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Step by Step Guide to Planning Your Photography Goals
One of the things I hear time and time again is that many people feel overwhelmed with everything there is to learn in photography, and that they feel like they are running around in twenty different directions trying to learn it all. I remember EXACTLY how that felt, and I want to see if I can help you avoid it!
One thing that can REALLY help with overwhelm is creating photography goals.
Photography goals are just as they sound - they are the things you want to be able to do by a certain time point. You assess where you are right now, and what steps you need to take to reach your goal. This helps avoid overwhelm and that feeling of trying to learn everything at once, since you are going to following a plan, not randomly checking blog posts and hoping it somehow all comes together :)
You know the saying, a goal without a plan is just a wish, so in this post, we are going to get super focused on planning your photography goals for the next six months - looking at where you are now, where you want to go, and what steps you need to take to get you there.
My hope is that you follow the steps laid out, and put them into action so you can make next year your best photography year yet!
Grab your wine, we’re going in...
12 Types of Photography Projects and Creative Exercises You Can Do
We all know the feeling of being in a creative rut - those times when we don’t quite know what to shoot and feel a little lost, or else we are fed up photographing the same things, in the same place, and in the same way, and feel we need a bit of a kick up the rear end.
In both those cases a photography project or creative exercise can really help!
It sounds weird, but actually being able to shoot anything we want, at any time we want, is sometimes not great for feeling creative! It can lead to overwhelm and paralysis, and in those situations, actually LIMITING your options, or shooting to a strict, pre-defined theme, will actually let your creative juices flow a heck of a lot more freely.
That’s why I spent a lot of time last year coming up with not one, not two, but TWELVE different photography projects or creative exercises you can, one for each month of the year :-)
In this blog post, I’m listing all 12 of these projects you can do in the coming year: so you never run out of ideas again! They also range from long(ish) projects that will span the whole month, to shorter ones that will just take you half an hour, so it really doesn’t matter how much time you’ve got, you should find something for you here.
Photography Project: December Daily
Welcome back for your last creative challenge! If you are brand new to the blog, every month in 2017 I have posted a creative exercise or a mini photography project for you to do. This is the final one of the year, so I hope you can join me for it!
So, here it is: the final challenge of 2017.
If you have been following along since the start of the year, I hope you have enjoyed them all! We’ve had a great mix of challenges I think, definitely something for everyone.
Remember, you can do the vast majority of these challenges at ANY time, so I’ll be back next week with a post that rounds up ALL the different challenges and projects I have here on the blog, so that you can pin or bookmark it for easy reference for going forward.
But back to this final challenge, as we are going to take on a mini photography project for this final month: a December Daily.
Case Study: Auto to Awesome student Katie Lynn
One of the BEST things about teaching people photography is simply the impact it can have on your students, and the images they take.
Seriously, nothing makes me feel happier than when I get an email from a student saying how much more confident they feel after taking one of my courses, or how it is all coming together for them, or when I see a student on Facebook or Instagram and they are simply rocking their camera.
A few weeks ago, I was on Instagram and viewing some of the images posted by my students, when a few caught my eye. They were from the same photographer, Katie Lynn, and I was blown away by how amazing they were. I was even happier when I learnt that she shoots with what some would call “basic” gear - an entry level camera with a crop sensor and the kit lens - absolute, 100% proof that you honestly don’t need the most expensive gear to make great photographs!
So I asked Katie Lynn if she would do a case study for me, because I really wanted you to see the impact learning your camera can make on your images, and how it can improve your skills and images SO much more than getting the latest lens or a new set of actions.
I’ve done a few case studies on the blog (I’ve linked to them at the bottom of this post if you would like to read more!) as I love seeing the journeys of photographers, but this is the first time I have had a student do this so I am extra delighted to have Katie here!
Take it away, Katie….
Gift Ideas For Photographers: The Ultimate List
It’s getting to be that most magical time of the year: the time when you might be allowed to get your hands on some new photography loot!
To help you with some ideas of what to put on your own wish list, or what to give a photographer friend or family member, here are some ideas that I know you would love to receive in your stocking this year.
Pin it or share it with your family so they know what they can get you!
Creativity Exercise: Produce a Photo Series
Welcome back for another creative challenge! If you are new to the blog, every month for 2017 I have been posting a photography project / creative exercise for you to do. There is only a couple of months left , but come back again on the first Tuesday of December for your FINAL assignment of 2017! You can of course do these projects / creativity exercises at ANY time, so at the bottom of this post you will find links to the previous challenges too :)
For this month's challenge we are going to be creating a photo series.
What is a photo series I hear you ask? Well, it's simply a group of photos that come together to create a common theme or story.
Ready? Let's dive in!
Check Out These Reader Favourites
It's been quite a few years now since I made the switch from Aperture Priority Mode to shooting in Manual Mode, and it was one of the BEST things I ever did to improve my photography skills.
It was like a whole new world opened up to me, and I started TRULY understanding exposure, and in turn, getting the images that I wanted.
Of course, there was a lot to learn, and there are some things I wish I had known before I started!
So, here are 10 things about shooting in Manual Mode that you might just wish you knew…