We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abbey Friedman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Abbey, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Take breaks!! I learned the hard way that pedal-to-the-metal for so long can cause long term burn out. I used to always believe that I was “unworthy” of time off because I wasn’t creating what I was envisioning, but that break was what I needed to start creating my visions! I suffered from burn out Spring and Summer of 2022, and finding my creativity again in April of this year was such a blessing. The journey to relighting the spark was hard, but the end result was beyond worth it.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a photographer, content creator, social media manager, and I am learning graphic design currently. I love the creativity I pull from my daily tasks, and I love the journey of pulling inspiration from seemingly mundane things. Whenever I feel myself losing focus or temporary interest, I take a break from my computer and camera and work on a passion project! Currently, I am getting back on my motorcycle, and reading through my never ending “to be read” list. I am also working with 4 models to set up some really cool upcoming photo shoots.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Open to criticism and learning, a good sense of focus, and YouTube/film school were three resources I benefitted the most from in the early stages of my journey. I was blessed to go to film school for my degree, but YouTube has been such a great resource since my college days. I never open my laptop without having a notebook and pen nearby just in case I need to look up a tutorial. Never be too confident in your skills; you can know everything and still learn something new.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My dad has been my #1 support since he put a camera in my hands when I was 5 years old. He’s been there through every monumental moment for my creative career, and he has pushed me to create in areas I never would’ve imagined. My mom has been there for me in background by helping me set up my businesses. Any foundational questions I have regarding my businesses, she has been there to answer. Both of my parents have given me opportunities of my lifetime and have pushed me to step up to those I was afraid of in the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.abbeytookthisphoto.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/abbeytookthis
