By: The Grove
In the world of architectural photography and interior photography, you spend your shoot days in spaces that have beautiful design, light, and details. Whether you're photographing a home or a commercial space, you go from location to location to capture the best views of design projects. Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle of this amazing profession, it's important to nurture the most important element of all: ourselves.
As female photographers in this field, we also often juggle multiple roles, balancing our passion for capturing design beauties with the demands of our personal lives. We are not just photographers, we are also very often mothers, caregivers, chauffeurs, family shoppers, house cleaners, cooks, bookkeepers, and much more!
And even though this makes self-care even more important, it's often the first thing that we push to the side.
No more!
This is your reminder to prioritize yourself more so that you can be there for others for many years to come. Let's look at ways that you can practice self-care.
In a profession where deadlines are always looming and shoots days are long, it's easy to neglect our own need for rest. The first step to carving out time for rest, however, is to set clear boundaries with your well-being in mind.
How can you do this?
As interior photographers, we spend much of our time in... well, interior spaces! Between shoot days and editing sprees, it can be tough to get a dose of nature.
Yet, time outdoors in a natural environment has been proving to improve brain function and elevate mood. Essentially, this means that time in nature is good for you!
Here are some ways to incorporate nature into your day-to-day routines:
While photography is our passion and livelihood, we are so much more than the photos that we deliver to clients!
To keep your passion alive and to keep the artist in you happy, explore your creativity from time to time. This can be a big ongoing project that you do for yourself, or short bursts of creative activities that you sprinkle in as much as possible.
This, like everything else mentioned in this Field Note, can often get ignored.
Here are some ways to nurture your creativity:
After a long photoshoot day, it's crucial to give your body the attention it deserves. And while there often isn't time to fit in a full workout or stretch routine, there are things you can do to make it easier to soothe your body.
Consider incorporating practices such as:
In the fast-paced world of architectural photography, self-care often takes a back seat to client demands and family pressures. Prioritizing our well-being, though, is not only essential for our own health and happiness but also for the quality of our work.
By setting boundaries, reconnecting with nature, nurturing our creativity, and allowing our bodies to recuperate, you can begin to bring more balance to your day-to-day life and feel the benefits of all that self-love.
And remember to give yourself grace and time as you create these new habits. Any change will take time and dedication, and is sure to have setbacks. So start with whatever step you can take today, knowing that every bit helps.