Creative Work
Is It Work? Is It Creative If It Is Work?
After 35 years as a graphic designer and brand manager, I learned the biggest lesson of all: it really isn't creative when someone else is telling you how to think. Controversial? Maybe. But I don't care, that's the point of this post.
For the first time in my life, I am now being creative with my work. Doing what I feel with my photography. No trends, no brief, well, only my own, and, most of all, learning more and more about technique, emotion and expression.
As I look at my desk, I have a few books I'm reading. I mention this because these are the things that shape our creative minds:
On Being a Photographer — David Hurn & Bill Jay (amazing book! Also full of notes)
The Art of Street Photography — Joshua K. Jackson & Sean Tucker
And to finish, I'm reading Outdoor Photography magazine and the On Landscape publication.
I mention these wonderful creations because they're the food for my creative life. They give me the freedom to breathe in, and then breathe out, my own creativity. Of course, we don't live perfect lives, but the creative balance at the moment is heavily weighted towards what I love to create. Long may it last.
Even doing a wedding shoot, you're making your own decisions in the moment, because you're trusted to make a wonderful memory, and to be trusted with that is a privilege. That's the freedom I talk about: how you can use your knowledge and personal creative vision to make a living. That's the work side of things.
I recently did a photography talk at North Cheshire Photographic Society, where I explained the old "make it big, make it red!" problem, when a director or manager tells you how to design because all they want is customers and profit, and they forget the point of branding and tone of voice, because they're blinded by the pressure to make a profit. It's short-term thinking, and it's proven not to work long term. Profits fail, and then, of course, it's the marketing department who go first.
Creativity has never been valued in most of my 35-year career. I've even had someone openly say, "Oh, here's Mali with his colouring-in pencils."
Anyway, the point of this Field Note is how I now try to avoid that world. The best way is to learn to have more tools in your utility belt, and to be able to convey that what you're doing creatively is the right thing so the paying customer lets you do your thing, and knows they're getting value, that they're getting what they pay for. To trust the creative individual to make something that excites, teaches and inspires them.
A short one this week, lots happening. Well, lots happening because I'm making it that way. This may seem obvious, but we are all our own bosses, so go ahead: make a thing, and keep on making, every day, without someone over your shoulder other than yourself, which would be some magical contortionist trick.
One photo today. This is from an upcoming video, zine and podcast project. Keep your eyes peeled for this one, I'm very excited to share the final creative elements.
If you enjoy these posts, please drop me a comment below and have a chat with me, the posts are a great way for us to connect. Also if you like what I do please consider joining me over on Patreon, without this community I would not be able to continue. Thank you
