Starting Over, Professionally
Updated: May 25, 2018
There are so many questions I get of why my portfolio doesn't match the years of experience that I "claim" to have. Where is my proof of my art projects or the 11 years of photography under my belt?
Why?
Carelessness and being over trusting of technology is why. In my kind spirit, I loaned out my computer to a friend with every photo, portrait I have ever taken, every piece of documentation, artwork I had created in the last 4-5 years, stored on my hard drive. The next time I saw my computer everything was GONE.
I tried everything to recover my hard drive, but it was fried, and wiped; how did it end up that way, the world may never know. After, losing my hard drive I lost all physical hard copies of 90% of my creative projects. I didn't feel like an artist let alone a professional.
When you do not have a deep, cohesive portfolio; clients doubt you, your skills and ability to do business. It hurts, especially when you know how hard you work. I gave up after awhile, I lost my will to fight for my dream. Started to question if I was an artist at all.
Rock Bottom, was hit and I was just trying to survive. It made it hard to create, and when I cannot create, I feel lost, and I was lost for a long time. Until, I became aware of how important art was to me, how creating was something I NEEDED to do.
Once you realize it is something you can not live without it sets a fire in you that can deny. So now I am giving it all I got, starting over is scary and annoying because you have done it before.
But starting over can also be a gift, it gives you many opportunities to see where you went wrong and what you can do better.
Like now I have 2 back up hard drives and my work computer doesn't leave my sight. I have learned how to vouch for myself my prices and my vision. I have learned my quality over quick quantity is the route I rather take. I learned I love acquiring knowledge and skills; I am a forever student of life, and beginning again is a part of the process. The road to success is long and lonely.
So start over as often as it takes,
regroup, research,
learn , apply &
thrive