Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lindsey Kaiser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lindsey, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
“A rolling stone gathers no moss”. I remember seeing this saying somewhere when I was younger. It has stuck with me throughout my adult life. Seems simple on paper. You just gotta keep moving, right? But, I have come to find that adult life isn’t always so simple. Sometimes you lose motivation for something that once brought you so much joy. This “moss” can burden people, some more than others. For me, this saying means fear of stagnation. I fear standing still and letting my creativity die. So I try to always keep my stone rolling. I try to challenge myself in different ways. Try new things that intimidate me. I am still learning so many things in my own creative journey and I don’t ever want to feel like I have learned enough.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I come from a small town in southwest Missouri. I had a pretty typical childhood. I was homeschooled for most of my school career. I have found that there is a stereotype given to people who were homeschooled that is not always the most accurate. At least in my experience, people tend to think that homeschoolers are “weird” or lack social skills. I am fortunate in that my parents are very loving and intelligent and raised us(I have a bother and sister) with what I would call common sense values. Stuff like: treat others the way you want to be treated, if you want something then you need to work for it, and I have more or less used these values to guide my choices throughout my life. These things may seem simple but I feel more and more that these values are being lost in the noise of the world. I try to cultivate these values in how I create my art. There is beauty in simplicity and I try to capture that in my photography. No flashy edits, no changes with programs like photoshop. Not that there is anything wrong with that but I just try to capture a simple moment in time and let that tell my story.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I feel like technology can be a double edged sword. First, it is great because it makes things so accessible that used to be hard to reach. Knowledge is at your finger tips 24/7. This is the way I was able to teach myself. Watching videos on the internet and reading books. But, it can also be a detriment. Social media is such a driving force in this day and age that it can stifle someone who is just beginning their creative journey. Imposter syndrome is real and I have felt it many times. I believe everyone is capable and can learn the required skills in a certain area but I feel the main thing people should cultivate is their intuition. You know, that gut feeling you get when you create something and it just feels right. Create for yourself, not all the people on the internet. You will find the most enjoyment in your art when you are creating things that you feel from your heart. I have found that when you create from the heart it will touch other hearts and that, for me, is the impact of art.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
For me personally, my biggest challenge has been overcoming myself. You know the saying: “you are your own biggest critic.” Well, I feel like that has held me back in so many areas of my creative journey and I am sure many of you can relate. A while ago my barber asked me to take some pictures of him to post on his business social media accounts. This was a year or two ago and I accepted his request but I was nervous. I didn’t believe in myself, or my ability. Someone said something to me that really stuck with me. They said “he wouldn’t have asked you to take pictures for him if he didn’t like what you create.” It really boosted my confidence. Looking back, those pictures weren’t great because ultimately I let me insecurities get the best of me and I was still fairly novice at the time but that saying still sticks with me. The challenge of believing in yourself is a battle that most everyone can relate to. Don’t back down to that challenge. Strive to better yourself and believe in your abilities. Giving in to self doubt will ultimately make you miss opportunities to sharpen your skills thus growing your confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/_okaykaiser_/
- Instagram: @_okaykaiser_
Image Credits
All images taken by me
