When Perfect is the Problem

The sneakiest roadblock… and how to overcome it

When Perfect is the Problem // Overcome Perfectionism

Perfectionism has a way of sneaking into our creative process. We might excuse it for a time as high standards and thoughtfulness — but more often than not, it ends up being our biggest (and sneakiest) roadblock. It leaves us stuck in unfinished edits, blog and Instagram post drafts, delayed launches, or photos we never quite feel ready to share.

The truth? Perfectionism isn’t the same as high standards — it’s a trap.

When we don’t recognize and work through perfectionism, it stunts our growth and leaves us stuck. But with a perspective shift, perfectionism begins to lose its power – and we take our own power back. 

Here’s how perfectionism stunts our growth:

1. It keeps us stuck, instead of taking action
   Perfectionism tells us we’re not ready, we don’t know enough, and we’re not good enough. So instead of taking the next step – posting online, delivering the photos, trying out that new idea – we stay where we feel more comfortable, not realizing that we’re actually stuck. Learning, planning, and delivering high quality work are important… but perfection is unattainable, and perfectionism is dangerous. Growth requires taking action before we feel totally ready.
   
   
2. It makes failure feel like a threat, rather than a teacher
   When perfect is the goal, messing up feels like proof that we’re not good enough. So we avoid risks, avoid putting our work (or ourselves) out there, and avoid experimenting. Yet in reality, failure is where we learn the best lessons, and mistakes are 100% guaranteed to be part of the growth process. We don’t learn simply by thinking, but by trying.
   
   
3. It kills momentum
   Perfectionism says, “This isn’t good enough yet.” And so we don’t act – we just sit in the fine tuning stage, trying to perfect photos or projects that no one is even getting to see. Of course we shouldn’t be hasty or sloppy – but done well beats perfect every time.
   
   
4. It makes our business about us, not our people
   Perfectionism is a form of self-protection (I could talk all day on this!). But our businesses exist to serve others. The photos where you felt you couldn’t perfect the white balance? Your client will probably want them all over her walls, and they’ll bring joy to her daily. The reel you felt a little awkward in? It might inspire and encourage someone who really needed it today. If we’re waiting until everything is perfect, we miss the opportunity to serve now.
   
   
5. It leads to burnout, never brilliance
   Trying to be perfect in every area is exhausting. It makes us resentful, overwhelmed, and creatively paralyzed. And it’s deeply unhealthy to feel that we’re constantly falling short of our own impossible standards. Growth comes from grace, not telling ourselves we’re never enough.
   
   
6. It keeps us believing in a lie
   You’ll never be perfect. I’ll never be perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect gallery, or a perfect website or blog post or session. Art is partly objective, but also subjective – what one loves, another will dislike. And that’s what makes art so endlessly wonderful! If we believe we can create anything perfect, we’re living in a fantasy world: perfection doesn’t exist anyway. But joy and beauty and creativity? We can have those in abundance!

So how do we heal and grow?

Permanently beating perfectionism is probably not possible, or else I would have done a perfect job of beating it long ago. 😉

Over a decade into the industry, with so many of my dreams accomplished, I still wrestle with perfectionism on the regular. It’s always going to be something I battle, because it’s the flip side of the really positive trait I have: being committed to high standards and continual growth.

But if we can’t beat perfectionism forever, we absolutely can wrestle through it and win. Promise! The only reason any of my photos or courses or Instagram posts have ever seen the light of day is because I have learned to wrestle well, by implementing the following:

1. Start before you feel ready, always.
   Waiting for ‘perfect’ might make us feel safe – but in reality it’s just keeping us stuck. Take the next step before you feel ready. Deliver your gallery. Launch your offer. Publish your blog post. Plan that crazy session you’ve been dreaming about. Simply commit to taking action, whether or not you feel ready.
   
   
2. Set process-based goals – not outcome based ones.
   Instead of focusing on goals like ‘book ten sessions’ or ‘make $$$,’ try ‘blog weekly’ or ‘share more on social media about my offerings.’ The difference is that you can control the processes you commit to (and feel great about the steps you take), whereas we cannot often control outcomes. And for us perfectionists, even achieving 90% of the outcome we hoped for can feel like a failure, no matter how much it shouldn’t. Change your focus from needing a perfect result to showing up consistently.
   
   
3. Reframe failure as feedback
   Didn’t get the inquiry?
   Low engagement on a post?
   Cringe at a past session?
   That’s not proof you’re failing — it’s data to learn from. It’s growth in real time. The people you look up to? They’ve just failed more times than you have!
   
   
4. Embrace ‘good enough’
   Done is better than perfect. Published is better than still-in-drafts. Learning to let something be “good enough” frees you to move forward, again and again and again. I know this one takes practice – but it’s worth the effort!
   
   
5. Anchor your worth outside of your work
   Perfectionism clings tight when your work = your worth.
   But your value doesn’t depend on flawless edits, booked out events, being the best photographer in your area, having the most IG engagement, or literally any of what you do. You worth is in who you are: the way you are a friend, a parent, a family member. The way you love others. The way you exist! Your work is just a bonus.
   
   
6. Face your worst case scenarios
   My favorite exercise when I feel perfectionism trying to drag me down is this: talk through the worst outcomes I can imagine. The truth is, they’re usually no big deal at all. And even if they would be unpleasant to deal with, I really could deal with them and come out fine!
   
   For example: you’re stressed about edits, so what’s your worst case scenario? A client who might express that they don’t love them. Yes, that stings! But an apology, adjusting the gallery, and sending a gifted set of prints would smooth all of that over beautifully.
   
   Or another: maybe you’re afraid to post your work, because you’re worried that others in the industry are judging you. They’re probably not even paying attention because they’re struggling with the same fears, but the worst case scenario? They might be judging just like you’re afraid of. Yet even if they are: you’ll be just fine. You’ll probably never hear it anyway, and if you do, just remember that no one who is happy with their own work and business is wasting time putting anyone else down. Gossip reflects an internal problem with the gossiper. 

Hear me on this: I only speak on what I understand personally

I know how difficult it is to deal with perfectionism. I know what self doubt feels like. I know how loud our internal voices can yell that we’re not good enough.

And I also know that the story doesn’t end there. 

When we take hold of perfectionism and commit to beating it, there is so much freedom on the other side. Promise! There’s freedom and growth and joy and creativity – and a business that doesn’t feel like it’s eating us alive.

Take heart, friends! Let me know if this makes a difference for you. Remember: your worth is in who you are. Good enough really is good enough. And done is so much better than perfect. 🙂

When Perfect is the Problem // Overcome Perfectionism