Switching Lenses: Why Exploring Other Passions Can Refill Your Creative Tank

A filmmaker stands at a crossroads, holding a camera and a film reel, symbolizing choices in the creative journey.

As creatives, we often think our main craft is the only lane we can drive in. But here’s the truth: if you run the same creative engine without refueling, you will stall out.

For me, photography has been my main creative tank for years. It’s been the business, the breadwinner, the thing people know me for. But before I was known for capturing still moments, I was chasing moving ones. Film was my first love—and even now, my photography still tries to mimic it. I call my style cinema fashion because everything, from my color grading to my shot compositions, is inspired by storytelling through motion.

How I Got Here

A person stands thoughtfully with a camera, surrounded by icons of film and mobile technology, symbolizing the intersection of photography and modern media.

When I started, I wasn’t following some well-lit road to film school. I didn’t have YouTube tutorials, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or the kind of access creatives have now. I grew up in an era where film felt distant—like something only Hollywood could touch.

Then came the iPhone 4 era. A friend asked me to shoot a movie. I had no idea how to shoot a movie, but I had the curiosity and drive to figure it out. Around that time, I was dabbling in visual effects, experimenting with whatever software I could get my hands on.

But as photography became my career focus, film slowly moved to the background—though it never left completely. Every shoot I’ve done has had little traces of it, from cinematic lighting choices to the way I frame my subjects.

When the Creative Bank Runs Low

A tired man works late on his laptop, illustrating burnout, as a low battery symbol represents his exhaustion.

Fast forward to now: my photography tank is running on low tide. Not because I don’t love it, but because any creative craft—no matter how much you adore it—can burn you out if it’s the only thing you feed.

So I’m doing something different: I’m going back to film.Not abandoning photography, but rediscovering the part of my creativity that’s been sitting quietly in the corner, waiting for its cue.

Why You Need to Explore Other Creative Lanes

A person stands thoughtfully beside a branching path of creative pursuits, represented by icons of art, music, and photography, reflecting on a laptop across the room.

Here’s the lesson: you can be loyal to your main craft and still give yourself permission to pursue others.

• It refreshes your perspective. When you step away from your main lane, you come back with new ideas and energy.

• It keeps you evolving. You might discover techniques or skills that crossover—like how my film-inspired color grading enhances my photography.

• It reignites your excitement. Sometimes you don’t need to quit—you just need to switch lenses.

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My Challenge to You

A person in vibrant colors confidently ascends a staircase against a bold yellow backdrop, symbolizing determination and progress.

If you’ve been feeling drained in your creative work, ask yourself:

• What’s the other thing I’ve always wanted to do?

• What passion have I put on the back burner?

• How can I give myself time to explore it without guilt?

Your creativity is a bank—and every new experience, every side passion, every skill you develop outside your main lane is a deposit.

When the tide runs low, you’ll be glad you have another source to pull from.

🎥 If you’re a fellow creative balancing multiple passions—whether it’s photography and film, hair and makeup, or painting and design—drop a comment and tell me how you keep your creative tanks full.