We recently connected with Oliver Endahl and have shared our conversation below.
Oliver, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Confidence is a big issue in the arts world. Being a professional photographer who’s been shooting for close to 15 years, I’ve encountered and collaborated with every genre of artist. (Dancers, singers, actors, painters, bakers, interior designers, writers, skateboarders, etc..) A theme I often see with every genre of artist, is a lot of them suffer from lack of confidence and lack of validation.
When I started out in my journey as a photographer, I was coming off of being a professional ballet dancer. I think every dancer can relate; it’s a brutally tough transition to stop dancing ballet and change careers. It doesn’t matter at what age or at what point in your career you stop, it’s difficult to find your footing. So when I started photography, my confidence was all over the place.
Validation is such a huge factor for us artists. We put so much effort into the work we create, and if we’re met with no response, that can be very mentally challenging. (And if we’re met with very little response again and again, that can be disheartening and cause us to think that our artistic self doesn’t hold any value.) Here’s the thing with validation though, in the long run, it’s fleeting and irrelevant. If you’re able to create work that you yourself are proud of and interested in, then that’s what’s most important.
The visual internet and social media were just beginning when I started out shooting, so the industry was very different. Firstly, there was no other dance photographers on Instagram at that point, and there was definitely no dancers/models/actors trying to be influencers. It was just regular people posting and enjoying images. (Which is extremely different from how social media is nowadays) My images on Instagram went viral again and again and again, because there was no work like mine on the internet at all, and that feedback of having thousands of people validate my artistic vision was definitely satisfying, and definitely helped boost my confidence back then. However, it doesn’t matter what the number of “likes” your work is getting, you start comparing your work to others, and previous numbers that you’ve received. So even though my photos were getting a large response, I felt like it was never enough. They could always go further and get even more “likes” and give me even more validation, and that’s where the trap is. As an artist, there is never a point where the validation you receive will be enough.
It’s especially difficult in our era of social media and the attention economy, but the validation we look for as artists must come from within. If you’re always hunting for validation to create your confidence, you will probably never find it. If you’re an artist and you create work, then that’s it. Embrace your own uniqueness, your own vision, trust your own instinct, and that’s your confidence. Only you yourself can embrace that you are worthy of the validation you deserve.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Oliver Endahl. A former professional ballet dancer, and the photographer of the ongoing art project “Ballet Zaida”
With over a decade in dance experience, I know the proper technique, aesthetics and also the daily ins and outs of the life of a ballet dancer. I was an early adaptor to Instagram and was the first dance photographer on the network.
On top of ballet photography I also photograph editorial, celebrity, portraits, fashion and more.
My photos have been featured in a variety of publications including; Vogue, Cosmopolitan, People Magazine, Marie Claire, Elle, Esquire, Los Angeles Patch, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Thrive Magazine, Vegan Health and Fitness, The Thirty, Alive Magazine, Nation A list Magazine and more.
I recently launched my new online Zine, where I showcase my latest dance photography work in high resolution with information about the shoots and the dancers I work with. Located at: https://balletzaida.com/zine
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
3 extremely important skills/qualities/knowledge bits are;
1. Being able to interact socially in a variety of different settings.
One of the most useful skills you can have in any industry is the ability to socially interact with people in any social setting. In order to do this effectively, you have to know a little about a lot of different subjects. So I always encourage people to step outside their comfort zone and learn something new, keep an open mind and try not to impose judgement.
2. Practice self care.
Most of us see the word “self care” and think of something like hanging out in a jacuzzi or getting a massage, but true “self care” actually comes in a huge amount of forms. Including, creating a daily routine for yourself that creates stability, and also getting yourself to do things that you sometimes don’t want to do. (Like taking care of your house, doing chores like cleaning, etc..) While we might not have the motivation to do these things, they can greatly increase our mental health through satisfaction of taking care of yourself and the place you live.
3. Be passionate and quirky.
This is huge, not just for career, but for life. Every human loves to hear someone speak who is passionate about something. (And the subject itself doesn’t matter. You could be passionate about the weirdest thing ever, if you speak with passion, people will love to hear you talk) And don’t be afraid to embrace your own quirky self. One of my favorite sayings is “Everyone loves quirky” because they really do.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When feeling overwhelmed, the thing I always come back to is the breath. Just focusing on my breathing grounds me and slows down my mind, body and heart. It always gets me back to my center.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://balletzaida.com/zine
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/balletzaida
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/oliverendahl
Image Credits
All photos by me. The dancers are;
Black and white photo with water – Briana Baldovinos
Dancer laying on her back on a white cyc-wall – Sydney Tyra
2 dancers in a photo studio – Ella and Rachel Bullock
Dancer on the beach – Kayla Incontro
Dancer in white in the park – June Freeman
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
