Rediscover Your Photography Joy | by Louise Harmston
As photographers and creatives, we can sometimes find ourselves in a bit of a rut. Other areas of our lives can become complicated or difficult and our mental health can take a hit. This can all have a negative impact on our creativity. We can find we have stopped picking up our camera completely and when we decide we want to start creating again, we can feel a bit lost and unsure how to get back into it. Especially if the break has been over several weeks or months. Our confidence, motivation and inspiration might be lacking. I have personally found myself in this situation before so I wanted to share with you some ideas that have helped me and can hopefully help you to rediscover your photography joy.
Recreate an Old Photo that You Love
If you are stuck for inspiration, browse through your old images and pick out one you love. Have a go at recreating a new version of it. You can completely copy the old idea or let it naturally evolve into something slightly different. I wanted to capture Halloween with my daughter but was feeling uninspired. I wasn’t sure how I wanted to capture the story but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t so I decided to look back to the images from the year before and recreate them. This took away the pressure of having to come up with something new. I love both sets of images and it doesn’t matter to me that they are the same. It’s better than not having any photos at all. Next year I will probably create the same images again and make it an ongoing series.
Edit an Old Image
When you haven’t got any new photos to edit, browse back through your Lightroom catalogue and see if there are any images you may have previously overlooked or not had the time to edit yet. Find an unedited image and just have a play around with it and see where it takes you. Or take an image you edited in colour and create a black and white version. Open up Photoshop and add some overlays to an image or try creating a double exposure or a diptych. You don’t need to create a masterpiece and you don’t need to share it anywhere if you don’t want to, but the process of editing your work again can help to reignite that creative spark without needing to pick up your camera. You might just find a hidden gem buried in your archives!
Try a New Creative Technique
If you are in a creative rut, pushing yourself to try a new technique and make an image that is different from what you normally do can help to make your photography feel fresh and exciting again. You could try freelensing, ICM, in camera double exposure or shooting through something like prisms, lace, fairy lights, sheer fabrics, the possibilities are endless! One of my personal favourites is the simple piece of copper pipe from the DIY store. You could also try adding a lensbaby to your collection if you don’t already have one. There are so many ideas you can try to help you fall in love with creating again. You might just find a new technique that becomes a favourite and something you go to time and time again. These images are examples of shooting through a copper pipe and experimenting with my Lensbaby Sol 45.
Compare – But Only to Yourself!
It is true what they say that comparison is the thief of joy. When you are struggling to create for yourself, it can be hard not to look at what everyone else is doing and begin to feel discouraged rather than inspired. There is so much beautiful work out there! Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to yourself! Have a look back at your work from last year, five years ago, or from when you first started out and look at how far you have come! I promise you will see such growth and improvement. Seeing your own progress can give you a real mental lift, boost your confidence and inspire you to carry on with your photography journey. Celebrate your own beautiful work and be kind to yourself! Yes, I need to take my own advice here!
Try a New Genre
If you are feeling stuck, think about whether there are any genres you would like to try that are different from what you are usually drawn to. You don’t have to put yourself in one box. If what you usually do isn’t inspiring you right now, it is OK to try something different. One of my favourite images recently was a still life shot of my daughter’s toy on the washing line. It is different from my usual style but I felt inspired to capture it. What was initially a bit of experimenting, turned into one of my favourite shots. So, allow yourself to try something different with no pressure. You might be surprised and create your new favourite photo!
If you are feeling a little stuck right now and struggling to find that inner creativity, you won’t be alone. Reach out to photography friends or post in a photography community and you are likely to find others who are feeling the same way. I hope you can use some of these ideas to help you rediscover your photography joy and start enjoying being creative with your camera again.
