No matter what sort of creative work you do I’m sure you’ve felt lack of inspiration at some point. Although this post is titled how to find inspiration for photography it can be implemented in other spheres of creative work as well.
Since I love photography (and I mean all aspects of it) I’m gonna share with you what helps me when I feel lost and without inspiration to photograph something.
Here are some of the things that actually help:
1. Travel
I know that this is easier said than done but it’s my number one tip when you’re feeling stuck in whatever you do. Travel is the best source of inspiration, so if you have a chance – just go! I recently came back from a weekend in Budapest. In only two days my mind got lighter and my camera pretty full. Even though I’ve been to Budapest before, there’s always something new to see. Now you’re thinking – of course you’ll get inspired with a new place and take lots of photos. But that’s not the only thing.
When I came back, the next day I was in city center of my home city Belgrade. I didn’t have my camera with me since I wasn’t going to take photos, but the streets that I was walking looked so beautiful and fresh to me. A small weekend trip changed my point of view and I’m ready to take it and enjoy it.
2. Go out
I know this sounds like a cliche (most of these things are) but this always helps. If you’re stuck at home or office (or university) it doesn’t help that you’re spending time in one space and probably in the same position.
So, go out! And take your camera with you! But (this is important!) go to someplace new or the place you haven’t visited in a while. Don’t take the same route home from work. Don’t go to a place where you have lunch every day. Go somewhere NEW! It can be a park, a forest, a coffee shop, a museum or an art gallery. Or simply take a walk through the city. It has to be a place where you feel relaxed.
Why museum? Well, if you’re into creative work you’ll feel a lot better looking at paintings or sculptures than looking at clothes that are on sale for example. Maybe this sounds silly but it’s not. That painting you’ll see may not inspire you to take an amazing shot right after you exit the gallery but those colours are going to stuck in your mind for a while. My point is to inhale art around you. So, what could you possibly see in a forest or a park that can inspire you? The light! I took some of the best photos in a simple city park. All because the light was beautifully coming through the trees and everything smelled like spring. I felt good and later I saw the photos I made and I was pretty happy with how they turned out.
3. Find a muse
This sounds terrible, I know. I’m not talking about a Greek kind of muse (although that would be nice). Let’s say you love taking photos of streets and city scenes. Take your friend or your cousin with you and take photos of him (her) in your city. You’ll get a whole new perspective of the streets in your city when there’s an actual subject you’re taking photos of. You know that tiny corner you love and always take a photo of it? Or that house you have a thousand photos of? Well, let your muse pose for you and you’ll see how everything’s different.
4. Find a new angle
This simply means – move! Move a bit to the left or right, to the front or go back a bit and take more than ten photos from different angles. I’m sure this will do the trick.
Let’s say there’s a building you love. And, of course, you have lots of shots of that building. But they’re all somehow the same because you’re use to taking a photo from the same angle that you’re sure that works. Have you tried taking a photo of that building from the ground? It’s a great perspective. Imagine looking at that facade from where your feet actually are. Try it, it won’t hurt, I promise.
Let’s see another example. You love flatlay photos and you always take a photo of your favourite coffee cup with that gorgeous latte art. Try taking a photo of an actual coffee shop (a place where you’re at). Or try switching to another detail. Take a photo of the barista making that latte art you love so much. Oh, you don’t want to post that on Instagram? That’s totally fine, not every photo ends up there anyway. This is where you search for inspiration, not an Instagram worthy shot.
5. Look at other people’s photos
I know there’s someone you admire and can’t wait to see what they photograph next. Try to be in their shoes. Think of what they did to make that shot so beautiful. What are the colours you like in their photos? How would you photograph that something and how is it different from what they’re doing? If you manage to answer all these questions I think you’re on the right path to find some great inspiration. You don’t want to copy someone else’s style? I didn’t say you should, everyone’s unique. Even if your styles of photography are completely different and you still find something you like about that artist then use it as your inspiration.
Instagram and Pinterest are full of gorgeous photos from every category. Search for the beach, forest, city, lake, outfit and you’ll find millions of images that are very inspirational.
6. Do something creative
How to find inspiration in photography tip number 4 is actually to take a break from photography. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or angry that you can’t do anything right, just take a break. Do something else! Yes, you need to do other creative stuff to keep your mind satisfied. Draw, write, bake, knit, make a card for a friend. You’ll feel happy again and maybe even find inspiration for that image you wanted to create.
7. Leave your camera and take a break
My final tip on how to find inspiration for photography is this! When nothing else works it’s time to leave your camera and take a break. Don’t even take photos with your phone only because you feel like you need to. Don’t force it! You deserve that break. Don’t even think about photos. There’s more to your daily life than photography. You need to spend time with your friends and your loved ones, to take care of your kids, to do the laundry and go to the bank. After some time you’ll start missing photography and one day you’ll just pick up your camera, take it out and you’ll make some amazing shots. Simple as that!
If you love editing photos you can read how I edit my photos in Lightroom if you click HERE.
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