This sentence could be finished one of two ways.

The Easy Way : had a better equipment, traveled to an exotic place, knew people with connections, sucked up to others

The Hard Way : got closer, worried less, improved skills, pushed harder, dug deeper, broke rules, wasn’t timid, stopped rushing, took risks

Photographers, writers, painters, musicians all faces similar challenges: we like to think about the easy ways to improve, yet find it difficult to act on the hard ways.

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Over the last few months I’ve learned a few things… some moments after getting laid off. Buckle up, ‘cause this is about as visual eclectic as it gets.

Think of this Top Ten list of how to take better pictures like giving broccoli to a 4-year-old. Or encouraging a college first year to continue doing pull-ups. Or telling an award-winning wedding photographer they don’t need a Leica M9. As we mature, the prescription for what is actually good for us, changes. (Rach, Dan, Otto, and Gino… you know what I mean).

Please, just don’t spit it out back it out if you don’t like it.

**** IMPORTANT: One lucky commenter will receive a $25 iTunes gift card by Friday, September 16, 2011 by 10pm MT. Details at the end of the post.

10. Dabble in an different genre of what you are used to. I chose documentary photography of the US military. Photographing a US Army change of command ceremony held at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO, represents a difference from my normal style of photography. The experience offered me a glimpse of US military traditions can be witnessed in the faces ages 18-23 year old that fight our battles. A reminder of how September 11 changed our lives forever. {read more about an Army change of command}

9. Think about how another artist would approach my genre. I focused on painting. While this is an actual photograph, I thought closely about how an impressionistic painter would think: composition, line, color, emotion. {read more the importance of de-focusing}

8. Look at my favorite masters. Ok, so while Norman Rockwell name isn’t also a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, he’s had a good thing going over his exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. {read more about behind-the-scenes technicals about re-creating a masterpiece}

7. Try something I may not like. Who knows, you might find it might tickle your fancy. While I’m no fan of the overly ‘fake’ looking HDR images which tend to give the technique a bad rap, I strived to create a “classy” effect that pushes the creative envelope. {read more about my thoughts on HDR photography}

6. Give back to my friends. Time, money, or a special portrait session gifts well. One of my favorite couples:

5. Get educated and meet my mentors. Just do it, even if it means ending up in detention with Numnuts & The Strobist after getting schooled. Amanda Tipton (pictured left) and I grinned the.whole.time. {read more about the Flash Bus Tour and my review.}

4. Break rules and conventions. I remind myself, staring down that dragon straight in the eye keeps me alive. {read more about lightpainting}

3. Share what I know. I learn 90% what I teach. {read more about how one light makes all the difference}

2. Write and write more. I dislike writing (I really do). Yet pin-pointing specific goals with writing to help share, educate, inspire, and create is really what I’ve come to love about writing. As with anything, everything watched, improves…. this coming from a person who could type and re-type a blank blog post all day long 4 years ago yet had no problem writing an article published at National Geographic or a 152-page Geography MA thesis. However, writing 100+ published blog posts with 25,000+ words so far in 2011 (276 blog posts in less than 2.5 years…whew!!). I feel this process of reflection, analysis, articulating, and sharing has made me a more confident writer, communicator. It has helped me grow as a leader in the wedding photography industry. I like to think all of this has afforded me the opportunity to give back in the same way as my mentors. Yet, I have much to learn. {read more how Toastmasters makes for better communicators for life}

1. Follow my heart. At the end of the day, this is what matters most. I’m glad I did! {read more about our the actual engagement surprise, see photos from our engagement session with James Christianson, and read my thoughts on planning a wedding from the perspective of a wedding photographer}

While I’m buggered I didn’t get picked to speak at PartnerCon, I am grateful to have such a loyal blog followers. I slowly read each comment and am thankful for the 1,000+ comments so far in 2011. A simple comment goes a long way in my book and keeps me going. Big hugs, yall!

While this little list highlights some of the things I’ve learned, I encourage you to come up with you own. Answer by Friday, September 16 and get a $25 iTunes gift card to one lucky blog commenter!

Beloved Blog Readers: Right now, I want to hear your recommendations of how someone could specifically increase creativity in their work, commented below. Spread the love.