Hi everyone! Jenn was kind enough to have me as her guest blogger today! I’m Bethany Hill and I operate an up-and-coming portrait photography business in Northwest Arkansas. I’m here to share on the topic of inspiration!
In this very visual field of photography, or in any creative pursuit, it is easy to get burned out – like you are running out of ideas, poses, locations, etc! That is why it is so important to keep your mind fresh with ideas. Well I’ve got a bundle of tips that help me stay motivated and inspired!
01) Make time for inspiration. Don’t feel like all that time you spend perusing photography on the internet, in books, or magazines is time wasted. If you have found a particular blog or magazine that inspires you like crazy, make time for it and don’t feel guilty about it! It may not even be photography-related… inspiration can come from anywhere! I’ve found wedding magazines and photography/crafting blogs get my ideas flowing. This will also help you stay on top of trends in photography.
02) Focus on what you DON’T know. If you’re feeling a little bit of the photo blahs, maybe this is the time to work on some new skills. Still kinda confused about white balance? Read up on it. That new flash in your bag that you aren’t 100% sure how to use? Go play with it. Go learn something new in Photoshop or Lightroom. You may find that once you learn something new you will be itching to use it and you will only become a better photographer because of it. I wish I could stress this to every photographer or aspiring photographer out there: spending a ton of money on an expensive SLR and lenses will do nothing for you unless you know how to use them!
03) Pick up a new form of photography and simplify your thinking. I personally love playing with vintage or toy film cameras – they help you to not take everything so seriously. The first time I shot with my Holga it was so refreshing – no aperture, shutter speed, white balance, or ISO to worry about! Just point and click. Taking all that thinking out of the technical side lets me completely focus on what I am photographing. And I’ve noticed it influence my digital work – more square crops lately! Another fun toy camera to try is a Lomo Fisheye 35mm.
04) Get your goals down on paper, and read them constantly. Whether you do photography for personal reasons or you have a business, it is so important see where you are going, and then later, how far you’ve come. Crossing goals off my photography list feels so good! Try it!
05) Look to your favorite photographers for inspiration, but don’t try to copy them. You may be inspired by a pose someone else has done, but try to put your own spin on it. You want your work to be uniquely YOU. I always hear that personal style is something people struggle with in all art forms. I don’t really focus on style as I am working. I just work with what is naturally pleasing to my eye. Style is just something that comes out of your work naturally – you can’t force it. And it’s ok if your style changes every now and then – no one wants every shoot to look to same forever!
06) Don’t put things off until everything is “perfect.” ”I don’t have any ideas,” or “The weather is bad today,” or “My SLR isn’t the greatest,” or “I am not very talented with the camera,” are not good reasons to hold you back. As photographers we are expected to find beauty or intrigue everywhere. Just go out there and do it. Shoot a lot. Perhaps, to the amount that may seem ridiculous to others. And smile when they call you a camera nerd.
Hopefully you can utilize some of these tips, and feel free to comment and post some tips of your own. Stay motivated, stay refreshed, make beautiful photographs, and go after those goals!
Bethany
http://www.bethanyhillphotography.com
http://bethanyhillphotography.blogspot.com
