One thing I’ve learned over the years is to stop watching what your supposed competition is doing. I pay no attention to what the photographer down the street is doing. I am genuinely happy for them and will refer projects that I do not specialize in. I seek inspiration from outside my environment. I look to art, high fashion and am often inspired by the most random things. There is so much beauty and inspiration in old art and photography books, Yusuf Karsh and Gordon Parks are some of my favourites. Ultimately my goal as a portrait photographer is to make magazine quality images for everyday people.
I hope this inspires you to forget about what others are doing and find what it is that inspires you.
Xo,
Gina Ayanna