why patience is photography’s secret ingredient
It's been said so many times before, but it's worth saying again: Mastery Takes Time...
This week on The Mood Podcast, I spoke with Josiah Gordon, a photographer and filmmaker who has built a creative career rooted in adventure, introspection, and a strong philosophy about the art of patience. Josiah shared his journey into photography—how he spent years experimenting, failing, and finding his voice, all while pushing the limits of his creativity. For him, the key takeaway is clear: mastery takes time, and there are no shortcuts to reaching your potential as an artist.
For me, I'm still on that journey, as are most of us, but there is no doubt in my mind - having tried many shortcuts - that having patience with consistency, and consistency with patience, is vital to not only success and this thing called 'mastery', but also fulfillment, purpose and yes, I'll say it, 'happiness'....
“"If you want to be great at something, you have to give your time to it. Real life-changing, world-changing, industry-changing creativity and understanding only come through experience. It's that simple.”
Nowadays, the illusion for, or pressure of instant success and the allure of short-form content are reshaping expectations around creative pursuits. Too often, photographers and artists feel pressured to constantly create and share online, sometimes sacrificing depth for the quick, ‘viral’ post. But as Josiah pointed out, this shift can lead to burnout, frustration, and a sense of disillusionment among artists who feel their work is valued more for its engagement metrics than its craft. Furthermore, it devalues the process and often the quality of the art and voice of the artist itself. Just because you get something blow up online does it mean you've mastered the craft? Of course not, but it's understanding why one might think it so...
We argue that true, meaningful art can only be mastered through time - failing many times, learning who you are, learning what you truly believe in, stand for and speak for.
Josiah’s advice to budding artists is to ground themselves in their passion, view creativity as a muscle, and resist the pull of instant gratification. Easier said that done, right?
But here’s how he recommends navigating this minefield:
Focus on Long-Term Projects: Rather than chasing quick wins, commit to projects that push your skills and vision over time. Think about creating a series or working on a photo book that encapsulates your best work, regardless of how many “likes” it might receive today.
Engage with Your Craft: Whether it’s learning a new technique or diving deep into post-production, spend time refining your craft offline. Mastery is a slow process, and understanding your creative voice can’t be rushed.
Build a Creative Routine: Set aside consistent, dedicated time each week for your art. This helps build muscle memory, sparks new ideas, and brings long-term growth that won’t be defined by social media’s trends.
Take a day to shoot just for yourself, explore a theme, or go through past works to see your growth.
Apply this week’s insight: Choose one project or skill you’ve been wanting to explore and commit to spending dedicated time on it over the next month. Embrace the patience that comes with mastery, and see where it leads. And of course, let me know how it goes!
Don’t forget to watch/listen to the full episode with Josiah for more insights on all of this and much more. What an incredible artist and guest he is, and I thank him so much for joining me.
Happy Shooting,
