StartPhoto Online Photography School

Welecome to StartPhoto! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Beautiful landscape photography exhibit by French photographer Eneida Rodolphe - check it out in the landscape photography gallery

Diana Camera photos, shot on Tri-X and developed in HC-110 (dil B). Photographs of artist Lydia Nguyen.

As the holidays approach, and the pressures of shopping/family obligations/returning/decorating/etc. mount, it’s easy to let your photography interest fall to the wayside. Don’t let that happen! Keep photographing! Perhaps one or more of the following strategies will help keep your finger on the shutter button.

1. Set (and formalize) specific photo goals
   You’ll be more likely to follow-through on your photography goals if you’ve formalized them, in writing. This means specifying what you’ll accomplish, and when: “I’ll shoot 10 street portraits a day for the next 8 days” or “I’ll complete the landscape portfolio images by the end of the month.” If it’s a bigger photo goal, break up the project into smaller tasks, giving milestones to each task. Post your goal, in writing, in a conspicuous place where you’ll likely see it often. If you can handle it, let others know about your goal, include them in your successes, and let their expectations help fuel your motivation.
2. Choose a time to photograph everyday
   This is especially effective for Photo365 projects (the common photo project of making a self-portrait every day for a year); set a time every day to make a picture. Depending our your subject, when you first wake up, right before bed, on your lunch hour, right after work… these are all viable options to help remind you to make an image everyday.
3. Carry a camera with you wherever you go
   While not practical for view camera fanatics, carrying a portable camera with you will help ‘keep you looking.’ Photography is a muscle that benefits from constant exercise. Ron recently purchased a Canon G9 camera for this purpose; it’s compact enough to bring everywhere while still offering excellent image quality. Analog small-format photographers swear by a nice Leica as well.
4. Combine photography with your holiday activities
   Perhaps you can drive over the hills and through the woods, instead of taking the interstate to Grandma’s this year? Perhaps you can make a stop in those hills/woods and photograph? You’ll increase your chances of sticking to your photographic regimen if you don’t make it separate from the rest of your life.

These motivation ideas are just the tip of the iceberg; find what works best for you and stick with your photography no matter what. Now go make a photograph!