Stop Feeling Stuck: The 3-Step System to Overcome Procrastination and Thrive

I know what it’s like to feel stuck. Despite decades of experience, I’ve avoided making content, reaching out to clients, and updating my portfolio—all because of fear, overwhelm, and procrastination.

But here’s the truth: breaking free from that cycle changed everything. I’ve learned to fail productively, take imperfect action, and consistently move forward. And now, I’m sharing the same strategies that helped me build a thriving photography career.

By the end of this, you’ll know exactly how to overcome procrastination, face the uncomfortable tasks holding you back, and take steps that build momentum in your photography business.

You’ll walk away with actionable strategies to stop feeling stuck and start making real progress—no matter where you are right now.

Avoidance isn’t about laziness or lack of ability; it’s about dodging the discomfort tied to the tasks that matter most.

Fear of judgment, failure, or even success can keep you frozen.

But here’s the good news: you’re not as stuck as you think.

You just need to learn how to confront that discomfort, and take action.

But also - and this is key - to fail productively. Because failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the path to success.

The Root Cause of Avoidance

Avoidance stems from one thing: trying to dodge uncomfortable emotions. You’re not avoiding content creation, client outreach, or portfolio updates because you don’t care.

You’re avoiding them because of what they make you feel—anxiety, fear of rejection, self-doubt.

Here’s the thing: avoiding those feelings only makes them grow. When I avoided making content, I wasn’t just delaying progress; I was feeding my own fear.

The more I avoided, the scarier the task became. Sound familiar?

Let’s dig into some examples, because I want you to see that the only way forward is through.

1. Ask Yourself: What Feeling Are You Trying To Avoid?

For years, I put off creating content. I’d think, “I should post on Instagram,” or, “I really need to make that YouTube video.”

But I wouldn’t do it. Why? Because I was scared of what people might think.

My Story: I remember scripting my first video, setting up my gear, and then staring at the camera, paralyzed. Thoughts like, “What if this is terrible?” or, “What if other photographers criticize me?” ran through my head. I’d tell myself, “I’ll record it tomorrow.”

But tomorrow always turned into next week, then next month, then never.

What I Learned: Nobody’s first attempt is perfect, and that’s okay. The key isn’t perfection—it’s showing up.

When I finally hit record, my first video wasn’t great. But I learned something. And the next one was better.

And the next one after that? Better still. Every time I showed up, I got more comfortable, more confident, and more skilled.

For You: If you’re avoiding regularly sharing on social media, ask yourself, “What feeling am I trying to avoid? Is it fear of judgment? Perfectionism?”

Then start small. Post a behind-the-scenes photo. Share the story behind one of your favorite shoots. Remember, your audience doesn’t want perfect—they want authentic.

2. Dealing With The Biggest Fear: Rejection

Reaching out to potential clients can feel like standing in front of a firing squad. What if they say no? What if they ignore me completely?

These fears kept me from taking action for years.

My Story: Early in my career, I believed the myth that “good work speaks for itself.” I thought if my photography was strong enough, clients would magically find me.

Spoiler alert: they didn’t. I avoided pitching myself because I didn’t want to hear “no.”

The irony? My fear of rejection kept me from creating the opportunities I desperately needed.

What I Learned: Rejection isn’t failure—it’s part of the process.

When I finally started reaching out, I faced my share of no’s.

But I also got some “yes” replies. Those initial rejections taught me how to refine my pitch, understand client needs, and build stronger relationships.

For You: Write down five potential clients you’d love to work with.

Research their businesses. Then send each of them a personalized email explaining how your photography can solve their problems.

Even if you hear “no,” you’ve taken a step forward.

Rejection isn’t the enemy—inertia is.

3. Perfectionism is Procrastination in Disguise.

Your website is often the first impression potential clients have of you, yet it’s the task we photographers love to avoid.

I know because I’ve been guilty of letting mine sit outdated for far too long.

My Story: Every time I thought about updating my website, I felt overwhelmed.

I’d think, “This needs a total overhaul,” and then avoid it entirely because the task seemed too big.

But deep down, the real reason I avoided it was fear.

What if my latest work didn’t measure up? What if people judged my progress—or lack thereof?

What I Learned: Your website doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be current.

Swapping out a few images or refreshing your bio can make a huge difference.

Once I started taking small steps, the task didn’t feel so daunting anymore.

For You: Pick one thing to update this week—your bio, a gallery, or your contact info.

Block out an hour, and just get it done. Progress is better than perfection.

You’re Going to Fail If You’re Actually Doing The Right Things. The Key is “Failing Productively”

Let’s talk about failure, because it’s the elephant in the room. Most of us avoid tasks because we’re afraid to fail. But here’s the truth: failure on repeat is how you grow.

What Does Failing Productively Look Like?

1. Trying Scary Things: Whether it’s posting content, pitching a dream client, or experimenting with a new technique, growth only happens outside your comfort zone.

2. Learning From Every Attempt: Failure is feedback. When something doesn’t work, it’s not the end—it’s data.

   What didn’t work?

   What can you do differently next time?

3. Iterating and Improving: Each failure teaches you something. The more you try, the more you learn, and the better you get.

My Story: When I started reaching out to clients, I failed—a lot.

Emails went unanswered.

Pitches fell flat.

So I stopped reaching out. Which was 100x worse.

I had to reach out to potential clients, even if it was something that I found impossible.

Failing was the only way I could ever get better at reaching out to potential clients.

Every “no” helped me refine my approach.

Staying with it even with early failures paved the way for my biggest wins.

For You: Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can try today, even if I might fail?”

Then do it.

The worst-case scenario? You learn something. The best-case? You succeed.

Trading Productive Procrastination for Productive Failure

Let’s get real: procrastination doesn’t mean you’re doing nothing.

Most of us fill our time with “safe” activities that feel productive but don’t move the needle.

Checking emails, tweaking your logo, reorganizing your Lightroom catalog—these are all forms of productive procrastination.

The Problem: These tasks are comfortable because they don’t involve risk.

But they also don’t lead to growth.

The tasks that matter most—creating content, pitching clients, updating your portfolio - are often the ones we avoid because they require emotional effort.

The Solution: Shift your mindset from avoiding failure to embracing it.

Take risks. Make mistakes. Learn from them.

This is what productive failure looks like.

Easy Actionable Steps to Get Unstuck

If you’re feeling stuck, here’s how to move forward:

1. Identify What You’re Avoiding: Write down the one task you’ve been putting off. Then ask yourself: What emotion am I avoiding? Fear? Being Overwhelmed? Judgment?

2. Start Small: Break the task into bite-sized pieces. If you’re avoiding content, post one image. If you’re avoiding client outreach, send one email.

3. Reframe Failure: Stop aiming for perfection. Instead, aim to learn. Every failure is a step closer to success.

4. Take Imperfect Action: Progress beats perfection every time. Just start.

You’re Not Stuck—You’re Growing

Procrastination isn’t permanent, and neither is fear.

Before you go Pro the first Pro we need to master is Procrastination.

The key is to take action, even if it’s messy, uncomfortable, or imperfect.

Fail productively, learn from every attempt, and keep moving forward.

You got this.

You made it to the end which means you’re committed to learning every single thing you can about this industry, not many who start things are finishers.

What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding in your photography business?

Take the first step today.

If you’re ready to tackle procrastination head-on but you don’t know what steps you should be taking, check out my Professional Photographers Accelerator. It opens again in January.

Make sure you’re on my waitlist.

Let’s turn your stuck moments into stepping stones for success.

I hope today brought you value. Of course, I’ll see you next Saturday.

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👉🏾 I am a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.

My goal here is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.

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