Start Before You’re Ready
(Even If It’s Ridiculous)
What happens when you stop overthinking and let randomness lead the way?
One impulsive Pinterest click, and a self-imposed 30-day challenge turned into a whimsical city photoshoot, and a powerful reminder that inspiration doesn’t need perfect conditions, just a bit of momentum.
I was hanging out on a Discord server full of fellow photographers and creatives. As is often the case in these spaces, the conversation quickly spiraled into a familiar loop:
1. “I have so many ideas and I don’t know where to start!”
2. “I have zero ideas, and everything I try feels like a copy of something else.”
It felt like a lot of us were stuck in one way or another - either overwhelmed by possibilities or paralyzed by a lack of inspiration. I’m no stranger to this cycle myself. I have hundreds of saved reference images, entire Pinterest boards full of visual candy, yet only a fraction of those ever become real projects. The ideas keep piling up until the weight of them becomes part of the problem.
In that moment, partly out of frustration and partly as a joke, I said: “You know what? I’m going to open my Pinterest right now, and whatever image shows up first will be the inspiration for my next photoshoot. And I’ll make it happen within 30 days.”
WILD! I know!
I opened the app, and there it was: A painting of a black cat brushing its teeth...
The image I landed on was this absolute gem by Alexander Mityaev: a painting called "Experiments on cats". You can see it here.
Confusion. Hysterical laughter. Even more confusion.
But then I paused and thought, "Wait! This is perfect!"
It was weird, open-ended and full of potential. There were no rules. No pressure to make something profound. Just pure, absurd fun. And so, the “Get Ready With Me: Big City Edition” photoshoot idea was born.
I reached out to Maple, an artist I’d been meaning to collaborate with for a while, and pitched the concept. She was immediately on board. We pulled together a look inspired by our little black cat muse: simple black dress, chunky shoes, fishnet tights and a blazer - an outfit made for chaotic city adventures.
The concept took the popular “Get Ready With Me” format and turned it inside out. What if your entire city was your bathroom, your vanity, your closet?
How about brushing your teeth in the middle of the street?
A casual hair wash at the wall hydrant, followed by a blow-dry session in front of someone’s 9-to-5
Slipping on fishnet tights right there on the sidewalk - getting dressed in the heart of the city with full confidence.
Doing nails at a park gazebo, as casually as if you were sitting at your own dressing table.
Applying lipstick in a shop window’s reflection, as if the sidewalk were your bathroom floor.
Grabbing your morning coffee like you’re padding around your kitchen.
To our surprise, most people barely noticed what we were up to.
Even with props in hand and a camera clearly pointed at someone mid-routine, the city just kept moving around us.
Those who did notice didn’t scowl or question us - they smiled. Some gave us thumbs-up or curious glances, a few even paused to watch. It felt like, for a moment, we invited them into the joke. Into the playfulness. Into the reminder that a little absurdity has a place in everyday life.
And those who didn’t notice at all? They reminded us of something equally important: the world is far too busy with its own momentum to care about what you are doing.
And that’s exactly what made this such a valuable creative exercise:
Process-focused reasons:
- It got me out of my head and into action. There was no time for perfectionism - just commitment to doing the thing.
- It taught me to trust execution over planning. Ideas are nothing without follow-through.
- It reminded me that action > motivation. Once I started moving, the creativity caught up.
Artistic growth:
- It stretched my visual language. I had to interpret something surreal and shape it through my personal aesthetic.
- It challenged me to make something cohesive out of something chaotic.
- It forced me to think in scenes, not just concepts. Each shot had to tell a little part of the story.
Creative mindset shifts:
- It reminded me that inspiration isn’t something you wait for - it’s something you build from what you have. Inspiration is not precious! You don’t need the perfect concept, the perfect conditions, or the perfect mood. You just need movement.
- It proved that silliness and substance aren’t mutually exclusive!
- It gave me permission to create something just because it made me laugh.
Collaboration & human connection:
- It sparked a collaboration I’d been putting off for no reason.
- It became a shared creative playground instead of a solo task.
- It reminded me how energizing it is to work with someone who just gets the vibe!
Emotional & personal impact:
- It brought joy. Pure, chaotic, necessary joy!!!
- It helped me reconnect with why I fell in love with photography in the first place.
- It broke the creative rut I didn’t even realize I was sitting in.
I could probably list a hundred more reasons why this experience was important, but honestly, once you try something like this yourself, you’ll find the ones that matter to you.
I hope this long text and pretty photos inspire you to create without waiting for the stars to align. And if not, I hope this set at least made you smile. After all, it’s all about creating moments and enjoying them.
In frame: Maple (IG: maplepnida_)
