Creativity in the dark
I just ran across this older article by Bob Sutton of The No Asshole Rule fame. Note this quote:
[...] if you want to develop new products and services, I urge you to keep your creative people away from your biggest customers—and for that matter from critics and anyone whose primary concern is money.
Doing so helps creativity blossom. Psychological research shows that people are especially hesitant to try new things in front of “evaluative others” like critics and bosses.
I think that, in your case, should be expanded to include other photographers and your spouses/partners. If you come up with some great-but-wacky idea, don’t share it with anyone who might shoot it down–if YOU believe in it (esp. if it’s a marketing idea or a new idea for your vision), then execute it and critics be damned!