Stage Fright

Lately I’ve been getting that gut-wrenching, knot-in-your-stomach anxious feeling before shoots. I can’t explain it, but it reminds me of growing up as a dancer.

I danced from the age of three until my early twenties. I remember the feeling right before I would go on stage of unparalled anxiety. I would think to myself, “why do I put myself through this?” or “this is the last time, never again”. But yet, I kept going. It was because I also remember the feeling after those performances of the most unmanufactured, unreplicable satisfaction I’ve ever experienced.

I’m starting to have these feelings again before shoots. The week leading up to I’ve got that stage fright feeling. That’s the thing about being in the arts. Your work is out there for the world to view, criticize and love.

This also made me think about life in general. The simplest way I can describe it is “no pain, no gain”. Sometimes we have to suffer through our own insecurities to find our own joy and happiness.

*This picture is with the one and only Sarah Shaw. I attribute her to be one of my greatest role models.