Photographers: Share Your Projects Less and Create More

March 9, 2026

Sharing ideas is natural—we all want validation. But in Creative R&D, the wrong feedback at the wrong time can actually stop photographers from executing their best experiments. In this episode, Rich Johnson shares why you should be intentional about who you share your creative projects with, and how echo chambers of empty praise can slow real progress.

Rich introduces the science behind this challenge through the Social Reality Effect, a psychological phenomenon where announcing goals publicly creates a false sense of accomplishment before the work is done. That small hit of pride can reduce motivation and make creatives less likely to follow through.

Instead of broadcasting every idea online, photographers are encouraged to build a creative council—a small group of trusted mentors and peers who ask better questions, challenge your thinking, and help refine your work. With quarterly check-ins and honest accountability, you can keep your creative fire focused and turn experiments into finished projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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