We were lucky to catch up with Lacey Braden recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lacey , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Do you ever really overcome imposter sydrome? I think all creative people go through spells of self-doubt – especially when you go through a period of slow bookings or an inspiration drought. During these moments it is important for me to pull back from my social media intake. I try to find something that inspires me and create. If I indulge in too much scrolling, I find myself comparing myself to other incredible creators and further doubting myself.
it is important to have passion projects, that truly feed your soul. These projects give me the most self-confidence and fulfillment. They don’t pay the bills, but it’s where I find the most joy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a self-taught portrait photographer. I love people – photographing them, talking with them, and getting to know who they are. My goal is to capture the essence of my subjects.
In today’s world you don’t need formal training to become great, you need determination and drive. There are so many resources at our fingertips, we just have to access them and put them to work.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three things that make me successful at my photography career:
Organization: I have to be extremely organized to make sure that all of my emails are responded to, contracts are written, invoices are paid, social media is up to date, and deadlines are met.
Constant Growth: This is what sets you apart from the masses. You can’t get complacent, you have to constantly push yourself. There are infinite things to learn, whether it be in business, marketing, customer service, or equipment.
Dedication: Not every shoot is going to be amazing, you have to push through those tough moments. There are times when you will feel deflated and want to give up, but if you use those moments as learning tools you will only get better. I can’t tell you how many mistakes I have made, but I can tell you that I won’t make them again.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Celestine Prophecies is one of the most impactful books I have read. It talks about being mindful of coincidences. If someone crosses your path, or if you see a pattern, it has happened for a reason. It is up to you to figure out what that reason is. You either are supposed to impart some information or wisdom or the other party is supposed to do so for you. This has allowed me to interact differently with my clients. I see each client as an opportunity; an opportunity to help someone feel more self-assured and confident, to learn something that I don’t yet know, and to be a bright light in someone’s day.
The book also talks about being mindful of people’s energy and intentions. Some people will energize you and others will deplete you. You want to surround yourself with people who you energize and who in turn will energize you. This is very important for me; I need to be around other creatives who have the same vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: bradeneventphotography.zenfolio.com
- Instagram: be.photography__
- Facebook: Braden Event Photography
- Other: Wedding Website: bradeneventphotography.com
