How to keep your photography mojo!
I recently ran a little poll over on my social media accounts, on what photography tips people wanted to hear about. How to keep motivated to keep shooting came up as a suggestion - and I definitely think this subject is worth attention. Keeping up with photographing new images takes more than just going out with the camera. It requires so many other qualities, and experienced photographers can often find themselves in long periods of not feeling motivated or excited to shoot.
1.Shoot somewhere new
The most obvious way to reignite the photography creation spark is to travel somewhere new. This isn’t always an option, but often it can be achieved even around your local area. I usually find I’m ‘craving’ creating an image when I walk around without my camera. I know that sounds silly, but I do it to myself intentionally - I see so many images when I don’t have the camera with me! It’s sort of takes the pressure off photographing. I’m just out enjoying nature and taking my time - and when I take my time and enjoy it, the love for it is reignited!
I often try to walk my dog in new directions and when she slows down, I also slow down and scout out new locations! It’s usually not a grand sweeping scene I’m looking for, but foreground interest. I use my slow little walks to find interesting details I might not have seen before - new rocks, colours, mangroves.
A lesser visited angle at East Point, Darwin
2. WORK TOWARD A PROJECT, THEME OR CHALLENGE
Similarly, I spend time thinking of different themes, projects or challenges in terms of images I want to create. Working toward a goal helps me keep motivated to shoot. Creating a collection of images around a theme helps me find new compositions or shoots I might not normally do, and a reason to photograph them!
I remember when I first started out in photography, I was involved in several online groups that would create a monthly, weekly or even daily theme. These give a great sense of purpose to photograph, and also encourage you to try something new.
I’ve got so many projects and ideas in my head that I keep in mind when I’m thinking about heading out to photograph. I’d love to do some Darwin urban street scenes, minimal style photography using colour, lines and shapes…. Although this is a project I have had in my head for many years - I should probably give myself a deadline, or a time frame, so I actually make it happen!
3. A SIDE POINT, THAT’S BECOME APPARENT AFTER WRITING POINT 2!
Community, like-minded people and sharing photography shoots, stories and images with other creatives is a great way to get excited about shooting again. I’m currently in what I would call a photography dry spell - I’ve been so busy with running the business and work day-today life, that I’ve neglected creating images… nor have I had the motivation to do so. Even just writing this post, and thinking about creating and communicating the process with people, has got me excited about photography again!
4. WORK-LIFE BALANCE
For me, the main way to keep photographing is to maintain the desire to create. That’s not just physically getting out and about with the camera, but comes back to art in general. I need to have the brain space to be able to be creative. The ideas, visions and motivation to shoot come when everything else in life is balanced. I know that sounds silly, but I find it very difficult to “see” any photography in my mind, when my mind is preoccupied with other things. When life gets busy, or stressful managing the business, it’s hard to think about creating. It’s hard to make space for creative ideas when the brain is occupied with other tasks! I’ve learnt over time that it’s OK to not photograph if my heart’s not in it. I create better images when I’m motivated to do so! So, don’t beat yourself up if your poor camera gear is left sitting in a cupboard for months. It’s OK! Maybe it’s time to pick up another hobby, learn something new, use another part of the brain… and to pick up the camera after a break can be a great mojo booster when you’re reminded how much you enjoy it when you’ve not photographed for a while.
This is probably the most important factor to staying motivated.
It’s difficult to force yourself to be creative.
Great images that make you excited to photograph, and keep shooting, don’t happen without creativity and vision.
5. Consume other photography!
Something I do on a very regular basis (with the advent of the internet, it’s easy to do this daily) is continually seek out the imagery of other photographers. I’m not talking about Instagram, although that does also sneak in to my daily life!
Looking at photographs gives me inspiration on where and how to shoot next!
Every photographer’s source of inspiration is different. For me, I’m a landscape photography lover. I love weather photography. I love Australian landscapes especially. I love Australian flora.
On a surface level, looking at beautiful photography makes me want to go out and create beautiful photography!
Looking at other’s images helps me know what I like (and don’t). How balance and composition play into an image, to create the response I had to an image. How I interpret another’s image helps me to clarify the overall feel or interpretation that can come from my own images - how I want them to be perceived and ensuring I shoot in line with that goal. Whether it be a mood, a feeling, an overall impact of an image - how I view other photography is important in how I create my own.
I love to see what other photographers are shooting in areas I know - viewing different compositions and processing techniques gives me ideas for my own images. I don’t just mean emulating images, it’s just good to see a different take on a scene I know.
I enjoy looking at images from all over the world from hikers - particularly those who do what I do - hike many days with all the gear, in search of the unique images!
I like to browse through photography competition winners/commended images. I have a few favourite Australian landscape photographers who’s work I’ve followed for many years and i't’s inspirational to see their journeys and creative directions.
6. LEARN A NEW TECHNIQUE
This could be an in-camera technique or style. For example, I want to have a go at focus stacking - my new camera (the Fuji GFX100S) has an inbuilt function to take multiple images for focus stacking which I would like to try.
I try to learn new post-processing techniques - the internet and blogs are a great way to find out what other photographers do in their workflow.
Try a new genre from your norm! This isn’t for everyone, and it could just be a small side step rather than a switch from an introverted nature loving landscape photographer (like me) to a party-event style photoshoot! For example, for me, I like to shoot birds and flora to mix up my normal landscapes. It keeps a bit of variety! I love trying abstract images using nature too.
I find learning about the Top End environment a huge source of inspiration for me. This obviously wouldn’t apply for every kind of photography, but when shooting local landscape scenes it’s really helpful to know what I’m looking at - knowing about the local flora means I know what to look for in an image and want to capture what I’m seeing. This dirt track is surrounded by eucalypts, pandanus, acacia species and the pink flowered turkey bush and dotted yellow kapok flowers. Turkey bush and kapok only flower in the dry season, otherwise they don’t look as special as they do in this image!
7. SHOOT FOR YOURSELF
It’s easier said than done - especially as I make a full time income from photography - I have to make sure other people like my images!
However, the true passion and continued motivation to photograph have to come from you. If you genuinely achieve joy and satisfaction from your photography, your motivation will come naturally (eventually - even if you have a long break!). If you’re photographing for others - whether that be for work or for social media likes and online feedback, the reasons to photograph are easier to neglect. The reward you feel in yourself from creating an image you’re happy with or proud of, will always outweigh the external rewards.
Right: Cloud texture over Darwin Harbour
Sunset through a fading storm cloud. I love weather photography, and clouds!
8. Perhaps discipline will help
Sometimes, I do force myself to shoot. I plan a schedule, with locations, in advance. This way, when the time comes to shoot, I don’t have to think about where to go - it’s pre-planned. How do I come up with the locations? I spend time researching other photography (see tip 5!)
I might do this for a week or two for a few days a week. Even if I don’t feel like photographing… I go. Occasionally I don’t come back with a final image, and I feel deflated. But usually the opposite is true. I often come back with an image I’m happy with, and I have the feeling of “oh I’m so glad I went”. I never come back wishing I didn’t go photographing, even if I come back with no photography I’m happy with.
I also find that once I get back in to the habit of going out to shoot again, I’m so much more excited about doing it as I’ve reminded myself of the enjoyment of it!
As I mentioned above, I’m currently in a bit of a no-photography stage…. I’m so busy with the gallery and financially under a bit of pressure which is making it hard to have a). physical energy and b). motivation.
However, this final point is probably the one that’s actually going to make me get out and shoot. And, I’ve been in this place before. I KNOW if I force myself to go out and shoot, that the love - and natural mojo - will come back after a week or two!