The Creative Myth
The Creative Myth
Jacob Loafman - Photography and Creative Caffeine
What if we could show you that we are all born creative? We tend to think of creativity as a mythical quality that some of us are just born with while others have to go without. But is that really the case? We are here to find out and hopefully fan that creative flame within you as we seek out "creatives" from around the globe and ask them what they think. Welcome to the Creative Myth with us, Ben and Sirjana. We are two humans in love living a 'traditionally creative' life as internationally nomadic elopement and adventure photographers under the name Tinted Photography.
In this episode of The Creative Myth, we chat with acclaimed American photographer Jacob Loafman. A bit of an all-rounder and creative tinkerer, Jacob is a fellow Rangefinder Magazine Rising Star, the founder of Creative Caffeine Workshops and a damn fine wedding, portrait and fine art photographer based in Missouri, USA. Today we chat about overcoming your fears, avoiding stagnation, finding inspiration, hustle culture and conversing with yourself (among much else).
Hello all you beautiful people and welcome to that inspires the uninspired by attempting to unfold break down of nature and or nurture, they call creativity. In each episode confessed 'creative' to strike up a dialogue with. Our goal, to means to each of them, how they channeled it into their was when they found it. Now who is we I feel you thinking? We lane, wife and husband Indian and Kiwi adventure travelers and curious minds. You may already know us as Tinted seek us out on Instagram at Tinted Photography and on our Today is our very first interview episode so we're down with renowned photographer, creative tinkerer, and all Among much else, the two of them discuss personal roadblocks, inspiration, overcoming fear, avoiding creative stagnation, just a whole bunch more. So let's get to it.
Sirjana Singh:Welcome, Jacob to our podcast, The Creative Myth.
Jacob Loafman:Thank you so much for having me. It really is an
Sirjana Singh:Oh my gosh, before we started recording, we first time we recorded the voice equipment wasn't that good on thinking, Jacob Levin's voice deserves better. So here we are, record your voice in better quality. And we left good one I'm hoping Yeah, that this is going to be fresher,
Jacob Loafman:You know, it is because you, you know, you both part in imagination. So it's, yeah.
Sirjana Singh:And we've been dreaming of this. Yeah, we've of this for a long time. So Jacob, your approach to predominantly, the creative field that we know about you bold. And you are, as you put it, Somewhere I read a master something you?
Jacob Loafman:I mean, that was, um, I think that was the title gosh, probably seven years ago or something.
Sirjana Singh:Okay, it was from August.
Jacob Loafman:Yeah. And that's when I was, I was really just taken one of his workshops, and his whole message was like, things. So he kind of got me on that path, so to speak, of just So I still I still tinker with things like in front of the lens technically, but yeah, like, I've kind of evolved, not away tools that I know I have now. And now I'm into just like a storytelling. And yeah, I mean, creativity. And the imagination where you should want it to evolve. Rather than being like think is the term Yeah, which like, granted, I mean, we can we tools that we've known for a long time. But in my mind, I a loop of doing like the same 10 or 12 things, right? I want to things all of the time, wherever it takes me.
Sirjana Singh:I'm going to put a pin on in this, because I want researching you a lot on internet between our first more understanding of you as an artist. And one of the things how your tone has led for the lack of better word humbled. And mellowed down into that of an artist. So we'll talk about that want to finish my thought which was that I'm so inspired by how when it comes to societal standards for wedding now social media standards for content creator and your chat with you about all of this, about how social media plays a pressures or client pressures sometimes play a role. into your start this podcast, I just want to understand how Jacob loveman
Jacob Loafman:Oh, wow. Yeah, I love questions like these, because it actually know, rather than, like just having kind of a go to answer like I don't, I don't know how it would describe myself as not give an answer. But like, at this stage of my, like, being think I'm more of like an explorer of my own creativity to and try new things in different areas of the photography world. a couple rolls of film with some, some blue and yellow stuff, because I just never made stuff like that before.
Sirjana Singh:I love those. And
Jacob Loafman:yeah, and found that I really enjoyed it, it on the expired film look like album covers. So in my mind, explored, this is a new thing that I can enjoy, right outside$5 worth of material. So I think that kind of describes myself it's like, I always want to be doing other things. Rather than trench of something. I want to be around everywhere. And I be able, if an opportunity comes my way, I can just say yes, or question myself, right. Because most things, like if I something like, I don't know, for a shoe brand or something, life stuff, I have a good idea of how to shoot stuff like that I can just say, Yeah, no problem. Um, so I think that's things. And I also like it for, you know, the bigger picture want to evolve. Because when I'm on my deathbed, I want to look to look back and say, Wow, I made some really cool stuff how, you know, however long i'd last, rather than saying, like, photography, right, I want to be able to save like, I did really photography. Because I just want to like, try all of it, you my inner child that just wants to play and try things.
Sirjana Singh:So does your creativity permeate into other predominantly photography, where you find yourself being most
Jacob Loafman:It's very much photography at this stage. Um, I urges over, even since the last time we've talked to start, and some painting again, just to try
Sirjana Singh:because your color palettes are amazing. So
Jacob Loafman:And I think that's what's that's what's kind a few of my friends that are painters, I've seen some of And it just inspires me to the point where it's like, just try creativity is like, even if you won, like you never have to it, right? Like you do it for the act in the feeling that you Right. Everything else is noise, right? So I'm like, now that the I live, I'm like, I'd love to sit outside at my table and just random block of wood from the store or something, you know, know rocks and sticks and leaves. And I don't know, just like.
Sirjana Singh:So this is interesting to me. Because I fantasize about this and about like sitting in my porch and creativity is not about monetizing it. And I agree that something, I'm not thinking about how I can monetize this that you get, but since living life as an artist and earning never really leaves my head. Like I'm constantly thinking How do I monetize this? And I think that's because we live in And we're constantly trying to think if I've spent that much so that I can create more time later? Is that something you
Jacob Loafman:I, it's probably the number one thing I struggle because I, and I think it's rooted from something in learned a trait where if you have money, you spend it so 37 this month, and it's just like, I still have that kind of It's like, once I pay my bills, any money that's leftover, like, Right. So it's, it's always, it's always hard for me, because try to monetize something, I start to question if I'm worthy of receiving money for that. So then there's that I think that's where the term like struggling artists is where it where it's, it is a lot of feelings of unworthiness. it's, uh, yeah,
Sirjana Singh:yeah. Because austere syndrome we suffer from,
Jacob Loafman:Yeah, totally. And I think like every every it's important that we do push through that and realize our it's, it's so wild. Because when I look at, like, what I charge sessions, like, I totally see my value and have no problem saying afford it, right. It's like, there's a market for everything. in everyone's market, because that's just the way it was. It's store and pay $80 for a white teacher, like, not my thing. two bucks at the thrift store. And it's the same type of like, just
Sirjana Singh:recognizing that it's also about in the field of portraiture, you have figured out what, what is the value for other things, you still haven't done that? So it's not just doing that exercise about let me figure out what value I'm art. And once that's done, you can actually ask for money.
Jacob Loafman:sorry, yes, big time.
Sirjana Singh:My migration, however, was when you are creation, or just after you finish the piece, and you feel know, that great feeling you get that release you get after thought of I need to monetize this, then start clouding your
Jacob Loafman:For my personal work, honestly, not at all?
Sirjana Singh:Wow. Okay.
Jacob Loafman:I think there's, I think there's a part of me I even am still on Instagram, and still share work is because resonates with someone. Because like, I remember, like, out the artists that I followed and really inspired me. So reason I still share it all. But I like with personal work, I that self validation, where it's like you didn't you executed piece that you're proud of. Now, you could also make the argument it? And that leads into a whole nother discussion of, you know, because I I fear success more than anything else than anything
Sirjana Singh:Yeah, no, I would love to talk about that.
Jacob Loafman:So yeah, I don't I don't have Yeah, I don't I thoughts of that. I do. I think I'm guilty. Like, I don't care of seeking some type of validation. In the simplest this looks cool. Like, that's because it just kind of like like, it just validates your thoughts on your piece that you
Sirjana Singh:And I just feel this thought. So I'm still thoughts of him constantly. Think How do I monetize this? I feel I I wish to go back to my childhood days when those things just painting Yeah, sure painting sake or creating for it's all about time poor, I'm time for how do I earn something possible and then go ahead and have that time to finally do retirement thing you know, work hard right now. So I can have my
Jacob Loafman:it's a hard road to track.
Sirjana Singh:But I have so many questions now swimming in or three. So I'm gonna start with one where you were talking share your work there. So that in the hope of that it might people, a group of people. So as a creative, how important is the
Jacob Loafman:Man, it's such a, it's such a strange thing. important to me. But at the same time, like it was the best build those relationships was on Facebook. And I left Facebook A purely addicted to it. It I wasted so much of my energy. to 16 hours a day, I would be on Facebook. So I had to cut that my mental health. That said, the community is beautiful. majorly know, from my years, granted, I've only been in it for seven like I've seen way more community over competition type people putting others down and stuff.
Sirjana Singh:Absolutely.
Jacob Loafman:Yeah, like I like when I was part of looks like parts of my life, because I just had the chance to meet so many accident happened to me, like they all raise money to help pay insurance. So it's like, the actual community will always be I feel this weird. This weird way right now. Because like, now in a couple years time like I only want to exist on my
Sirjana Singh:And
Jacob Loafman:to book work. I don't really I'm just not into think is fine, right? It's it's not a knock on anyone who's now like we all kind of grow out of things. And I just and it's not because I've never booked work off Instagram, right? It's just want to make X amount of money of year and then go fish and do where I'm at today, you know?
Sirjana Singh:Yeah, no, absolutely. I think social media arsenal. It was a meeting on clubhouse recently. I don't was a mom photographer. And she asked, she does not like social her life on social media or kids on social media, but she hears media to grow our business, and to make creative friends, etc. that's not your tool, don't use it. There is no hard or fast things to become certain people. Like that's not that you want to no, totally understand that. I wanted to more dig into because you've always created has this feeling of like a self always that Jacob loveman is creating in a vacuum somewhere. doesn't feel like agency does anywhere and he certainly has forced by trends. It doesn't feel forced by any pressure of that's what I want you to understand. And it never also times where you post you post when you post. You put stories very spontaneous. I want you to understand does the community people that you haven't physically met, but you know, follow your work, and they appreciate your work. Are they creating?
Jacob Loafman:No. I mean, that's a pretty brutal answer, but never know. It's, that sounds, but it's the right kind of selfish. Absolutely, you that, that you impress yourself with them that you get something what I teach in my my workshops that I still teach about is for an audience. Don't ever perform for an audience. Like, you're on your deathbed, and you're thinking about some silly following at one time that made text comments and stuff and gave make stuff that like you're on your deathbed, you can be like, made some really cool work as an artist.
Sirjana Singh:I would love to one day just get a drink, and hours. Because as a stage performer dream, I started as a perform on the stage dance and narrate or recite my poetry. And stage. So my love with the audience is paramount. And I became better, or becomes better even on the day when I'm sometimes I have all these ideas as an artist, and I'm like, here. And now I think about my audience, and then marrying this thing, the best piece for me. Because for me, it's so from a very young age, with claps of an audience being sure yes, I did something that it's it's been like that for me. So a session, and I am Yeah, preparing for a painting or again, give myself that time of coming up with my own ideas and always think about the audience. So Oh, my gosh, that'd be I, I'm can do it your way. And see what comes up.
Jacob Loafman:Yeah, I think it's, I think it's so that makes sense to me, because of the way you were brought up like you were as I like, to counter that, like, I grew up, I but not really receiving it. And not not in a bad way. It's not parents or the people around me, it was just like a pretty normal stood out. Nothing was like, you know, I played soccer for 14 competitive teams. And I look back and I'm like, I wasn't even even back then, I was questioning like, do I even why? What like, as an adult now I'm like, I don't even like was part of this thing where I felt like I had to to write, I in some way maybe. So it's like now the stuff like Like you it's like now I think that's probably the biggest reason why resonating people is one for the hopes of resonating with even validation, because I know it's a actual like, like an actually validation, right?
Sirjana Singh:Because you have to believe easy. Yeah, because audience you can shock them out of their system right? So it's oh yay, likes or claps it's just like, that feeling of like, What Like think the other way so? validation is is a is a tricky concept. But I do the your soccer point, you know, you did
Jacob Loafman:Yeah, I was like 13 or 14. Wow. Okay,
Sirjana Singh:so you took photography classes as a you then then you had the longest break in between you camera
Jacob Loafman:Yeah. Yeah,
Sirjana Singh:yeah. Well, you playing soccer in the meantime.
Jacob Loafman:Only only for a couple years in high school photography classes, but yeah, no, they didn't really, like at a, like, I'll be honest, it was just an easy class to take. The because we could leave school. So it was like those days I was around and smoke cigarettes, or do anything. But like, at the distinctively remember really enjoying the process in the enjoy my time in there. So it's interesting, like I think I've probably the first inkling I had of like, I really enjoy this in actually seeing the results that have the, you know, the But again, I also don't question that, like, I was also a dumb really thinking past that.
Sirjana Singh:Reason. I mean, the reason I asked this question time, when I went to India with Ben, we found this old notebook teenager surgeon, I had said, I want to be a photographer and had no idea that I've ever written that, yeah, that ever mine, or, or even a creative ambition of mine. And since life, as a teenager has been always wanting to be in front of or trying self portraits was like the closest I came to wanted to be in front of the lens more. And it was such an like I always wanted to be this. So I was wondering, is there is play, that when we actually say out to the universe, or to be, that actually stops us from wanting us to be that thing for already had the inkling of like, I enjoyed my time in the didn't return to it for the longest time in your life, like teenage years. And then finally, when you started, and the same it by being a model in front of the camera, but not actually feels like something powerful, was just like, No, stay. I like
Jacob Loafman:don't I don't think that but that's only super pragmatic and like, logical reasoning type of like, with with my timeline. It's like, yeah, I enjoyed the couple years. But then I was 18. And like, could get a job and started. Like, I honestly got into photography again, because like, that's it. And then the whole process started over age. So no, like, I don't I don't think there was anything like, fear, I think plays a factor. Like for sure.
Sirjana Singh:Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Not so much
Jacob Loafman:Yeah, I mean, I don't look at look at it so spiritual type thing. No. thought process. Yeah, sure.
Sirjana Singh:was talking about like, force within ourselves.
Jacob Loafman:Gotcha. Yeah, I mean, totally, like I question opportunities to take steps to be really successful. And fear Because I do. Like, it sounds so brash, and like, even kind of like I had a few year timespan where like, I really could have myself. And I just wanted no part of it.
Sirjana Singh:No, I totally get it like this happens to me. And because we're watching this movie. And this theme that plays When a hero is asked to do something, or our protagonist is invariably say, No, I can't do this. I'm not built for this movie progresses, that he was actually only built for that. its it seemed like a Silly plot that maybe lazy writers we're again in so many movies. But then I've seen Yeah, I have done that I did a few. I thought that was my, I thought that was my thoughts.
Jacob Loafman:I do too, like, No, thank you. No offense, your other work. I am a little biased here. But
Sirjana Singh:you saw it, I immediately had this thought, more artists. I think I shared that with you as well, that want stopped, I literally stopped, I didn't do anything about it. I poetry. I did that with my paintings. And then the same with my photography, where I kept getting so or like staying photographers, you know, because I didn't want to do probably the model, not the photographer. And it took Ben Yeah, two years you know, you need to learn ISO, you need to learn what the app No, I just want to be your business manager. Like that's photography, until I found it. And I couldn't leave it. So I ridiculous. Because I never thought like I remember our skin time. And remembering. I felt like I was not troubled by that overcome it. I understand it. But sure, since our last dog and and thinking they were lazy plaatsen are going oh my gosh, life, maybe there's more truth to it than a lazy load.
Jacob Loafman:It is it is, um, it's since our last thought process is weighed very heavily on me. Because it's been financially. Which is fine like it, you know, things are still things completely out of our control right now. But I always moments were like, Why? Why didn't I take that step? And reasons to justify why I didn't. And it's all because like we to keep us safe and comfortable. And we think that if we do take something bad is going to happen, when in reality. There's miniscule size of risk. Absolutely. That's and when it have absolutely zero fear. That's the only thing in my life Don't there's no other thought going on other than like, I'm because that's
Sirjana Singh:because the tog Rafi sphere you reached where after saying, nope, not gonna do it then actually starting to do hurdle? Because said, Yeah, hurdle has to be passed. Because
Jacob Loafman:When it comes to business, yep. Um, I always come this certain thing. And it's like, yeah, hmm, the amount of projecting it like is is absurd, because I'm so it's not even it jealousy or envy. Right. But in reality, it's, it's because through that fear. Yeah. Whereas we're still, we're still talking that. Yeah, that line. And it's like, Huh, it's like, I'm not
Sirjana Singh:No, it's not jealousy. It's it's the our own ego and saying, look, their ego led them to do that go? Yummy
Jacob Loafman:to do that. And that's where it like it. it all 100% where my undeserving this and unworthiness type feelings. they all live in that little pocket of fear. That's where it it's, it's like when you went to the dentist when you were a kid, that they're going to cut your body open or something. And then and you're like, Oh, fine. Yeah. We've told you that the whole you feel like you could crush the world, right? Yeah, this is
Sirjana Singh:I am. I am Doing this course on hypno birthing things, the maintenance is about how the experience of something as the actual thing. Right. So if you change your mindset about then the actual thing also becomes easier, you know. So I appointment thing, because I am scared of needles, I will cry anything. So what we have unearthed is that, yes, you can be creative, even with the fear. A lot of us a lot of creatives played with that fear, but you do your best creative work when at least in the photography 100% Yeah, in the photography field, feel that fear. But then there are other areas of our life No, no, this Oh, yeah.
Jacob Loafman:Like, like 20 years behind hinder. Which is media as well, too, right? Because you have, like the whole that's tied into our industry. So you have like, folks that, and I did like see us in like, like, I just post photos y'all following came from, don't really care. Like, that doesn't I'm doing awesome. And like, you can hear you're in be really bad it's, it's all like, it's, it's such an interesting
Sirjana Singh:it is, and you mentioned hustle culture. And I creativity. So for photography, and the kind of work that you're within you. Do you have a structure, a structured day that comes I will get up off my couch? It doesn't come I won't hustle philosophy?
Jacob Loafman:I think it's like a Yeah, when it comes to it like all depends in it actually doesn't depend on the up and say like, sweet, I'm going to go drive to a small shoot things that are the color green in this little small town for that day. Like just to see how it turns out. But then other to the thrift store and buy an outfit and some props and call you model and that's where the idea originates is like, okay, let my friend choose like the character name in my little stories and stuff. And then I just start making photos. Like photos. It's kind of the same process as when I'm shooting a there's no thought in my mind of I need to resolve this story, or the best stuff ever. It's like No, just make interesting work. all the time.
Sirjana Singh:So do you hustle every day then? Or do you
Jacob Loafman:do you just wait for the idea to come first? Or need to create every day? So I do I do find it important to every day, right? I mean, back when things were better like and stuff. I was probably shooting a whole lot more than I am today. lesson that like I do need to have a balance of like, me time way at all just mundane stuff like looking at the fans. I like probably don't even have like data on how do I sit down and immediately go shoot it. I think the first few years I did, lived around a lot of people where now I live in a very quiet like three hours away. So I like I would say well over half of my stories are just kind of fleeting Right, like there's not way, there's not a big thought process about it. It's just once I pick up my gear, then the fire begins.