As the holiday season unfolds, Three Pod Studio celebrates its third business anniversary behind the scenes. I rarely bring this up, but moving to Finland left me with one, stressful yet motivating option: if it will not work out, I'll probably lose everything in the process. After a complete reset of my personal life, I took the chance to build new foundations for future successes. Starting almost everything from scratch was daunting, but here I am, 3 years from establishing my business in a new country, 5+ years from when I stepped onto a professional path, and 9 years from the genesis of the Holy Whisk Blog in 2016 - where all of this started. Despite the setbacks caused by moving between countries, COVID, war, and recession, I've managed to keep myself on my desired path and continue my creative journey towards personal and professional growth.
Celebrating this milestone, I brought you a wildly inspiring episode where 83 talented creators and I will share the one thing that helped us the most. If you are hungry to learn about another subjects, make sure to check the previous episodes of the Pro Tips blog series here.
I like to celebrate these anniversaries by giving, so please find my special gift voucher below that aims to support YOUR creative growth - if you have any questions, please send a message or DM.
What was the best advice they ever got as a creator?
Before you scroll any further, grab a slice of cake to snack on and get ready to dive into this inspiring read!
"Nobody ever gave me any advice! But the best advice that I would give would be to always have fun and enjoy the process, because it shows in the pictures that you´re doing what you like and it makes a difference."
Sophie Depetris - photographer, stylist
"You will never be happy if you do things the way you think others expect you to do them."
Anja Burgar - commercial and editorial food photographer
"Just get started, you don’t have to know it all."
Kristina Cadelina - food photographer, blogger
"Be willing to say no to jobs you don't really want. If you keep saying yes to jobs that don't push you in the right direction creatively or move your career forward, then you will keep getting offered those jobs. Also, even if you are shooting a poorly paid job, give it your best and invest the time and effort in making an image that looks much better than the budget indicates. You never know if that image could opens doors to something better."
Mikkel Jul Hvilshøj - photographer
"Know your worth, then add tax!"
Melissa - photographer, blogger
Photo by © Jason Wain
"Licensing. Besides charging for the photoshoot, charge for the usage rights of the images."
Kamile Kave - photographer
"Be yourself!"
Sari Spåra - entrepreneur, food and wine photographer, recipe creator
"As a creator, the best advice is to avoid comparing your work with others. Instead, find inspiration and fuel your creativity by engaging with the world around you. Spend time in nature, visit museums and exhibitions, and immerse yourself in literature. Let these experiences stimulate your imagination and guide your unique creative."
Peggy Cormary - photographer
"
"Personal projects are what make you grow as a photographer"
This was by far the best advice I ever got. Take the time to do some weird side projects that you are okay with never publishing and just experiment. Take the pressure off yourself, learn and have fun at the same time."
Snorri Guðmundsson - photographer, recipe developer, product development manager in the food industry
"There are probably many, as I try to choose carefully my advisors :)
Here is one: In the era when a lot is digitalized, automated, templated and can be bought cheap, the most important is to create original work and be a problem solver. I think we will watch more and more how the positive odd makes a real difference. That pushes the world forward."
Milena Ugrinova (Mim) - food and product photographer
"Be patient. It comes when it comes and you can't force it. The time you put into it makes it worth it in the end, or so I hope ;-) "
Maaike Zaal - food- and beverage photographer
"Don't compare yourself to others. It's a sure way to undermine your own confidence and you'll find you waste hours looking at what you perceive other people are having success with and wondering why, despite your efforts, it's not happening for you. Instead focus on working hard and creating great content."
Jane Coupland - food photographer, food blogger
"If anyone recognises your style, then change it."
Matt Wilson - photographer
Photo by © Matt Wilson
"Shoot the light first then the subject."
Jules Wilson-Haines - photographer, stylist
"Imposter syndrome is common in creatives - believe in what you do."
Sandy Wood - photographer
"Practice. Play around with your gear (camera, lights and software), do it over and over."
Andrea Köver - food photographer
Photo by © Andrea Köver
"Keep learning: keep learning how light works, keep learning about composition, angles, colors, main subject and everything involved in the process of creating a visual context. And don't be afraid to make mistakes, because thanks to mistakes you will grow."
Anna Ilieva-Alikaj - photographer
"Knowing your true passion starts in your childhood."
Natalia Ashton - nutritionist, photographer, author
"One advice that iI heard early on that still rings in my mind is that you should always have a moral purpose for doing something. Not because it makes you money, famous, gets you more followers, but something beyond that. For me it has always been to help local restaurant improve their online content to get more business for them. This has always been at my core and its something that I always put first when I meet a new customer."
Robert Alvarez - photographer
"Don't try to be everything to everyone. Separate your commercial and creative work as they require two different mindsets."
Leeanne Mason - food photographer, photo chef, food stylist, content creator
Photo by © Leeanne Mason
"Not afraid of loosing. Dont' ask when you're not told. Let clients come to you instead."
Victor Chin - food photographer
Photo by © Victor Chin
"Don't be dissuaded by the 'no's' and rejection, you are 1 in a billion people there will be a yes in there :) "
Emilie Dorange - photographer, designer
"The best advice, if I have to choose, was 'to stop comparing yourself, your work, your progress, etc., to others.' It is a deadly loop."
Kata Endrődi - photographer
"Keep working and improve yourself always! If you stop working you get lazy. The most difficult part always starts pedalling the bike."
Tibor Galamb - photographer, director
Photo by © Tibor Galamb
"It takes 100 No's before you get 1 Yes. Keep trying and put yourself out there. The worst thing they can say is No thank you."
Mary Turner - commercial food photographer, stylist, chef
"Do the work and keep showing up. Be consistent. And take a break when you need to; your ideas and inspiration can arise when you're on a walk or doing another activity unrelated to photography."
Emily Miller - food photographer, recipe developer
"Do not sell yourself short. Not everyone can do what you do and you deserve clients that will value your skills."
Murielle Banackissa - food photographer, food stylist, cookbook author and blogger
Photo by © Murielle Banackissa
"Every day try to learn something new."
Nicolas Newmark - professional photographer
"Whatever you do, be true to yourself, don't try to do what others do, be genuine."
Karen Loza - food photographer and stylist
"If you have a creative block, take your time and find inspiration from everything around you. Forcing creativity when it's not there will burn you out in the end."
Ulrica Krii - photographer, blogger
"Believe in your work! We as creators are often our own worst critics and insecure sometimes, and that is okay. But don't let that sabotage you and your work. If you are really not good in what you do, you wouldn't have clients or a business."
Anoeska Vermeij - photographer
Photo by © Anoeska Vermeij
"Done is better than perfect. Start creating, put yourself and your work out there before you feel ready, because you'll never feel ready. Growth and change happen in doing, not in needlessly perfecting things behind the scenes."
Joanie Simon - photographer
"Just keep on going. When you doubt yourself, keep on going. The only difference between those who fail and the ones that succeed, is that one never gave up the pursuit towards their ultimate dream."
Aline Ponce & Mike Hulswit - professional photographers
"We are creatives and produce art pieces, but most of us also live from the client works. Paid by clients who have specific ideas of what kind of images they want. In this sense, what we create is more like an "applied art". We have to prepare ourselves to take criticism about our work, and be willing to change things. Only those who produce images for themselves face no criticism. But that's not really the real life. Also we have to accept that our job, photography or styling, as any kind of art, is very subjective, not everybody will like it. If you find the fine line between serving your client and be true to your style, that's a win."
Susi Bálint - stylist, photographer, writer
"It can sound strange, but in my case, the most important thing was to know how to paint pictures. If you know painting pictures you are familiarized to choose colours, be patient, find the best position of the object."
Emese Balog - food blogger
"Personality and how business is conducted are important". While technical skills and artistic talent are undoubtedly crucial, the manner in which I engage with clients, collaborators, and the industry at large significantly impacts my success. Building and maintaining positive relationships, demonstrating professionalism in all interactions, and cultivating a strong work ethic contribute not only to client satisfaction but also to my overall reputation within the creative community."
Maxine Lock - photographer
locklickimages.com.au
Photo by © Maxine Lock
"Don't judge yourself by someone else. It's not a race."
Sam Robson - food photographer
"This is such a hard question to answer as I’m the product of so much I’ve absorbed from so many wonderful creatives, it’s hard to think of one thing. I think planning a shoot makes a huge difference to the outcome. I remember Bea Lubas saying she often set up her studio shots the day before so she is ready to work straight away. It’s a piece of advice that works really well whenever I apply it! I chose this as I have to make myself plan. It doesn’t come naturally to me - I am generally horribly spontaneous! Hence trips to shops mid shoot. See question about planning a shot."
Birgit Mayled - photographer
"Stick to your guns and do not undersell yourself, know your worth."
Dorothy Porker - food writer, photographer
"No matter what you create, don't make it look fake. Whether it is a composition, the editing or the colours, don't create something that doesn't look real. A viewer is transported into the scene when they relate to it, if the creation looks fake it will not strike an emotion in the viewer."
Dyutima Jha - food photographer, food stylist, podcaster
"
"You should do food photography."
I have been working as a chef since I was 15 years old... and now 18 years later I gave it up for full-time photography."
Maurizio Previti - photographer
"The best advice I have ever been given is to never stop learning. Constant development, experimentation and the pursuit of quality create your uniqueness as a creator."
Halyna Vitiuk - food photographer
"Keep yourself inspired by exploring different scenarios, following other food photographers, and engaging with various forms of art. Inspiration can come from unexpected places and keep your creativity flowing."
Alessandra Zanotti - food photographer, food stylist
Photo by © Alessandra Zanotti
"Do not compare yourself and your results with others."
Elisa Marina Orani - food photographer
myfoodidays.com
"Always experiment and develop your style, it will make you recognisable."
Mihails Pavlenko - food and product photographer
"You do you. Keep an open eye and a calm mind."
Shwetha Elaina - food photographer and stylist
"Practice and take your time to learn and do not compare your journey with others, and know your worth and value you add / bring to the table"
Anjala Fernando - food photographer, food stylist
"Never let social media or likes stop you from creating. Create for the love of photography."
Gouthami Yuvarajan - food and product photographer
"Keep trying and experimenting."
Anisa - photographer, recipe developer
"Be confident and don't listen to people who haven't achieved success themselves."
Monika Grudzińska - photographer, food stylist
"You don’t take good pictures, you make them."
Veera Rusanen - photographer
"Pour your heart out in the project."
Sangita Bhavsar - food blogger, photographer, stylist
"It’s going to be tough and difficult but you can do it."
Massiel Zadeh Habchi - food photographer and stylist
"Stay honest and authentic."
Carolin Strothe - professional photographer, food stylist, stylist, art director, author
"Not every shoot can be the best. It's ok to create and not have it be your best photo. The main thing is to experiment and accept that creation is something fluid. Lowering your expectations allows you to create with more ease and gives you space to experiment."
Constance Ibañez - food stylist, food photographer, food event creator
Photo by © Constance Ibañez
"
"Trust the process"
is my mantra however dull that may sound. When you have a vision but don't know what to do exactly to achieve it, starting anywhere and with whatever is the key and eventually the process will take you there and beyond."
Saara - photographer
"Nothing is original, but how we interpret and digest things makes us uniquely creative."
M. Aimee Tan - food photographer, videographer, stylist, content creator, recipe developer
"Be consistent. It’s not the big rush of work once that makes a difference, but small sustained steps over a period of time."
Lauren Short - food photographer
"Create a welcome guide and portfolio to send to potential clients, this helped me a lot to show myself professionally."
Marika Cucuzza - food photographer, content creator, recipe developer, food stylist
"I doesn’t matter how hard it is - never give up - because there is no greater happiness then being able to do what you love."
Liliána Tóth - food photographer
Photo © Liliána Tóth
"Never compare yourself with others, only with yourself from the past! What is important is your personal path of progress, change and learning. Other people will always be at a different stage and some of them will be way ahead of you. This does not mean that you should not work and create!"
Katarzyna Anders - food and product photographer and stylist, recipe developer, content creator, blogger
"There has been many but one of my favorites still is - Don't take yourself too seriously and make sure you have fun doing what you do. It always translates into our work when we do something we love. When you notice you're not loving it as much, check in with yourself.
- Are you a bit lost in the assignment and need to ask more questions?
- Are you not getting paid enough and believe your value is higher?
- Do you feel stuck in a rut and need a break to recover your creativity?
- Do you not see yourself being on the right path and need to make some changes?
Follow your gut as much as your head and be open to new projects that you still need to learn new skills for - this is how you'll get a chance to grow. If it scares you, don't just run away. Your fear may just be a sign that there is space for growth. Give it your best try before you make your decision."
Andrea Gralow - professional commercial and editorial food photographer, videographer
"Be you! Having your own style as a content creator will separate you from the rest of the world."
Indrajeet Nishad - food photographer and stylist
"Shift your mindset away from thinking you're creating "art". Clients don't want to hire you simply because your photos are beautiful, but because they want your photos to sell their product/service."
Julia Wharington - photographer, videographer, stylist
"To trust in my own style and aesthetic eye."
Jella Bertell - food blogger, photographer
"As a creator, the best advice is to embrace iteration and learning from each experience. Understand that the creative process involves constant refinement and growth. Don't fear mistakes; see them as opportunities to evolve and refine your craft. Stay open to feedback, stay curious, and approach challenges with a mindset of continuous improvement."
Anna Janecka - photographer, food stylist
"To not look to trends and what others are doing but focus on developing your own food photography style. We tend to try emulating the photographers whose work we admire but it doesn't really work because our artistic voice is already inside of us. It's made up of our passions, experiences, memories dreams and desires. It’s our interpretation of the world. When you focus on what is unique to you, that is actually how you stand out and attract an audience that loves what you do."
Darina Kopcok - food photographer, educator
Photo by © Darina Kopcok
"It is about mindset. Allow yourself to have good and bad days. Both will happen. Creativity cannot be pushed but it can be nourished. Be gentle to yourself on your journey. Compare your work only to your previous work. Do not compare yourself to the work of others. Everyone has its own struggles. Try not to compare but to be inspired. If that doesn't work, try sourcing your inspiration from other aspects of art and not from the creators with similar work to you."
Mojca Klepec - food photographer
"The best time to take action is now. Don't wait for the perfect moment. Continuous improvement happens while you're actively engaged in the process. Progress comes from doing and refining, so make the most of the present moment to improve."
Melinda Bernáth - food photographer
"If you can imagine it, you can create it."
Anita Zivkovic - food photographer, photography coach
Photo by © Anita Zivkovic
"The best advice I have ever received as a creator is to take a step back from what I want to capture in an image and to give the shapes, ingredients and idea I want to express more space."
Terri Salminen - blogger, food culture researcher
"Don’t overthink the likes and followers. Instagram has its own algorithm and you don’t necessarily need to beat it as long as you’re consistently making business using your skill set."
Yashaswita - photographer
dashoflime.co
"When you're new, act like you belong. The client expects you to have opinions, so if you're not familiar with whatever it is, just say what you think looks good, what's pleasing to your idea and creative mind."
David Pahmp - commercial advertising photographer
"Frame for the camera not your eyes, as the camera perspective is most likely different than our eyes, so I always frame the shot in the viewfinder or the camera’s back screen."
Dina Hassan - food photographer, videographer
Photo & BTS by © Dina Hassan
"From my mentor “Fake it, until you make it” and I always remember when I get approached and asked to do something new as a content creator."
Monika Jonaite - food- and product photographer, food stylist, recipe developer
"The copy+paste implementation of others' services and processes is like trying to finish your puzzle with a piece from another box - it will never work. Unlearning is just as important as learning something new. Don't let unfit advice, old habits and untested assumptions shape the future of your business - you are allowed to change direction."
Reka Csulak - photographer, mentor
Photo by © Reka Csulak
