Sometimes we think of creativity as a new subject or shooting with a new lens or shooting from a new angle. There is truth to that and those elements can help us see our work in a new light (yes, pun intended - I can't help it; it's congenital).
Most photographers have a stable of clients and, for these, we get images similar to those shot over time for the same customers. That, in effect, is why they hire us--they want and sometimes demand consistency.
If suddenly you were asked to do something different; something completely out of your comfort zone, how would you handle it? Your ego may tell you it's no problem, while your subconscious is filled with anxiety. This concept is not uncommon; it happens to most people in similar circumstances.
How you handle these tests can determine your creative growth. If you normally turn down assignments out of your comfort zone, you probably do so because of this anxiety and your inner voice expressing reluctance.
If you have limited equipment, such as a non-pro camera or lower-tier lenses, you probably believe you cannot get a "money" shot with what you have. If you shoot landscapes and are asked to get some corporate headshots, you place yourself immediately in a vulnerable position. Anything taking you out of your tried and true areas of expertise, no matter what kind of photographer you are, sets you up for fear of failure.
Let's take the limited equipment problem (get your mind out of the gutter; we are discussing photography) and look at it in context with the title above. First, you state the problem: "I don't have the right equipment."
If the problem and the solution are one and the same, then the equipment you have <em>is</em> the solution. Rather than dismiss an opportunity by never considering using what you do have, you use this "dilemma" as a catalyst to forge a creative solution.
A photographer is never defined by the camera, but is defined by the images. Cameras are only the tools. As a magician would say, "It's not the wand that causes the magic, it's the way you wave it!"
Regarding the other example--taking an assignment out of your comfort zone--what is the solution? As you are coming into this assignment with no real experience, you have an opportunity to use your creativity. You already know about lighting from any other photography you do, so use what you do have to craft a lighting solution.
Let's not confuse using a client for on-the-job training with using your talent in a different manner. Using your existing talent in new ways is not the same as a novice photographer taking on a world-class client. The assumption here is you have taken shot thousands of images and have a solid photographic background.
The bottom line is you need to be aware of your inner processes when you feel uncomfortable. Stating out load the problem and using it as a solution is a powerful means to gain creative insight.
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