If you enjoy exploring creativity, Photoshop and visual storytelling, you'll find more tutorials, articles and creative resources throughout my Learning Hub.
Some days all I feel like is adding a texture, or using different colour grading techniques
One thing I've learned over time is this. Not every creative session looks the same.
Some days, I want to build something from the ground up. Other days, I just want to sit, create, and not overthink it. And both are valid.
There isn't just one way to create
I think sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to create a certain way, to make something complex, to build something from scratch, to prove something, or to avoid judgemental comments from others.
But creativity doesn't always work like that. Some days you have the energy. Some days you don't. And that's ok.
What do we even mean by "creative"?
The word creative can mean a lot of different things. For some, it's painting or drawing. For others, it's photography. For others, it's editing, compositing, or working with AI. And then there are all the variations in between.
Which makes me wonder, why are we sometimes so quick to judge what creativity is or isn't? Is it the tool? The process? The final image? Or is it simply the way someone chooses to express an idea?
Other days I feel like exploring and creating a composite, like a full blown production.
Because when you step back, creativity has never really been one thing. It's always been shaped by the tools available, the time we live in, and the person creating.
So maybe it's less about defining creativity, and more about allowing space for different ways of creating.
The two ways I tend to work
When I sit down to create, I usually fall into one of two approaches.
1. Building a composite from an idea
This is when I'm in the mood to explore an idea or concept. I might create backgrounds using AI, generate elements or a character, bring everything into Photoshop, and build the image piece by piece.
This is where I think more, experiment more, problem solve. It takes more effort, but it's also where I can really bring an idea to life.
2. Starting with an image and refining it
Other times, I don't want to build everything from scratch. I just want to create without the effort.
So I might start with an AI generated image, focus on colour grading, add textures, and maybe bring in one extra element, or not.
This is more about mood, tone, enjoying the process. Less pressure. Still creative.
Both are creative
This is the important part. One approach isn't better than the other. They're just different. One is more about building. One is more about refining. Both come from the same place, your imagination.
Photoshop is the tool that brings both of those approaches together for me. I’ve used it creatively for many years — to teach, experiment and problem-solve, but it’s also where much of my own creative work happens. As an Adobe Community Expert, I spend a lot of time helping others understand what Photoshop can do, but for me its real value has always been what it allows me to create.
It still comes back to the same skills
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10 hand-crafted LUTs (.CUBE files)
A mix of warm and earthy tones
Video how to use your the LUTS and Instructions how to Install
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Compatible With:
Photoshop
Any software that supports .CUBE LUT files
These are NOT Lightroom presets.
NOTE:
Please keep in mind that the LUTS may require some tweaks to suit the individual image, as the final result can vary from one image to the next, depending on lights, shadows, colours, tones. If you have any questions or need help with additional adjustments, please feel free to contact me.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD
This is a digital product available for instant download after purchase. Your download link will be sent to the email address used at checkout. Please download and save your files promptly, as Squarespace download links expire after 24 hours. If your link has expired, click it again and a new download link will automatically be sent to your email address.
TERMS OF USE
Personal and commercial creative use is permitted. You may use these resources to create your own finished artwork, composites, photography and client work.
You may not resell, redistribute, share, give away, extract or claim the original files as your own. The resources must be used as part of your own creative work and cannot be made available for others to extract, reuse or redistribute.
This is a single-user licence. Copyright remains with SandraD Imagery / Sandra Dann and ownership of the original files does not transfer.
Digital-download purchases are non-refundable once downloaded, except where required under Australian Consumer Law.
No matter which approach I use, the same things apply. Light. Colour. Balance. Knowing when to stop. Those skills don't change. Only the starting point does.
Letting go of the pressure
If there's one thing I'd say, it's this. You don't always have to create something big.
Some days just adjusting colour is enough. Just adding a texture is enough. Just sitting and creating is enough.
It all counts.
Final thought
Creativity doesn't have to be complicated. Some days you build. Some days you refine. Both are part of the process.
