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40 practical photography assignments to inspire you

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One of the most difficult things in photography is to stay motivated and inspired. I know that I have hit “photographer’s block” many times in my career.

Sometimes it is good to try out different photography assignments— to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, try a new approach, and to take action. Simply sitting on your bum and thinking about photography won’t improve your photography. You can only re-spark your passion for photography by making photos, or doing something hands-on.

Here are a list of photographic assignments which I hope help you. Feel free to skip around, and choose the assignments which appeal to you.

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On Being a Female Street Photographer

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Being a man [street photographer] is way harder. People will think that you are a creep if you take photos of children and women.” — reader comment on my last article on public privacy

I’m 5 feet tall on a good day. People always ask me for directions and children look me in the eye. I’m low-profile and not threatening and, with my black clothes and small camera, I easily disappear into city crowds. Being a women makes me vulnerable on the street, but is an advantage as a photographer.

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Photograph Anything You Want

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I wanted to write you this letter on how to liberate yourself in photography— by photographing what interests you rather than what you think other people will be interested. It means to make your photography more personal, and to make your photos a reflection of who you are as an individual. Remember; photos are always self-portraits of yourself, not of your subjects.

Often time, a lot of photographers ask me, “Eric— I don’t have any ideas for photo projects— how do I come up with good ideas?” I also get asked by photographers regarding advice for finding your own style in photography.

However at the end of the day, the simplest advice I would give is: “Photograph anything you want.”

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Always Be Prepared

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You never know when a good photo opportunity will present itself to you.

Always be prepared.

I’m not sure if you know this— but I’m actually a Boy Scout (Eagle Scout)— and “always be prepared” was our motto. Whenever we got ready for a camping trip, we made sure we had all of our supplies, and we always planned for contingencies or “what-ifs?”

I’ve tried to always be prepared in many different ways in my life. For example, I try to add a buffer to my schedule when making appointments (if I think I will be able to meet a friend at noon for lunch, I add an hour-buffer and tell them to meet at 1pm for lunch), I try to add a buffer to my finances (I try to live below my means, although this is very hard, and try to keep cash in the bank just in-case for emergencies).

The most important case of being prepared in photography is to always have your camera with you— for those “what if” scenarios.

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The “Personal Photography” Manifesto

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Dear friend,

I want to propose a new school of photography called “personal photography.” Consider this letter as a way for me to work out some ideas, and to share some ideas with you.

Disregard what others do

Let me outline the biggest causes of misery for photographers:

  1. Feeling that their gear isn’t good enough
  2. Not having enough followers online
  3. Not having others appreciate their work
  4. Not making a living from photography
  5. Not having enough time to take photos

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The Problem with Wedding Guests with Cameras Perfectly Explained In A Single Photo

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If you’ve been to a wedding recently you’ve probably noticed this; if you make a living photographing weddings you’ve definitely seen it: more and more guests these days watch weddings through their smartphone screens as they photograph and record every moment of it. God forbid Facebook won’t get to see the entire ceremony.

While many photographers have a hard time with this trend, Thomas Stewart posted a rant along with several points for couples planning a wedding to consider. The post has gone viral and could be the boost needed towards unplugged weddings.

“The feedback from the general public has been amazing, and generally very positive,” Thomas told DIYP.

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The Back Side Of Model Releases

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Last summer I was traveling in Central America and as a photographer, it was obvious to me that I will take this as an opportunity to add photos to my portfolio.

In the past, I’ve already licensed, sold & published some of my photos and was sure that I know all the details & restrictions about licensing a photo and whether I need to have a model release (written permission to use my photos for any purpose) or not.

When I arrived to the beach town Puerto Viejo I started photographing surfers and tourists and since I knew that I was not gonna start signing each and every one of them on a model release form, I made sure to photograph them from angles that did not reveal their faces. I assumed that this was my subjects will not be recognizable and I won’t need a model release. Boy I was wrong (:[Read More…]

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