We are already halfway through the year, which feels slightly unreal when I look back at how much work has been created. It feels substantial and yet unfinished in the way creative work often is.
So far this year I have released ten new stock packs, with two more currently in editing. In total, that’s over 1,600 new images added to Faestock, as well as repackaging six older shoots. It’s been a steady rhythm of planning, shooting, editing, releasing and then repeating it all over again. All in between my casual job at the boudoir studio and a lot of dog walking with Nyx.
This year I’ve been very focused on consistency, releasing two new packs each month. Showing up to create even on days when I am not feeling especially inspired has been my mission this year.
It is easy to compare my work to those larger production companies that produce multiple high level photoshoots every week, and I feel like I am moving so slowly in comparison. Comparison can easily undermine motivation, especially when you start measuring yourself against artists who are working on a completely different scale.
There is a strange tension in working independently as an artist. You are both entirely in charge of your own rhythm while being constantly exposed to everyone else’s through social media. You can be disciplined and deeply committed to your work, and still find yourself questioning whether it is enough when viewed alongside others. It is easy to forget that every practice naturally has its own rhythm, and that the output seen on social media doesn’t reflect the reality behind its creation.
For me, the answer has been to return to process, the physicality of what I make. To focus on the work directly in front of me rather than the work happening elsewhere, and keep reminding myself that my practice only needs to be sustainable for me, not larger in a way that doesn’t fit my lifestyle. Comparison will likely never disappear completely. But it doesn’t have to be the thing that leads my choices.
Looking ahead, I’m currently in the early stages of planning the next round of shoots. I’ll be putting out a model call soon, with the intention of bringing in new faces and a broader range of body types into the collection. That feels like an important step in keeping the work evolving and reflective of a wider range of artists and characters.
Recently, I watched my niece perform as Aunty Em in her school production of The Wizard of Oz. It inspired me to develop a Dorothy themed shoot, something I’d like to explore with a model, complete with ruby slippers. It’s still in the early idea stage, but it’s one of those inspirational concepts that feels like it wants to exist.
There is a lot taking shape at the moment, with new shoots and character ideas forming for the next phase of work. If you have suggestions for characters or themes you would like to see, I’m always interested in hearing them.
Jessica Truscott - Faestock
