You’re Not Terrible, You’re Just Early - Why showing up bad is the only way to get good

Welcome to the first episode of The Terrible Photographer — a podcast for working photographers and creative humans who are done with fake positivity, influencer bullshit, and pretending they have it all figured out.

Episode Summary

Patrick shares the brutal Clubhouse critique that sparked this entire podcast, explores why "terrible" might be the most important phase of your creative development, and introduces the psychological framework every photographer needs to understand: Mount Stupid vs. The Valley of Despair.

This episode sets the foundation for the entire series — examining the messy, honest, human side of making art while trying to survive.

Key Topics Covered

The Clubhouse Origin Story

• How a pandemic-era app became a creative lifeline
• The 22-year-old photography student who delivered the harsh truth
• Why sometimes brutal honesty is exactly what we need

Creative Confidence vs. Competence

• The motorcycle metaphor that explains everything
• "Mount Stupid" — when ego outpaces ability
• "Valley of Despair" — when taste develops faster than skill
• How to navigate both phases without losing your mind

Building Authentic Confidence

• Master your tools until they become extensions of your vision
• Put in the hours — there are no shortcuts to mastery
• Study the masters, ignore everyone else's noise

The Psychology of Creative Growth

• Why the journey isn't a straight line from beginner to master
• How to embrace "terrible" as a necessary phase
• The difference between copying others and finding your voice

Key Quotes

"You can't become great without first embracing terrible.""Your confidence has outpaced your competence, creating a dangerous gap where overreach meets inadequate skill.""Be humble enough to swim as a small fish among giants — better that than flexing in a pond full of tadpoles thinking you're Jaws.""That tension you're feeling — between what you want to say and what you know how to do — that's not a problem to solve. That's where the good stuff lives."

This Week's Challenge

Make something you're not sure about. Not something you know will perform. Make something that's unfinished, too personal, a little uncomfortable. Then sit with it and ask yourself — what am I actually trying to say with this?

You don't have to post it. You don't have to show anyone. But make it. Because that's the muscle you need to build — the willingness to be terrible in service of something true.

Coming Up This Season

• The psychology behind creative growth phases
• Learning from masters vs. learning from peers
• When gear becomes a creative crutch vs. a creative tool
• Navigating burnout without losing your creative voice
• Why "terrible" photographers often become the most authentic ones

About Patrick Fore

Patrick is a commercial photographer who shoots brands, portraits, and campaigns. He's also someone who spends an embarrassing amount of time questioning whether what he's making actually matters. Previously lead photographer at Taylor Guitars, Patrick has experienced both the creative highs and soul-crushing lows of working in the photography industry.

Resources Mentioned

• Clubhouse (the pandemic-era audio app that started it all)
• Jeff Lipsky (photographer whose versatility across genres inspired the original comment)
• Dunning-Kruger Effect (the psychological phenomenon behind "Mount Stupid")

Connect

• Website: http://terriblephotographer.com
• Instagram: @terriblephotographer
• Patrick's (The Host) Instagram: @patrickfore
• Book: Lessons From a Terrible Photographer — https://www.terriblephotographer.com/the-book
• Newsletter: Sign up for Field Notes for free resources and extra content — https://the-terrible-photographer.kit.com/223fe471fb

Credits

Music provided by and licensed through Artist.io
Episode Photo by Ümit Bulut | Unsplash

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If this episode hit somewhere between doubt and inspiration, share it with a fellow creative who's out there trying to figure it out too. We're just getting started — and we're glad you found it.