Text by Michael Taborsky
Photography by Daniel Santalla
“The first time I thought about if I should call it quits, was last summer. I shot about 10 people within a week and was super stressed all the time. I asked myself, do I really want that kind of stress and let it ruin something I love? The week passed and everything was fine again. But lately I started asking myself, if I want to invest so much time and energy into something I always wanted as a career but hasn’t turned out to be more than just a hobby yet.
Recently, tried to analyse what could enable me to take the next step, not just getting better, but also make a living out of it. Of course, delivering the best images possible was the number one on that list, being critical I have to admit, I’m not where I want to be. But self marketing and networking was clearly a big point too. Even though there are quite a few people who like to work with me, it seems that a lot of important ones do not notice my work (or simply do not find it good enough).
Even though I still love photography, love the creative outlet and the people I met through that passion, I need to re-evaluate what I need to do. Quitting may not seem to be an option, but sometimes you might need to take a step back in order to take even more steps forward. If quitting photography, at least shooting fashion & beauty, does help me to go my way in other parts of my life, it might be the right choice.
For the moment, I will concentrate on shooting film, because it’s simple what I first fell in love with and take a break from fashion / beauty. The desire to create that kind of pictures might come back.”
1 comment
Creative burnout is real, and Michael Taborsky’s reflection on “taking a step back in order to take even more steps forward” resonates. He describes the stress of shooting “about 10 people within a week,” questioning whether the pressure should “ruin something I love,” and deciding to pause fashion/beauty to reconnect with what first mattered: shooting film. That honest re-evaluation—admitting “I’m not where I want to be,” recognizing the role of self‑marketing and networking, and choosing a simpler path to rediscover joy—feels like the kind of reset many teams and creatives need. When it’s time to reconnect, simple, human moments help; a few light activities can open conversation and ease the way back into the work. Try a set of easy icebreaker ideas here: icebreaker games.