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.”
2 comments
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.
Beautiful post about quitting and starting fresh. It takes courage to make big changes in life. Speaking of new beginnings, I’ve been learning chemistry with this amazing AI tool that breaks down concepts step by step. Really helpful for anyone studying chemistry! https://chemistryai.chat/