How Do You Overcome Creative Block?
Ever felt like your creativity has hit a wall? Discover how leading minds in the industry, from Owners & Founders to Creative Directors, tackle this challenge head-on. This article features five insights, starting with stepping away from technical aspects and concluding with changing your environment for inspiration. Read on to unlock the secrets behind overcoming creative blocks.
- Step Away from Technical Aspects
- Use Mood Boards for Fresh Ideas
- Borrow Techniques from Different Mediums
- Turn to Humor and Flexibility
- Change Your Environment for Inspiration
Step Away from Technical Aspects
As a seasoned photographer with over 16 years of experience, one strategy I rely on to overcome creative block is stepping away from the technical aspects of photography and immersing myself in other forms of art and storytelling. Whether it's flipping through a photography book, watching a movie, or even listening to music that sparks emotion, these experiences help reignite my creative energy.
For example, during a particularly challenging corporate headshot session where the client seemed tense and disengaged, I decided to take a brief pause and revisit a visual storytelling technique I'd learned through a documentary film. Inspired by the film's approach to capturing raw, human moments, I returned to the session with a renewed focus on creating an environment where the client felt comfortable enough to truly be themselves.
By encouraging more natural poses and conversations that allowed their personality to shine through, I was able to capture an image that felt authentic and confident. This approach not only helped me break through my creative block but also ensured that the client left with a headshot that perfectly reflected their professional essence, which in turn contributed to their success in securing a new opportunity.
Creative blocks can be frustrating, but allowing yourself to step outside the usual framework can offer fresh perspectives and unlock new possibilities for your work.
Use Mood Boards for Fresh Ideas
When I hit a creative block, I turn to mood boards to reset my perspective. For a recent beauty shoot, I found myself stuck trying to merge two opposing themes-minimalism and glamour. Searching for inspiration, I created a physical mood board, mixing magazine clippings, fabric swatches, and makeup product textures. This tactile process sparked fresh ideas for color combinations and styles. It helped me land on a concept that tied both themes together seamlessly. By stepping away from the screen and using my hands, I broke through the block and delivered a look the client loved. Sometimes, simplifying your process is all it takes to unlock creativity.
Borrow Techniques from Different Mediums
One way we've tackled creative block is by borrowing narrative techniques from entirely different mediums, like mystery novels. For a recent television commercial, we applied this approach by building intrigue and withholding key details until the climax. Instead of revealing the product or message immediately, we crafted a storyline that teased visual clues and subtle hints, leading viewers to engage actively as they tried to piece together the narrative.
This approach transformed a straightforward promotional concept into something captivating and unique. By leaning into the suspense, we kept the audience guessing until the final moments, where everything clicked into place with a memorable reveal. It made the commercial not just a piece of content but an interactive experience, standing out in a crowded market. Using the mystery genre helped us inject originality and ensured the commercial left a lasting impression.
Turn to Humor and Flexibility
When I face creative block, I turn to humor as a way to open up my creativity. My brand, Handshucked Designs, was born from a joke, and humor plays a critical role in my artistic process. For example, during the creation of the "Lost Cat" series, I was stuck on how to capture the whimsical nature of my ideas, but by infusing the project with playful elements and a chuckle-worthy backstory, the series came to life and resonated with audiences in Key West.
Another technique I use is taking my projects outside the studio. When developing the life-sized plywood figures of musical artists, I found inspiration by stepping outside traditional mural walls and creating movable cutouts. This flexibility allowed me to experiment with locations and perspectives, which ultimately led to fresh, exciting creative solutions and improved community engagement, especially during events like Fantasy Fest.
By combining humor and breaking physical constraints, I find fresh perspectives that help me push through creative block. This approach is adaptable to various creative endeavors, encouraging a blend of fun and flexibility.
Change Your Environment for Inspiration
One way through which I manage my creative block is by implementing a sudden change in my environment or surrounding. For example, if I am working indoors I try to go and sit in nature for a while and observe things; let myself be immersed in the background. It is so because sometimes when we change our surroundings and then observe things, we can get inspiration from them, and our creative ideas will spark more. This tactic has helped me many times when I am stuck with how to bring the scene to life in the movie/series that I have directed.
