IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, TRY AGAIN - EASTERN IOWA EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER
CAN’T FAIL IF YOU DON’T QUIT!
LET’S TALKED ABOUT IT…
ATTEMPT #1 (7-1-2023)
STARTING IN IOWA CITY, IOWA. IF THIS EVENT STARTED AT 9:30PM, I HAD THE IDEA TO SHOW UP AT 9:00PM. IT WAS SUPER LAST MINUTE BUT I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AND TOOK IT. THE GOAL I HAD SET OUT FOR MYSELF WAS TO GET BETTER AT LOW LIGHT PHOTOS AND LIGHT TRAILS. I HAD A PAID SHOOT COMING UP IN A FEW DAYS AND NEEDED TO LOCK IN MY SETTING SO THIS FIRST DAY WAS FOR THAT. I DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME AND EDITED ALL THE CONTENT, I KNEW I NEEDED A SECOND ATTEMPT. AS YOU CAN SEE BELOW, THESE PHOTOS ARE OKAY, BUT THERE NOTHING SPECIAL. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO WORKED FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA AND HE TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO DIFFERENT TO TAKE PHOTOS IN SITUATION LIKE THIS AND I DID JUST THAT A FEW DAYS LATER. WHICH LEADS US TO WHAT HAPPENED IN CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA FOR THE 4TH OF JULY FREEDOM FESTIVAL EVENT.
ATTEMPT #2 (7-4-2026)
THE SECOND TIME AROUND, I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT. I SHOWED UP EARLY, GOT A GOOD LOCATION, AND TESTED OUT WHAT CAMERA SETTING I WOULD NEED TO DO WHAT I SAW IN MY MIND. AND THE REST IS HISTORY. IF ANYTHING THAT MAIN TAKE AWAY FROM THESE TWO EVENT SHOOT BACK TO BACK IS COME PREPARED AND YOU WILL SUCCEED, DO THE OPPOSITE AND YOU’RE COOK MY FRIEND. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU ARE SHOOT, OR DOING IN BUSINESS OR YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, IF YOU WANT TO WIN AND SEE YOU DREAMS COME TRUE, YOU NEED TO DO THE WORK, AND THAT’S WHAT I DID RIGHT HERE!
Whatever Happens, Don’t Give Up, SOME ADVICE TO ALL!
No matter what path you choose in life—whether it’s building a business, pursuing a creative passion, or working toward personal growth—there will always be moments when things feel difficult. Progress rarely happens in a straight line. There are setbacks, slow seasons, unexpected obstacles, and times when motivation simply isn’t there. During those moments, it can be tempting to step away from the work or question whether the effort is worth it. But the truth is, persistence is often the difference between people who eventually succeed and those who stop just short of their breakthrough.
Giving up might feel like relief in the short term, but it almost always leaves you wondering what could have happened if you kept going. Growth requires patience, and meaningful progress usually takes longer than we expect. Many of the skills, relationships, and opportunities that lead to success are built gradually through consistent effort over time.
Staying committed doesn’t mean you never feel discouraged. It simply means that when those moments arrive, you find ways to regroup and move forward again. The key is learning how to get yourself back on track when you begin to drift away from your goals.
1. Reconnect With Your “Why”
When motivation starts to fade, take a moment to remind yourself why you started in the first place. What excited you about the idea? What kind of future were you trying to create? Reconnecting with that original purpose can help reignite the drive that pushed you to begin. Your “why” acts as a compass that keeps you moving in the right direction when things feel uncertain.
2. Take One Small Step Forward
When challenges pile up, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Instead of focusing on everything that needs to be done, choose one small action you can complete today. Progress, even in small steps, builds momentum. Finishing a single task often leads to the energy needed to tackle the next one. Consistency in small actions eventually creates large results.
3. Lean on Your Support System
No one achieves their goals completely alone. Talking with friends, family members, mentors, or peers can help provide perspective when you feel stuck. Sometimes an encouraging conversation or a fresh viewpoint is enough to remind you that the path forward is still possible. Surrounding yourself with supportive people makes it easier to keep moving forward during difficult moments.
In the end, persistence is about continuing the journey even when the road becomes challenging. Every obstacle carries an opportunity to learn, grow, and become stronger. As long as you keep taking steps forward—no matter how small—you are still moving closer to the goals you set out to achieve.
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THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SPENDING A BIT OF YOUR TIME WITH DSP!
STAY POSITIVE AND GET THE BREAD. NEVER STOP BEING YOU AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD! I LOVE AND APPRICATE YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO LIVE MY DREAMS!
IN THIS POST, DARSHAUN TALKS A TIME WHERE HE WOULD NOT GIVE UP! HE BREAKS DOWN TWO PHOTOSHOOTS WHERE PERFECTING A SKILL WAS PARAMOUNT.