The 10 secrets to endless photography inspiration
Feeling uninspired to take photos is something every photographer faces at some point.
But with the right strategies, you can minimize the chances of falling into a creative block.
Here are 10 powerful ways to keep your photography ideas flowing, so you’re less likely to be stuck without inspiration.
Let’s dive in, my friend.
1) Explore new locations
I promise other ways are easier to do than this, but I couldn't miss this point.
Changing your environment can do wonders.
It can provide you with fresh perspectives, and new subjects to photographs.
But Hugo... I don't have money to travel.
I understand. I started photography at 14 years old - and that meant me being mostly "stuck" in my hometown.
And I use the word stuck, as I wanted to travel.
At times I did get uninspired, as I didn't know other ways covered in this Letter.
But at times, I was able to keep my inspiration flowing.
I visited the same spots but just in different seasons and lighting conditions.
Perhaps I brought a lantern with me this time, allowing me to tell a different story.
Still, 7+ years later I revisit some locations in my hometown.
Yes, it can feel boring...
But I still keep finding new photos to take.
Don't assume you've seen everything in one location, as then, you won't find new spots.
Assume there can be something you've not discovered yet, and who knows what will happen.
Even though I've got to travel the world, I still, somehow, get my best images in my hometown, in the places I've already visited.
2) Keep a photography journal (text, images)
Get an idea -> Write it down.
See a photography idea on-field, but don't have time to take a photo of it -> Take a snapshot.
These 2 ways keep my ideas flowing.
I can get ideas out of nowhere, and this is often the case when I rest. (Read more on its importance for creativity here.)
I have a separate Apple Notes tab for ideas.
That's what I call idea home.
To that home, nothing else is welcome than random ideas that surface.
Whenever I struggle with inspiration, that's the place I visit.
What about the photo snapshot taking?
Sometimes, I'm in hurry, or simply don't have my best camera with me.
In this case, I snap a photo with my iPhone.
Through this photograph, I can:
1) Remember the location
2) See what interested me in the location, and
3) Record the coordinates for myself.
When you take a photo, many phones record the coordinates - and through that - you can revisit the spot at a later time.
Make an idea home for yourself, and take snapshots for a later time.
3) Keep a swipe file
“Keep a swipe file. It’s just what it sounds like—a file to keep track of the stuff you’ve swiped from others. It can be digital or analog—it doesn’t matter what form it takes as long as it works. You can keep a scrapbook and cut and paste things into it, or you can just take pictures of things with your camera phone. See something worth stealing? Put it into the swipe file. Need a little inspiration? Open up the swipe file.”
This is what Austin Kleon, the author of Steal Like an Artist has recommended to not run out of inspiration.
Yes, it's similar to the idea home - but the purpose is a bit different.
This isn't for storing your own ideas. This is for storing ideas you've got from other people.
And yes, this is 100% OK to do.
Let me ask you a question...
Is there anything truly original?
Kleon argues that there is not.
See, everything has been inspired by something.
All your favourite photographers, directors, creators... you name it, have got inspiration from somewhere.
EVEN if they think they haven't... they have.
They have consumed some art, or other information, that has formed a new thought in their mind.
Creativity is about combining different ideas together, and creating something new.
This is what George Lucas did with Star Wars.
He took inspiration from The Hidden Fortress. (E.g. It inspired Darth Vader's black helmet - it intentionally reminds a samurai helmet.)
Other sources of inspiration were Flash Gordon, LOTR, and Dune.
And still, Star Wars feels unique to us.
Note ideas you find cool. Record them down, or maybe even make a folder on Instagram where you can save photos from others you find cool.
And then start to combine ideas together... this is how you become "original".
4) Collaborate with other creatives
Have you ever considered working together with other creatives?
This is what you can do too.
I have worked and collaborated on a work of art too:
ALL THE TIME IN HELL - part of 6529 Memes
Here I made everything, the photograph, the coloring... but someone who goes by the nickname of 6529er made the text in the foreground.
That was something I wasn't as good at, so it made sense to let him do that part.
Another example of a collaboration: Reuben Wu's and Jenni Pasanen's Metamorphe #04: Taste.
Here generative adversarial networks (GAN) were combined with painting and photography resulting in a unique piece of art.
You can also collaborate with other photographers if you don't have friends who do other art forms.
You could perhaps photograph a night sky, and your collaborator could provide a photograph of London - creating a unique composite photograph.
Of course, that's not to everyone's taste. But collaborating with other artists can be much fun.
5) Experiment with different gear
New gear brings new perspectives.
Whenever I get to try new gear, I always get super inspired, haha.
This is often the result of lacking something in your own photography kit.
This is what I saw when I first got my hands on a Sony 70-200mm f/4.
All the time I wanted to use it.
All the time I was looking for new compositions.
All the time I was looking where could I zoom in, haha.
Of course, trying out new gear all the time becomes expensive.
But perhaps you have a friend with whom you could exchange lenses for a shoot. Or, you can rent out a lens for a day.
This can do wonders for inspiration.
6) Try new edits
Editing is a huge part of photography to many, as I've written in the past few weeks. (Read last week's letter on it here.)
With editing, you can completely transform your photographs.
Personally, I love editing my photos. It nourishes my soul, so to speak.
When editing, I'm in the flow state. I'm in the moment. I'm doing my best to make the edit represent what I felt at the location...
Sometimes this is easy, other times it's a challenge.
And sometimes, I try something completely new in my edits which adds more fun.
Maybe I try a new tip I learned, or I just do something unusual with my photos.
It's a lot of fun.
Try new edits. Maybe take your favourite movie as an example, and try to get your RAW photos to look like snaps from this movie.
There are many ways to go about it. Try stuff out. :)
(In case you want to see how I edit for more inspiration, check out my Editing Masterclass here.)
7) Study the work of other photographers
Analyze the work of other photographers, whether this is through:
1) Books
2) Instagram
3) Online portfolios
4) Exhibitions...
This is similar to what we talked about earlier with the Swipe File.
Go and get inspiration from others.
This can be other photographers, but also other artists, such as painters. (E.g. I love Paul Signac's and Van Gogh's work.)
Take notes on what you like and think about how you can take those elements into your own work.
8) Study other art
Still a bit more to the previous point.
You can learn a lot from other forms of art, such as painting.
What makes a painting work can be how you can make a photograph work.
E.g. How the painter has used colors and composition.
And you can take this into your own work for new results, and for new inspiration.
One of my favourite things abroad is to roam museums.
Last year in February when I visited Paris for the 1st time, I got to visit Musée d'Orsay.
I saw Monet's, Van Gogh's and Signac's works in person.
Was insanely stressed taking this selfie, lol. So many people on the other side of the camera.
I could see their exact brushstrokes, and analyze them.
Whether you can see other forms of art in-person, or online, I'd highly recommend doing so.
And perhaps, consider buying books about the artists themselves.
I got a book diving deeper into Van Gogh's and Monet's works to get a deeper understanding.
9) Reflect on your personal experiences
Draw inspiration from your personal life - memories, emotions, significant events - or something else.
I can admit this is a huge inspiration for me.
When you see a small person in my photographs...
Yes, I want to showcase how small we humans are to showcase that our problems aren't as big as we make of them...
But that stems from my past.
I was depressed and hated myself. I started to put myself in my photographs as a small human for a reason - to make myself feel better and understood.
Also, I felt quite lonely at times. And that's why, some photographs such as Disconnected, can feel a bit more lonely and sad...
And that's because when making that photo, I was feeling lonely and a bit sad.
Art makes me feel better - and feel myself understood.
Taking photos can be a therapeutic experience. It has helped me overcome all kinds of challenges.
If you've yet to draw inspiration from your personal experiences... I recommend trying it out.
10) Take breaks
Lastly, but not most importantly... take breaks.
I can't emphasise this enough.
Breaks are important. Resting is important.
Sure, work hard. But for creativity, working hard is bad.
Creativity loves boredom. If you're never bored, work 24/7, and distract yourself always when you get a chance... it's tough to get the best ideas for your photos.
Taking walks in nature is something I dedicate a lot of the success I've had so far.
You have no idea how great that is for both your well-being and for generating breakthrough ideas.
My best ideas have come when I do not try to look for them.
This is down to DMN, the default-mode network of our brains.
You can tap into this network only when you're not concentrated on an external task.
When you're not focused on anything external, your DMN will start working, and result in pushing new ideas to your conscious mind.
(If you want to learn more about DMN, I recommend reading this.)
I'm not saying lay on a sofa all day long.
But I'm saying embrace being bored.
Boredom is great.
Don't see it as an enemy.
See it as an ally.
I tap into my DMN by:
1) Cooking with no distractions
2) Going to the gym and not being allowed to check emails, messages or social media
3) Taking nature walks (which I'll restart soon as the lovely mosquitoes are gone)
4) Taking hikes
5) Meditating...
There are many ways to go about this.
But the bottom line is this:
Rest is not bad. It's essential - IF you want to be the most creative you can possibly be.
Summary
1) Explore new locations
2) Keep a photography journal
3) Keep a swipe file
4) Collaborate with other creatives
5) Experiment with different gear
6) Try new edits
7) Study the work of other photographers
8) Study other art
9) Reflect on your personal experiences
10) Take breaks
Whenever you feel stuck, consider using these ways to light your fire for photography.
If you want to take bonus steps - here are 3 books I recommend:
1) Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
2) The war of art by Steven Pressfield
3) Rest by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
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I hope you enjoyed reading this, my friend.
If you enjoyed this Letter, feel free to forward it to a friend.
If you were forwarded, you can subscribe for more here.
Till next emails,
Hugo
P.S. When you're ready, these are 3 other ways I can help you.
#1: Ready to elevate your photo editing skills? Check out my Editing Masterclass & Preset Pack here.
#2: Have you seen my YouTube channel? I've put stuff out there too. I bet you'd find it valuable. Check out my latest videos and come give me a like and subscribe. :)
#3: I have a lot of free resources out there. Read the past Letters here.
