[Monito]

most of the time I think if i look too much at others' work I have a terrible tendency to be too influenced by them, if that makes sense.

Don't fret. Look at so many other photographers' work that no one photographer's influence dominates. Anyway, so what if one or ten influence you? All great artists have been influenced and build on the shoulders of giants.

If you want to get beyond what a favourite artist does you have to go through it. You can't hop over. You will either recreate all their steps without seeing their work or you will see their work and go through it faster.