We recently connected with Travis Harden and have shared our conversation below.
Travis , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is something I often come across working in the arts industry. Seeing other photographers and filmmakers work often leaves me wondering why I’m not working as much as them, or questioning if my work is as good. I don’t know if that ever fully goes away. However I think part of overcoming imposter syndrome is knowing that people are choosing you for a reason, they’ve seen your work and chosen to trust you for the job. The mindset I try to follow is even when you’re not busy it doesn’t mean that you’re doing anything wrong, it’s an opportunity for you to continue growing as an artist, practicing your craft and taking care of yourself.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
When I first started photography I had bought a camera for me and my friends to work on short films, I started learning how to use the camera by taking photos of landscapes, friends and family. The most exciting part of photography for me is getting to see and hear peoples reactions when they see their photos. So many people I’ve worked with say they don’t like being photographed because they don’t like the way they look in photos. I believe that everyone deserves a moment to feel beautiful, and I want to help show people the beauty that I, and everyone else, sees in them.
I still continue to work on filmmaking as well. Part of what makes filmmaking so fun for me is the collaboration involved in telling stories. Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, everyone on set gets to bring their talents together to help make something brand new.
As well as working for myself, I recently finished my first year as a photography teacher at an arts high school. When I first started teaching photography it was a great way to keep myself in the arts world when work was slow. It then grew into a job I ended up loving. Being able to help teach a generation of artists has been very rewarding, one of the greatest feelings each day at work is that I get to see and help others follow and develop their passions.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important qualities and skills that impacted my journey were determination, learning how to work effectively with others and a willingness to continue learning.
Determination is something I believe is essential for any artist, whether its photography, filmmaking or any other form of art your days are filled with long hours of work which doesn’t stop when you get home. Some days it feels like your always on the clock, which can be tiring, but it’s very rewarding knowing you get to follow your dreams.
Working effectively with others is another beneficial skill. With filmmaking, the final product is made together as a team, if you can’t all work together then slowly the project starts to fall apart and won’t turn out as good as it can be. But if you all work together, sort through any problems that arise and combine your talents you can help to create something beautiful. In photography your always working with new clients, as the photographer you need to learn how to talk effectively to your clients, people have to trust you and your work if they are going to work with you, effectively working with others will help you to hone this skill . You also need to be able to talk people through any moments where they may feel uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Working in both film and photography there is always something new you have to learn. New skills and practicing your craft will only help make your work better. With both of these jobs learning how to use the camera is incredibly important, however they aren’t the only skills you need. As you continue to work you need to learn about lighting, sound, composition, editing, and how to run a business among other skills.
The biggest piece of advice I would give people early in their journey is no matter what path you are choosing, your drive, confidence and a passion to continue growing will only help grow you into a better artist.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m always looking for people to partner and collaborate with! Working with new people has led me to many great friendships with people who share the same passions. Not only that but you can also help each other learn new skills and grow together in a community that’s very hard to get in to. The people I’m looking to collaborate with are people who genuinely enjoy what they are doing, are dedicated to their craft and know how to have fun on the job while also making sure we are able to get our jobs done. If you want to connect you can find me on social media or through my email!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://travisharden.com
- Instagram: travisharden56
- Facebook: High Tide Media
- Youtube: hightidemedia56
Image Credits
Headshot: Marial Larocque
Others: Travis Harden
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
