6 Things You Can Do to Get Inspired with Photography Again

Have you lost your passion and drive for creating - be it through photography or videography (or filmmaking) - lately? I will be sharing with you some tips that might give you a boost to getting back into your creative journey. Creating just about anything can be a tedious process and it’s very likely - especially if you have been doing this for a while - that you experience a burnout phase. Having a full-time job with daily tasks in life naturally puts content creation at the bottom of the list of priorities. With that said, here are 6 things you can do to get inspired to create content again.

1. No pressure, man

Relax. There is no need to hurry when creating content or doing anything that you are passionate about. Losing motivation and drive to create can be due to a number of reasons. You may have already asked yourself why you got into this hobby or passion in the first place. You may have also asked yourself where this passion is going to take you or what the end result looks like down the road within a set time frame.

Notice the thought pattern here? The former portrays living in the past, while the latter relates to thinking about the future. Creating potentially overextended and uncalculated expectations, which we hope to accomplish within a period of time. Having clear expectations for yourself is extremely important to growing and improving on your craft. I also believe that a certain level of seriousness is necessary when approaching anything in life. However, sometimes it helps to take a couple of steps back, relax and just enjoy what we love doing.

2. Take your AirPods off

Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to be plugged in 90% of the time outside. Yes, 90%! And yes, I do spend a lot of time on my own and I usually - not always - enjoy my particularly introverted self. Take ‘em off when you are out and about. Get off the all-day chill lo-fi hip hop cafe playlist when you sit in a coffee shop and just feel and listen to all the sights and sounds that you have been missing out on. It might feel like you’re traveling again, without actually having to make the effort to go anywhere.

You might have already noticed a recurring theme from the first two tips, and that is to practice being more present and taking in life as it is without worrying so much. All good, and I’m with you on this that it’s easier said than done. Give it a fair shot.

3. Dedicate a time to shoot EVERYTHING, with your iPhone

The images above were all shot on the iPhone 13 Pro and edited in Adobe Lightroom.

There was a person I met a couple of months ago who would literally shoot anything and everything. Her phone was always on the camera app and she would document every artsy pattern, animal sighting and furniture she would come across. I started to wonder why and later came to a conclusion that she was really passionate about designing products, and it was just her way to get her creative juices flowing, all the time. Pick a day, leave your gear behind, including your every-day-camera, and just take your iPhone along. Photograph and film everything you find a slight interest in. You never know what might get your blood flowing and inspire you to kickstart your next project.

The best camera is the one that you can take anywhere, anytime.

4. Stop shooting vertically

We have been conditioned by social media algorithms - particularly Instagram and TikTok - to shoot everything vertically in 4:5 and 9:16. Like most creators - or like most people, really - we are all looking to validate and satiate our desire for clout and respect and shooting vertically on Instagram gets us the most digital real estate.

Shoot horizontally. The 16:9 aspect ratio is still highly favoured, giving the viewer a bigger picture of the story being told. Shooting horizontally can also give the viewer a different perspective. There’s a reason why movies are still mostly shot in horizontal formats.

5. Tell a story through sequences

This is taking it on another level and contradicts with tip #3. I believe that telling stories and documenting events with intent is fundamental to improving your game as a creative. A story has multiple chapters from beginning to an end, and the easiest way to tell a story through film is to show a subject’s journey towards solving a problem. Alternatively through images it can simply be multiple angles and focal lengths of a subject or place. Start with a wide shot to establish the scene, and work your way to paying attention to the details within the scene. I find that a really fun way to tell a story through sequences is by using the 3-section template of Instagram Layouts to create Instagram Stories.

6. Get out there. And go alone

It can do wonders to go outside and get a breather on your own. Get out there and own the day.