How to Find Your Authenticity

How many times have you scrolled through Instagram and compared your work to others?

It doesn't matter what industry you are in or what your craft is; we do it, it's just in human nature, and sometimes it's more than what we would like to admit. The little voice that lives in the back of our heads starts to diminish our talents, our sense of self-worth and our most authentic abilities. We either see someone else doing it "better", or we begin to put other people in our field up on a pedestal and ourselves below them. I've seen it time and time again in the creative industry, and I have even done it myself. 

But do you know what made me stop looking at others as above me? It was not a mentor or a profound quote; it was simply how I chose to view my work, my talents, and the unique lens on which I see the world around me. Do I have an excellent support team around me, hyping me up? Sure. I have friends who love what I create, fellow photographers and videographers inspired by my work and my family who appreciate the work I do, but at the end of the day, the most important opinion I have is what I think of me. And it takes genuinely believing in your unique vision to make it shine.

So let's talk about inspiring others through our self-belief and unique (and unforgettable AF) talents. It inevitably happens when you start to believe in yourself; people will always follow suit. Being an inspiration to others is the most incredible yet challenging concept for me. I love to inspire others, but I also get disheartened when I see fellow creatives take my hard work, dedication, vision, ideas and business and try to wear it as their own. It's not that I see them as copying me, but that they are not finding their authenticity. Sure, we can find inspiration everywhere, but we should find a way to make this spark of inspiration our own.

I recently found a poem on Instagram, from the incredible poet Yung Pueblo, which finishes with the line, “find the balance between embracing new ideas and not being told what to think by others”, and it sums it up so beautifully.

It's not just with photography and videography; we see it in almost every industry, where brands with power take smaller creative's designs and sell them as their own. Just think of fashion trends, graphic design, even Instagram reels - we see it everywhere. But having a more significant market or more followers doesn't make it okay, and it's not flattery either (cheers Mum, for trying to make us feel good, though)! It just validates their inability to pave the path for new and fresh ideas that the world craves.

I love to see people pushing the boundaries, stepping outside of their comfort zone, creating new visions and ideas, and letting them soar, baby! We dabble in taking inspiration from everyone we admire, but we can't be the catalyst for more industry mimicking. We need to be changemakers, the new movers and groovers, and find what works for our own vision.

So, if you have people who take what you create and try it on as their own, my advice is to let them - don't try to fight a battle that isn't yours. The best thing you can do is stay true to your passion and purpose, and the rest will follow. And if you are reading this and things are ringing true for you because you may find yourself closely watching and comparing your vision to others, then take a moment to pause, find that thing inside of you that lights you up and terrifies you at the same time, and follow it. That is your calling, and you have everything already inside of you to make it happen.

It's the best thing I ever did for my brand, and for myself.

Love Chloe xo