter, then
I don't know what to tell you.
I don't know what to tell you.
I, I shake my hands off the problem.
(13:01):
But if you are a listener of the show,then I know you're doing the work.
I know you're doing them test shoots,so I don't got to worry about you boo.
I know that there's at least one ortwo of a side eye, eye rolling, neck
(13:27):
twisting, like, Mica, I got bills.
I ain't got time for personal projects.
I get it.
I get it.
I get it.
Don't, don't get mad at me.
I get it.
Juggling personal work andpaid work, it ain't easy.
Bills gotta get paid, right?
Ain't nothing going on but the rent.
(13:48):
You gotta have a J O B.
If you wanna be with me.
There ain't nothin goinon but the rent-ah!
Yeah, okay.
Oh man, I've missed a soloepisode with just my with just me.
(14:09):
Seriously though, imagine your creativeenergy is this huge, bustling pot of soup.
I'ma channel my my my Mexican side,I'ma say that my soup is a caldo soup.
Shout out to my mom.
I hope she makes me some or maybeshe'll teach me how to make it because
she's so stingy with her recipe.
Come on, mama.
(14:31):
But seriously, imagine your creativeenergy is this huge bubbling pot of soup.
You've got different ingredients in there.
You got the, the carrots and thepeas of client work, the spicy herbs
of deadlines, and then there's thisrich broth, the essence of your
creativity, your personal projects.
(14:54):
Those secret spices that giveyour soup that um, that flavor.
The flavor that sets it apartfrom any other soup out there.
Now here's the catch.
How do you make sure this soup doesn'tbecome all about the carrots and the peas?
(15:16):
How do you keep that flavor alive?
How do you make sure thatthere's something more than
salt and pepper in your soup?
Like I said, I don't want nobodyrolling their eyes at me and twisting
their necks and snapping their fingersbecause let's be clear about one thing.
Paid gigs are essential.
They pay the bills.
(15:36):
They put food on the table.
And if you're booking the kindof gigs that you want to be
booking, they're satisfying.
Completing a challenging clientbrief, seeing your work out
there, getting that appreciation.
It's a high.
I get it.
I understand it, but boo thangs.
Constantly working on paid gigs cansometimes feel like you're on a treadmill.
(16:01):
You're running.
You're running, and you're running, andyou're running, and you're sweating,
and you're running, and you're like, Ah,Shane, I've been on here for 15 minutes.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, I'm running,I'm running, I'm running.
But you're not always sure if you'regoing in the direction you truly desire.
It reminds me of.
I did this race a while back, way wayback, like, like 20, 000 years ago.
(16:24):
But I did this race called the Austin10 20 and it was 10 miles, 20 bands.
And they're like, don't bring yourheadphones because we're going to
have all these bands playing and it'sgoing to be live music and it's going
to be awesome, it's going to be fun.
And so I didn't bring my headphones.
And it was the most boring motherfuckingrace I ever did in my life.
(16:45):
Because as soon as youpass by a band, you just.
It would just go, you know, andthen it'd be like super quiet
for like two, three miles.
So I, well, I mean, itmade sense in my brain.
I don't know why I just told you this.
So that is kind of what I view as...
(17:05):
Overworking yourself and just constantlyworking on paid gigs, you say you're
just running this this route and thenevery so often you'll get a client work
and it'll pass by real fast but it's notreally what you want to be listening to
and it's not what you really enjoy doing.
Well, that's why you haveyour personal projects.
(17:25):
I view personal projects like pit stops.
They're your refreshers, your coffee shop.
They're that weekend getaway inthe middle of a hectic month.
Or those day, day trips where youdrive off with no destination in mind.
They rejuvenate you.
They remind you why you fell in lovewith your craft in the first place.
(17:48):
All right, all right, all right.
I know I'm getting some side eyesfrom some of you because you're
like Mica, you still haven'tsaid, how do you balance the two?
I get it.
I get it.
Chill out, chill out.
For anyone who is struggling withhow to balance between your paid gigs
and your personal gigs, I'll tellyou what works for me and then you
(18:09):
decide if that's your jam, that's yourcup of tea, if that works for you,
then go for it, shoot for the moon.
And if not, findsomething else that works.
But the first thing Ido is I schedule it in.
It's in my calendar, y'all.
Treat your personal projects withas much respect as your paid gigs.
Block out time for them, likeyou would for a meeting, like you
would for a doctor's appointment.
(18:30):
That is time reserved for your craft.
I have it on my calendar once a week.
I do my shoots once a week.
The second thing is, I find someway to hold myself accountable.
And that could be differentfor every one of y'all.
You can have a bestie, a foodphotog bestie, where you guys
(18:50):
just hold each other accountable.
You could share your progress andpost updates on your social media.
You could say, you know what, I'm gonnapost every Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
a new project that I'm working on.
And the other thing is,is know when to pull back.
Do not get in the studio for thesake of getting in the studio.
(19:11):
You need to recognize when you'restretching yourself too thin.
It's okay to press pause ifyou're feeling burned out.
Don't get in the studio for thesake of getting in the studio.
If you're not inspired,you're not inspired.
So go do something that does inspire you.
Go, go hang out with your friends.
Go out to eat to a couple of restaurants.
Go look at some food magazinesor, or read some cookbooks.
Do what you gotta do to getyourself back in the headspace.
(19:34):
But if you are feeling burnedout, it's okay to press pause.
Do what you gotta do.
Cause it's a marathon.
It's not a sprint.
See, every time I thinkabout the word marathon.
All right, another story,bear with me y'all.
When I was in middle school, I joinedthe track and field afternoon program and
I wanted to get right in to the races.
(19:54):
I was like, put me in coach,I'm ready to run, you know.
The only spots that wereavailable that were open.
Was this long distance run.
You had to like run three lapsaround around the track and I was
like well I'll do that all the time.
They signed me up for it.
It was my first race and as soonas the the little gun went off
(20:16):
pow, I was took off I was runningfast and I was winning first place.
I ran around that first, made thatfirst lap and and I remembered shit.
I have to have to run aroundit again Y'all, I didn't even
make it to the finish line.
I was so out of it.
I just walked.
(20:38):
And my coach came and got me andshe's like, come on, you know,
and, and I, I quit after that.
Yeah, I, I didn't, I didn't, uh, run intrack and field anymore, but I did still
enjoy running just for a form of exerciseand, you know, I'd go around the, the
track and field during my gym class,but that got me to thinking, you know,
(20:59):
how do people make it through marathons?
People have asked me,how did you run 10 miles?
How do you run three miles?
And it's like, it's not a sprint.
It's, it's, it's, it's a pace.
You go at whatever pace you're going.
You walk when you need to walk.
You run when you can run.
The whole point is your body goes throughstages as you go through each mile.
(21:21):
Well, I like to think ofyour creativity the same way.
When you feel creative, when youfeel energized, get in the studio
and start making some shit happen.
When you're feeling burnt out,when the thought of taking your
camera out just makes you go, ugh,I don't, I don't want to do it.
Like, I don't feel like I'mgonna get anything out of this.
(21:42):
Then, take a pause and go dothings that are inspiring.
Go to an art museum.
Go look at some photography books.
Go watch one of those artsy fartsy movies.
Do whatever you gotta do tosurround yourself with, with art.
And support yourself in that way.
That can be a personal project, too.
(22:02):
Think about that.
This TED Talk has been broughtto you by Mic I'm kidding.
I'm kidding.
But the point I'm tryingto make is this, y'all.
Balancing paid gigs withpersonal projects, it isn't
about choosing one or the other.
Because that ain't gonna happen.
Unless you win the lottery andyou can just do personal projects
(22:23):
for the rest of your life.
Which, that's what yourgirl is trying to do.
She's trying to win that biglottery, that Texas Powerball.
But seriously, Balancing paid gigswith your personal projects is about
harmonizing the two to create a symphonywhere the highs and the lows, the
(22:43):
crescendos, the pauses, they all cometogether to craft your distinct melody
in this orchestra of the creative world.
Someone said once about paid gigs, dotwo for the wallet, one for the heart.
Yeah, that's it.
That's what they said.
They said two for thewallet, one for the heart.
So, think of it that way.
(23:06):
Aim for that every month.
Two for the wallet, one for the heart.
Okay, I am going to use a tired, tiredanalogy that everybody's used, but it's
so relevant to what we're talking aboutthat I'm gonna say it again and I'm gonna
(23:29):
keep saying it because it's so damn good.
Like Noah's Ark.
If you build it, they will come.
If you want to work with specific brands,then you need to figure out the milkshake
that will bring the clients to the yard.
All right?
I had to, I know that one iscorny, but y'all know I can't pass
(23:51):
up a good, a good corny analogy.
My milkshake brings all the boys to theyard and they're like it's better than
yours, they're like is better than yours.
Bethany, I can teach you,but I have to charge.
In this case, I am not charging you.
I am sharing what I know and, allI demand in payment is bagels with
(24:15):
cream cheese, lots of coffee, a HarryPotter wand and um, yeah, and barbeque.
Get me some fatty brisket and square.
You hit me up in the DMs, youtell me how much you want this
career to work, and I believe it.
And I feel it.
You're dreamers.
(24:36):
With fire in your eyes.
And you want to workwith those dream brands.
Y'all tell me, oh, I wouldlove to work with so and so.
Man, it would be so awesome if Icould do this with that client.
You tell me that, anddoubt creeps in sometimes.
Sometimes you ask, willthey even notice me?
(24:56):
Will they even care?
Do they even see me,the work that I'm doing?
What's the point of doing all this?
What's the point of posting on Instagram?
What's the point?
The only thing I can say.
The only thing I can encourage is tokeep doing those personal projects.
Keep doing those shotsyou take from the heart.
That's your foghorn.
(25:16):
That's your, hooty hoo!
Every click, every frame, is youshouting out to the universe.
Yo!
Here I am!
Look what I can do!
And as you should, boo!
As you should!
You should be loud.
You should be putting your work out there.
(25:37):
You should be throwing thisout to the world, unafraid.
So take charge.
Be fearless.
Build your milkshake.
Bring them clients to your yard.
(26:00):
The entire time I was saying that, Icould just see, uh, what's her face
doing her little dance in the video.
My milkshake brings all theboys to the uni I'm gonna play
that in my next test shoot.
Just on repeat.
My milkshake bringsall the boys to the uni
And your girl was dancing like ahussy to that song in the clubs.
(26:24):
It did not stop me.
It's a good song.
Oh.
Really though, do thosepersonal projects, y'all.
Schedule them.
Weekly.
Trust me.
When you do, the universewill sit up It will notice.
(26:47):
Those floodgates, they'll open.
Those opportunities.
Those dreams.
They'll come to life.
Alright, y'all.
My warriors.
My creative warriors.
Time to wrap this baby up.
I'm out of coffee.
I'm out of time.
I'm out of jokes.
(27:08):
I'm out of dignity.
I'm out of it all.
But before I go, I wanty'all to take a moment.
I want you to close your eyes.
I want you to put yourhand over your heart.
(27:29):
I don't know what sideof the body it's on.
I think, I think it's on the right.
What, what, what hand do we use to salute?
Whatever hand we use tosalute, feel that heartbeat.
Look for that heartbeat.
Feel it.
That steady, the thump.
That's your purpose.
That's your drive.
That's the echo of everydream you've ever had.
(27:51):
And it's calling out to you.
Y'all, when the nights are long and...
It's just, things just seem like they'resteep, they're endless, and it's just
this constant uphill battle of bullshit,and fuck, I can't do this anymore.
I want y'all to remember this episode.
(28:15):
Remember this conversation we're having.
I want y'all to remember that everypassion project, every midnight oil
you burn, every risk you take, it'sall leading up to something phenomenal.
Your why is powerful.
Your why is valid.
(28:36):
So if you don't know whatyour why is, go find it.
Go find it.
Go write it down.
Go etch it.
Get it tattooed somewhere.
Have it right there, present.
Because it's in those moments whenyou have nothing left to give, you can
look at your why, your purpose, andyou can see that it's worth chasing.
(29:00):
For real, for real, I'm about to leave.
Like, for real.
And I got one teeny, itty bitty, tiny,little bit favor task to ask of you.
I don't ask for a lot.
I'm gonna ask for this.
I want you to pick up that oneproject you've been hesitant about.
(29:21):
That one idea that's beentickling the back of your mind.
The one where you're like, Eh,I don't know if I can do that.
That seems a little crazy, or...
The one that's like, uh, but I don'tknow if anybody's gonna really like it.
I want you to find that idea.
And I want you to dive into it.
Head first.
(29:41):
Like you're an Olympic diver.
Just dive into it.
And give it your all.
Because the world doesn't know it yet.
But, it's waiting.
And it's eagerly waiting forwhat you've got to offer.
Remember BooThangs, you'renot just any creative.
(30:02):
You are a force to be reckoned with.
A tidal wave in a sea of sameness.
You're that purple zebra ina sea of black and white.
So, don't diminish that light.
Don't ever do that.
Don't ever diminish that spark.
And if you feel yourselffading, come on back here.
(30:25):
Shit, I'll give you apep talk of a lifetime.
We'll fan those flames together.
Until then, keep shining,keep dreaming, keep creating.
You've got this.
The world is waiting.
I'm waiting.
So y'all, I'm sending all my love,all my positive vibes your way.
(30:48):
Stay bold, stay true, butmore importantly, stay you.
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