The Photographer and the Inner Critic: Overcoming Creative Self-Doubt

Jul 1

As a photographer, people often think my biggest challenge is lighting, posing, or editing. But honestly? One of my biggest battles happens entirely in my head. I wanted to share a bit about my journey with my inner critic in case it helps anyone else fighting the same fight.

My relationship with my inner critic has always been a tenuous one. For as long as I can remember, he’s been there, always telling me I’m not good enough. It didn’t matter what I was doing—playing video games, making food, working at a soap store, and especially creating art.

Photo of seth logan holding a light while another person films a woman on the floor for halloween shoot — *My mentor Wayne and I filming a promo for a local comedy club*

He loves to give me a hard time about my art. I have constant, never-ending thoughts like:

“You aren’t very good at this, hey?”
“If you post that, everyone will laugh at you.”
“It isn’t nearly as good as others.”
“You’re behind everyone else.”

I would love to say that as an adult it has decreased, but that isn’t true. Mr. Critic is still here with me, even as I write this.

The thing I’ve learned isn’t to ignore or try to shut him out but to embrace him. The critic is trying to keep me safe. If you stay small, you have less of a chance of getting hurt. Or at least that’s what people tell me.

a 5 year old seth logan flexing in the mirror with a bruise on his cheek — *Me at 5 years old, don’t worry that is just bruise, or dirt… who knows.*

It isn’t all bad, though. Even though he’s an asshole, he’s actually pretty funny. I use humor to make jokes, to make others smile, and to make the things he says seem as silly as they really are.

I’ve accepted he isn’t going anywhere. He’ll always be there, telling me my photos suck or that people will yell at me for taking too long. He’ll always be on my shoulder, trying to keep me small. But he may also be exactly what I need—someone to prove wrong. Someone I can show my work to and say, “Actually, no. You’re wrong about me. I’ve got this.”

He has been one of my biggest hurdles in starting my photography business. But nothing shuts him up faster than someone’s face brightening up from one of my photos. It reminds me why I keep going, even when Mr. Critic is whispering in my ear.

So if you have an inner critic who just won’t shut up, don’t try to fight it tooth and nail. Accept him—and yourself—as you are, and learn to use the critic to become better.