The Perfectionism & Overthinking Trap

Five weeks into my Mandarin studies, my teacher said, “Taya, don’t be afraid. Just speak without thinking.” I already knew the fundamentals by then, but my fear of not pronouncing every word correctly kept getting in the way. Her comment awakened something inside of me, a kind of bravery that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Reading a single word is a simple task, but overthinking and perfectionism blow it out of proportion. 

That experience made me think about photography. How often do we wander in circles because we’re afraid of not taking the perfect photo? How often do we come up with excuses to not take photos because the conditions aren’t quite right? Our true intentions as artists are overshadowed by the terrifying idea of not being good enough. Even though this is a very human thing, it doesn’t have to be a part of our daily lives.

Perfectionism & Overthinking 

Overthinking and perfectionism are like best friends (or bullies) who push you around until every step you take is accompanied by the haunting echoes of criticism.

Perfectionism attaches one’s worth to an outcome. When you fail (especially in a situation where others often succeed), it’s easy to compare yourself to others and wonder if you’re ever going to reach your goals. 

Overthinking is defined as a cycle of repetitive and unproductive thoughts. Unproductive is the key word that separates thinking (coming up with ideas, analyzing your own photos, etc.) from overthinking. Thinking gives us the opportunity to learn and move forward, while overthinking stops us from taking action.

Thinking a lot can make you feel like you’re in control; if you’re in control, you might be able to take a perfect photo or avoid an embarrassing mistake. (Or so the fears claim.) However, what this ends up doing is stopping you from making any kind of progress at all. 

The Beauty of Having High Standards

In my opinion, it’s healthy to seek improvement and expect great things from yourself. High standards are your superpower. To avoid falling into the trap of perfectionism, it’s important to learn how to detect it. 

Notice which of these mindsets focuses on fear of judgment versus desire for improvement:

• I can’t post this photo because it’s not perfect and someone will notice every flaw.

• I want to edit this photo a little more before sharing so that it truly reflects what I intended.

• It’s not quite perfect yet.

• It could be closer to what I want.

Which of these phrases resonates with you the most? 

As you can see, high standards allow room for improvement without intensely focusing on perfection. They prioritize your personal creative vision and intuition. Perfectionism often feels like a never-ending loop of requests whose only goal is to create something, well, perfect. 

Fighting Isn’t the Answer

Letting go and not caring about anything isn’t the answer. Fighting these feelings won’t get you anywhere, either. If you find yourself overthinking about the overthinking, you’re not doing what truly matters: bringing your unique ideas to life through photography. 

Instead of fighting, just let those thoughts exist. Treat them like invitations you don’t have to accept. I know that this is easier said than done, but action is the answer. What if, instead of worrying about your next photoshoot, you just picked up your camera and photographed something that looked beautiful to you? What if you stopped thinking about past mistakes and experimented with a new genre of photography just because it ignited a small spark in you? 

When I stopped worrying about how I’d pronounce the next Chinese word on the page, I found myself enjoying the language even more. I just focused on my desire to learn the language. I stopped trying to justify everything to myself. I was present, and I leaned on my teacher for help when something didn’t make sense. This brings me to my next point…

Ask for Help

Photography is a language of its own, albeit a very personal one. Finding a supportive community that shares your vision can help you boost confidence and avoid the trap of perfectionism. Some photographers join weekly photo projects to improve their skills; weekly deadlines can help you make progress without getting stuck in overthinking. If you can, hire a photography mentor who can give you personalized feedback.

Whichever path you choose, don’t be afraid to ask for help. When I started taking photos, I asked people for guidance all the time. Not everyone responded, but a lot of people took the time to answer my questions and give me clarity. More often that not, they encouraged me to keep going when I lacked motivation or was frustrated about my gear. 

You don’t need to be a part of a big community. You don’t even need to be active on social media. It can be as simple as leaving a question under this post. It can be as easy as sharing your latest photos with a friend. 

Conclusion 

Sometimes, it really is as simple as telling yourself to not be afraid and to pick up your camera without thinking. When perfectionism tells you to wait, keep walking. When self-doubt tells you to stop, take another step forward. You don’t need to fight them. Just keep moving forward. 

“We are all living in cages with the door wide open.” 

— George Lucas