001 - Embracing a Season of Change

If you are reading this, then thank you for even clicking on this little piece of writing that will be a weekly update from my home studio). I have an audiobook “A Magic Steeped in Poison” (Judy Lin) and it is helping to keep my focus during the workday. I have been embracing all of the changes that is currently happening and try my best to ease into it. So in this weekly edition (to be named still) – I’ll be talking about my creative process, all of the things I am working on and journaling. I’ll also be sharing what I am working on this month. 

I also plan to do a book review of The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin because a part of the book helped me to develop a self care routine and good, effective habits. I started to read more books this year, I had purchased a few books and have an audiobook subscription. I also found my library card so I’ll be headed there later this week. 

Create habits that sustain the life you want to live in the future 

Late last year, my sister gifted me a new planner from Archer & Olive and I gravitated towards using it daily with my collection of markers, washi tape and stationary. The end of last year I had promised myself that I would change how I lived my life and I am sticking to it this year. So I have written down each month goals and habits I want to focus on. 

Last month I had a goal to create a morning routine, healthier creative habits and to journal and meditate before the day started. It also has not been the most successful and most days I forget to drink water until I get into bed and guzzle down a large 80 oz of water sitting next to my side of the bed. Little by little my daily habits get better and my morning routine is much smoother. 

Every morning I journal and write down everything that I been contemplating lately. I have a few books for my different kinds of journal. I have a blue book for therapy and to write down deep thoughts and to get things off my chest. My white book is for loosely writing daily tasks and things I need to remember and I was gifted a self-care journal to keep track of my goals and habits that will promote a more safer space to creatively work. I feel that every thought and emotion have a purpose and with the journals dedicated to the different parts of my life. I can give the task at hand my full focus and attention. 

My Creative Process - 2024 

Creative Process - Weekly Schedule

The best way that I have found to actually being able to set myself up for a good day is to have an hour where I take to myself. I usually have that page open throughout the day to stay focused on the tasks at hand. Then tackle the work day ahead. So here’s how that will look:

Mondays — Meeting Days: These are days I sit down at my desk in my studio and knock out meetings (general, production, team huddles) and then do a lot of admin and marketing.

Tuesdays — Planning Days: These are days where I plan out content or scripts for campaigns and events. I also do a lot of documentation for any live music event that I shoot for. Then I take it and make it a digital format so I can have it accessible when I am out in the field.

Wednesdays & Thursdays — Field and Production Days: These are days when I take those scripts or content curations and head on “location” to film footage and/or photograph spaces. I spend two days just getting all of the production done so I can come back to the studio to do a day of post-production. It also gives me the freedom to try creative angles or direction on what project or campaign I am running that week.

Fridays — Post Production Days: This is the day where I spend at least 8 hours editing and working on the final campaign deliverable and review assets from the last two days. I also plan posting and upload schedules so that they can be ready when the campaign has been edited and published on social media. I then wrap it up by signing off on the production form before filing it away in the binder and on the hard drives.

Saturdays & Sundays — REST DAYS:  If I do not have any events booked for the weekend. I am usually catching up on personal things (laundry, cleaning, family time, etc.)

I think that having had this type of schedule worked on and adjusted over the last year or so has definitely helped me to stay consistent in what I do and staying on track of things as a creative. This is not something that is set in stone but this is something works for me. You can have something that is less rigid but for me. This is what has been the most effective.

This is what inspired this creative process post and what I found to work for me over the last four years of being a full-time creative entrepreneur. I had been seeing a lot of creatives talking about their creative process and routines and I figured I would throw my hat into the ring. I had been working on a system that would not only boost my creativity but also give me a consistent schedule and a desire to keep up with the flow. (Even when I had no desire or motivation to do so.) It has also helped me to set boundaries with my creative work and personal life. Each holiday season — I do a lot less work and more retrospective thoughts and tying up loose ends. Making notes of things that did and did not work and setting those goals in motion the following year. In talks with friends and family that have little to no idea what creative entrepreneurs did. Most folks assume that photographers just point and shoot but it takes more than that. There is a lot of post production, techniques, administrative work, marketing, networking, etc. And I am stoked to have documented the work through weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings. In also expanding my creative horizons to audio and visual production (ie. sound engineering and video production). I have learned how to effectively manage my time and have even created administrative forms to keep myself on task.

Here’s a look forward to what you can expect from us during the month of March. 

POV: Birthday Plans, On Turning 38 and Building a Studio (the next podcast episode)

PHS Flower Show 2024 

Creative Process in 2024: Weekly Routine (a POV video putting this love note to action)

Camera Collection: Lomography Aperatif Film Camera (another video) 

Camera Collection: Sony A7RII and Sony ZV-1F - Part One (a comparison video)

**FOOTNOTE**

Many of the things you see here will be posted in full throughout the month. So think of this as a teaser if you will for things to come this month. I am excited to dive back into creatively making great art and content again. Thank you again for all of the clicks, likes, and comments. 

Your Editor-In-Chief, 

Meg Duong