Staying Motivated With A Photography Project : 5 Tips For Not Giving Up

photography projects are one of the best things you can do for your photography.  for me, i learned so much and grew quickly during my photography projects, which encourages me to start and complete one each year.  from a long project like a 365 photography project to a short day in the life project, there are so many types of photography projects to choose from.  choosing a photography project that is right for you and where you are with photography is important and your next step is staying motivated with a photography project.  as you begin your photography project, keep these tips in mind so you don’t give up.

photographing your everyday is a wonderful subject for a photography project.  be sure to check out my ebook the everyday photograph to learn how to see the beauty in your everyday life and to start taking images that you are happy with.

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Staying Motivated With A Photography Project: 5 Tips for Not Giving Up

need help deciding on a photography project?  here are 5 photography projects that a photographer should do at least once.

1. Tell Someone

starting a photography project is like starting a diet.  you need motivation and you need accountability.  staying motivated with a photography project can be as easy as telling someone that you are starting a project.  when you tell other people, they can encourage you and remind you to keep going on the days when you want to give up.  they can remind you to pick up your camera and keep going.

2. Write It Down

one of the biggest ways for staying motivated with a photography project is keeping it in mind at all times.  for me, i find that writing it down in my planner really encourages me.  i love crossing accomplished tasks off of a list, so writing things down is really effective for me.  whether you write it down in your planner like me or put encouraging post it notes by your camera, give yourself little reminders to stay motivated.

3. Know the Facts

know that photography projects are a time commitment.  know that they are hard.  know that you will want to give up, most likely more than once.  if you know all of these things going into your photography project, you will expect them and tackle these struggles.  know that it is normal to want to give up, especially around 6 weeks in.  it’s normal.  but instead of giving up like everyone else, push through those tough times, pick up your camera and come out on the other side with great images.

sometimes i find that knowing the facts and knowing what to expect is half the battle.  that way, once i feel like my photography project is getting to hard and i want to quit, instead of quitting i can understand that the feeling is normal and that it will go away if i keep encouraging myself to continue.

4. Post Your Images Somewhere

having a place to share your photography project images is huge!  whether you choose to share them on your blog or instagram, be sure that you have a place to brag about your photography project and show off your images.  allow others to encourage you, it will be a huge motivator for you to continue being successful with your photography project.  if the photography project you choose has a hashtag or a community of people doing the same project, be sure to participate.  it is great to make friends with other photographers who are working their way through a photography project, just like you.

5. Make Your Project Work For You

staying motivated with a photography project means making your project work for you.  your photography project is yours.  it is okay to make your own rules.  decide when it is best for you to shoot and when it isn’t.  decide how often you want to pick up your camera and how often you need a break.  making your photography project work for you will really help you be successful.  maybe you decide to shoot daily, but only edit once a week.  for me, i know that it is hard for me to find the time to pick up my camera on the weekends because i like to focus on family during that time.  knowing that, i encourage myself to photograph more during the week to offset my weekend breaks.

staying motivated with a photography project starts with you.  by writing it down, posting your images, making your photography project work for you, telling another person about your project, and knowing the facts…you will be successful with your photography project.  what other ways do you stay motivated with your photography projects?  be sure to share your tips with us in the comment section so we can be encouraged.

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