Less Is More...
Reclaiming My Voice Through Simplicity
I Almost Forgot Who I Was on Camera
There was a time when I felt free.
I wasn’t trying to be polished.
I wasn’t trying to be impressive.
I was just... me.
Every Saturday morning, I’d grab my camera and head to a parking garage.
No script.
No lighting setup. Just me walking, talking, and figuring things out on camera.
Those old videos were messy.
They were far from perfect.
But when I went back and watched them recently—something hit me hard.
There was a spark in those moments.
A rawness.
A part of myself I’ve been missing.
When Structure Starts to Smother the Spirit
Over the years, I started adding more—more structure, more scripting, more second-guessing. I thought that meant I was getting better.
But somewhere along the way, I stopped feeling connected.
I got so focused on doing it right—sounding clear, looking polished, delivering perfectly—that I began to lose that thing that made my work feel real.
I was becoming a version of myself that looked like I had it all together—but didn’t feel like I was showing all of me.
Truth is... I started to feel a little robotic. Safe. Stiff.
And that started to frustrate me.
Because I know the heart of what I do has never been about perfection—it’s always been about connection.
I Still Write Scripts—But Now I Let Them Go
I want to be honest: I still write scripts. I always will.
They help me clarify. They help me prepare.
But now?
I write them—and then I start subtracting.
I ask myself:
What do I really need to say?
What’s just noise?
What feels like “trying too hard” instead of just being present?
This new creative game—taking things away instead of constantly adding—has helped me feel connected again. It’s helped me trust myself again.
Because I don’t want to sound like someone else. I want to sound like me.
The Magic Lives in the Messy Moments
When I press record now, I remind myself that I don’t need to sound polished.
I don’t need to look flawless. I just need to be true.
I filmed my first vlog recently. No script. No plan. Just me talking to the lens like I was talking to a friend.
Was it perfect? Probably not.
But you know what? I haven’t even watched it back yet—because I’m more proud of how it felt to make it.
There was no pressure. No performance. Just presence.
That’s something I’ve been craving in my work and in my life.
Less Is More—Even in My Photography
This mindset has carried over into my shoots too.
I don’t need a full production team. I don’t overcomplicate.
Most times, it’s just me, my camera, one lens, one light, and a Bluetooth speaker playing something that sets the mood.
That’s it.
And it works—every time.
Because when I’m not scrambling to juggle gear or worry about 20 moving pieces, I can feel the energy of the moment. I can connect. I can create.
This Is Bigger Than Video or Photos—It’s Personal Growth
What I’ve learned is that Less is More isn’t just a creative philosophy.
It’s a life philosophy.
We often think we need more before we’re ready—more gear, more polish, more validation.
But really, we just need more trust in ourselves.
Sometimes the most meaningful progress happens when we take things away:
– The pressure to be perfect
– The fear of being judged
– The constant need to prove ourselves
Closing: You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Be Powerful
To any creative out there who feels stuck… overwhelmed… or like you’re constantly trying to live up to some imaginary standard:
Take a deep breath.
Strip it back.
Let go of what you think you should be doing—and just create from the place that feels real.
You don’t need more equipment.
You don’t need to sound like someone else.
You don’t need to wait until everything is “perfect.”
You just need to show up—fully, honestly, human.
That’s what connects. That’s what inspires. That’s what lasts.
So this is your reminder from me to you:
Less is More.
And what you already carry inside is enough to move someone.
Keep creating. Keep believing.
Until next time—
Peace and love,
Joseph
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