“You have a weird brain”: a creative turning point in my product photography practice
“You have a weird brain.”
I sat across from the Director of Photography of a nationally circulated magazine. We were on Zoom, mid-portfolio review. She paused, looked at my work, and said it: “You have a weird brain.”
I did not expect that sentence to stick with me. But it did. It became both a turning point and a motto. A reminder to lean into what makes my work strange, playful, and unique.
Portfolio reviews and unexpected feedback
I came into the review with polished, professional work, the kind of images I thought clients expected. What I heard instead was something different: permission. Over and over, reviewers encouraged me to follow my instincts, embrace the odd and surreal, and trust that clients would find me by leaning into my weirdness.
Why weird matters
The phrase “you have a weird brain” cut through the noise. It was not prescriptive or polished, but it was honest. In a creative world that often rewards sameness, being weird felt like truth. It gave me a north star for my photography practice.
Leaning into play and discomfort
I am learning to zig when others zag. To lean harder into the playful, the surreal, and the strangely familiar. To follow the ideas that make me laugh or tilt my head. Is my work for everyone? No. Will it sometimes cause confusion or discomfort? Yes. But that is the point.
Proof that strange resonates
This approach is already finding recognition. My image of bologna with pearls on styrofoam placed second in the 2024 APA Awards for Food and Still Life. Proof that strange can be both striking and memorable.
This is an open invitation: show me your weird brains. I want to see the ideas that feel too out there, too silly, or too personal. You are the only one who can make what you make, and that is where the magic lives.
For more experiments and reflections, visit my Creative tools, get in touch to collaborate on projects, or follow along on Instagram @sara.anderson.photo.
