Meet T.J. Drechsel

We were lucky to catch up with T.J. Drechsel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi T.J., 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.

Imposter syndrome is a struggle as creatives develop their talent and vision for their passion. It happens when someone hasn’t fully found their voice in their work and still looks to their competition for direction and inspiration.

I’m a professional photographer. Earlier in my career I remember when it was just a hobby and the idea of doing it full time was my dream. I did what most creatives do and I emmulated the style of photographers I most looked up to. Over time I began to develop my skills by simply copying ideas and looks of those that inspired my the most.

I have memories of receiving less than favorable feedback from clients, and my work suffered as industry trends evolved. I was in a chapter of my career that I was searching for what I like to call, my true voice.

All creatives have to find the moments in their development when they go from mimicing others to finding their own identity in their work. The time when your work takes on it’s destined look and you find your own voice in your industry.

After a good 7-8 years of working my own editing look, I began to have people look at pictures and comment that they just knew it was a shot I had taken. In that time I had gone beyond the mimicing process to pushing the boundaries of what I was inspired to create. The reward was finding my own voice in my craft. That process wouldn’t have developed without the years of struggle it takes to hone in that inspired look. I think that is the true process every creative must go through. The struggle is what develops the reward.

I am always looking to better my craft and process but to have finally found my own voice took away the imposter syndrome and gave me confidence in my passion. I now readily encourage other creative to push their work to find their own look as well. Yes, mimicing your inspired heroes is part of the creatives process but at some point you have to push into your own signature look. When you do the world opens to you. It’s a beautiful process and you’ll never look back once you find it!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Photography is the power to freeze time and that’s my superpower! In a world of CGI and AI there are amazing enhanced and make-believe images created out there. We are only seeing the beginning of this. But one thing you’ll always hold on to as a human are actual places and times in your life. You either find a way to remember them through image or you, like me, will forget them. The power to document your life is in your hands. Hire a photographer, someone who has a style you dig. And get them to document your life. Freeze those special moments of your life!⁠
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I’m T.J. Drechsel, owner and operator of Drechsel Photography. It’s been a great journey helping my clients freeze time. I”m always honored to be part of this and it’s helped me understand the importance of captured life.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

“There are a few things that I believe are essential for a creative’s journey. Tenacity or drive is definitely a must. You’ve got to want to keep going and growing despite the ups and downs of success. Passion is another necessity. Without something that makes your soul come alive, you won’t have what it takes for the tougher times of the journey. Lastly, belief in yourself. You’ve got to be your own biggest fan. In some ways, recognition from the outside has to almost become unimportant in the journey. Believing in yourself gives you the motivation to push through many of the lessons of growth. It’s a great journey, but these are all crucial along the way to success.”

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

I think constant growth is sometimes a challenge for creatives but the whole purpose of a creative is a constant morphing. To find passion and movement forward has to include growth and progress forward. I think even after 15 plus years of experience I still look for ways and experiences to take my craft to new levels. There are always ways to do this and the process of it always aids in further creativity!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Two of the photos I added were taken by Hailey Faria Photography. Thank you.

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