Why creatives stay stuck, even when the door’s wide open.

We all want freedom. Creative freedom, emotional freedom, professional freedom. But here’s the thing nobody tells you:

You can be free… and still live like you’re caged.

In this episode, I break down the three invisible cages every creative person ends up pacing:

• The Industry Cage – tribes, gear cults, status games, and the performance of “real” photographer-ness
• The Creative Cage – safety disguised as style, repetition disguised as voice, consistency as comfort
• The Personal Cage – the scariest one of all: the refusal to put yourself in the work

It starts with a pacing lioness in San Diego, makes a detour through childhood Masonic mystery, and ends in a gallery in LA with a man named Jesse and a story I still can’t shake.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own success, your style, your niche, or your silence… this one’s for you.

Light Leak Assignment:

Choose your cage.

Take one honest step outside it.

Before the week ends.

No excuses.

Listen if you’ve ever said:

• “I feel like I’m just doing the same thing over and over.”
• “I’m scared to change because I finally found something that works.”
• “I don’t know how to put myself in my work.”

Support the Show:

This show is 100% listener-supported, which means I’m not selling presets, funnel hacks, or “ten ways to make six figures with your camera.”

But if the episode made you feel something — if it helped you name the cage — I’d love your support.

👉 terriblephotographer.com/support

Three amazing humans have already joined. Be the fourth. Let’s get weird and honest together.

Episode Topics:

• Cult psychology and the photo industry
• The seduction of gear tribes and online identity
• Why consistency might be killing your creativity
• What we’re really afraid of when we avoid vulnerability
• The lioness who still walks her old cage
• What Jesse taught me in a room full of polite creatives

🔗 Other Mentions:

• Episode 28: The Tyranny of Okay – Why Most Creative Work is Just work (I actually listed this as Episode 27 in the episode, but it's Episode 28)
• Terror, Love, and Brainwashing by Alexandra Stein
• The Boxcar Children (yes, really)
• The real cost of not evolving

Stay curious. Stay courageous. And yeah… stay terrible.