Dear Jasmine,
I've been watching your 30 Day photography bootcamp and I have to admit that the hardest thing for me isn't the technical part of photography, it's the other stuff. I see you're good at business and helping others get successful, but I have a hard time believing in myself. Most days I know I'm a good photographer, but maybe clients aren't coming to me because I give off the air that I am not a professional? Or maybe that I'm not confident?
I have friends and family who support me, but why can't I believe in myself?
Sincerely,
The Unbeliever

Dear Unbeliever,
I have to stop you right there. Yup, hold your horses, cowboy. If I take you at your word, you have a solid support structure and talent, but you can't find faith in your ability to succeed. But allow me to rephrase the same sentiment: You don't believe in yourself because you might be more afraid of failing than you want success.

In all honesty, you must choose between safety and risk. Risk means getting your work criticized online…risk means the possibility of unhappy clients…risk means admitting your technique needs to improve. It's easy to sit in the comfort of hoping your luck will change, but luck favors the hustlers…YOU must take charge and be the one to change it.

And that's the hard part. Change. Change means that struggle will be an ever-present force in your life…the more you change, the more you struggle. But the struggle is part of success. I have yet to meet a successful person who didn't struggle and take deep personal risks at the beginning. It sounds to me like your risks are being confident (even when you don't feel like you are) and believing in yourself (even when you don't). If that's the case, then you simply need to start acting like the person you want to become, and it'll lead into it becoming a reality.

Confidence is born from the mustard-seed faith of chance and belief, so get to work. Start risking to become the photographer you know you are. Your friends and family will support you…and so will I.

Don't Stop Believing,
j*

p.s. I added a photo from a recent wedding where the bride and groom to singing along to Journey's Don't Stop Believin' because it seemed appropriate 😉