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13 Photography Project Ideas for Photographers of Any Level

Do you want to sharpen your skills, learn fresh techniques and/or create a displayable body of work? Take a look at these great photography project ideas.

Learn | By Ana Mireles

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Are you looking for photography project ideas? Then you’re in the right place.

If you’re like me, you’ll agree that photo projects are a great way to stay motivated and grow as a photographer.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, an amateur or a professional, projects help you to focus and develop your skills.

If you’ve never done a photo project, I start by explaining what it is and why you should consider doing one.

Then, I’ll give you some examples from famous and talented artists so you can get inspired.

Once you’re as pumped about projects as I am, I’ll give you some ideas to get you started – there’s something for every level!

Table of Contents

What Are Photography Projects?

Credit: George Milton

Photography projects are creative enterprises that you plan and execute through photographs.

In other words, a photography project is a series of images you create around an idea or a concept. All the pictures of the project have a coherent style and technique.

You can do photography projects at any skill level and all types of photography . So, it doesn’t matter if you do food photography or street photos. You can still develop a project.

Photography projects aren’t related to duration, the number of images, or camera equipment. You can decide on the specifics of your own photography project as you see fit.

• What are the best photography games?

Why Do a Photography Project?

There are many advantages to doing photography projects. One of the main ones is that it helps you stay motivated and focused.

If you photograph without purpose or idea, it’s more likely that you’ll lose interest. When you don’t have a project, you might have time to pick up your camera and waste most of it just trying to decide what to do.

Instead, you can get right to work if you have some photography project ideas. Also, you’ll have goals to keep you photographing until you’ve completed them.

Another good reason to shoot photography projects is that it makes it easier to improve your photography skills.

As you know, practice makes perfect. If you shoot single images all the time, you won’t dedicate enough time and practice to each skill to actually grow. It also makes it more challenging to see the improvement because you won’t have anything to compare.

Photography projects aren’t just beneficial to improve your technical skills . They’re also helpful in developing a creative style and advancing your storytelling techniques.

• Fun photo challenge ideas to try

6 Famous Photography Projects

When looking for creative photography project ideas, it’s helpful to see what professional photographers are doing. Here are a few famous projects that might be of help.

1. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton started this photo project back in 2010. His idea was to create a catalogue of NY city inhabitants by taking 10,000 street portraits. He also included quotes or a short story from each person he photographed.

His photography project became a blog that quickly reached millions of followers on social media. Later, it was published as a book.

The Humans of New York photography project grew, and it now contains sub-projects called Stories. He’s made a series about Pediatric Cancer, Syrian Americans, and others. These have been published too.

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Stanton’s idea expanded to more than 40 countries. This project is now simply called Humans as it transcends nationality and borders. It talks about the shared experience of being a human.

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Inspiring Photo Journal

2. My Breast Choice by Aniela McGuinness

Aniela McGuinness is an actress diagnosed with breast cancer three days before having a preventive double mastectomy. This was only a year and a half after she lost her mother to ovarian cancer.

She decided to start the project My Breast Choice to show how cancer and chemo impact the body and soul of women.

She teamed up with a photographer to create a series and capture her process. She also made a lifestyle blog and a YouTube channel.

Through these multiple media channels, she uses humour to raise awareness, help women dealing with these issues, and cope with what she went through.

3. Afraid to Go to School by Sodiq Adelakun Adekola.

This photography project won in the Stories category for the Africa region of the World Press Photo. In Nigeria, children are often kidnapped from schools. Usually, they are girls that are then forced into marriages.

In this series, the photographer witnessed and documented the victims’ families.

4. One Year Performance 1908-1981 (Time Clock Piece) by Tehching Hsieh.

Nowadays, we’re constantly taking selfies. Some people use them as a photography project idea and take selfies every day, every week, or every birthday.

Way before this hype, Tehching Hsieh did a photography experiment which was much more extreme. He took a self-portrait every day for an entire year.

This means that he would also wake up every hour each night to keep the project going. It’s worth mentioning that he’s known for his year-long performances.

5. Subway Love by Araki.

Araki is one of the most prolific photographers today. He’s done countless photography projects, which usually publishes as books.

Subway Love is one of his longest projects. Throughout ten years (almost), he photographed strangers that rode the subway with him on his way to and from his work in Tokyo.

6. Untitled Film Stills by Cindy Sherman.

Cindy Sherman is famous for her photography projects where she questions identity, stereotypes, gender and sexuality, etc.

In Untitled Film Stills, she did over 70 black and white pictures that seemed to be still taken from 1950s films. She is the model on each one – however, they aren’t self-portraits. In every photograph, she embodies a different persona.

How to Come Up With the Photography Project That’s Best for You

Your passions are the first and most important thing to consider when choosing photography project ideas. This is the best way to enjoy and stick with the project – doing it about something that excites you.

Another consideration you should take is your equipment. It’s good to be ambitious, but you also need to be realistic.

If your photography project idea involves resources you don’t have, it will quickly become an excuse to postpone the project.

Of course, you can always buy or rent the required equipment, but just do it if you can afford it.

The same concept applies to your availability. So, choose a subject that’s easily available to you. Also, determine the duration of the project and the number of photos according to your other commitments.

If you can only dedicate a few hours to photography, choose a project that doesn’t require a full day.

If you’re into wildlife photography, choose a subject you can find in your area instead of waiting for your next vacation to go on a photo safari.

The idea is that you set yourself attainable goals. It’s perfect if you can drop everything and dedicate full time to your photography project. However, this isn’t easy, and most people have to start slower.

In whichever scenario you’re in, it’s still possible to do a photography project. Let’s see some ideas to get you started.

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4 Photography Project Ideas for Beginners

Not all photography project ideas must be complex and result in a masterpiece. There are tons of projects you can do as a beginner.

These photography project ideas for beginners will help you to get acquainted with your camera, develop technical skills, and incorporate photography into your everyday life.

Idea 1: Everyday Objects

Credit: Engin Akyurt

The great thing about this project is that you don’t have to buy anything – you can use whatever you have around you.

Start by choosing an object. You can use a different one every time you do the project, which can be every weekend or once a month – it’s up to you.

Anyhow, choose this object and come up with different creative photography ideas for it. You can photograph it with different lenses, lighting, and camera settings . This will help you to learn and practice technical skills.

Otherwise, you can explore the object in a creative way. Come up with different stories around the object.

To capture unique images, you can place your object in different scenarios. You may also think about everything the object represents.

Let’s use an apple as an example. You can associate it with the poisoned apple of Snow White, the one from Adam and Eve, or the apple of discord from Greek mythology.

You can check out the work of Chema Madoz if you’re into fine art photography . For more commercial work, check out the stunning images of Dina Belenko. These authors will surely get you inspired.

Idea 2: 365 days project

Credit: Tobi

As you can imagine, the 365 days project involves taking at least one photo daily. This is one of the most common creative photography project ideas.

You can find many lists online with 365 photo challenges. This way, you don’t have to waste time thinking about what to do. It also encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, as you don’t get to pick what to do.

Another way to do it is to create your own 365 days project. This way, you can focus on a specific subject or technique you’re interested in learning and perfecting. Doing this allows you to see how you grow as a photographer with time and practice.

A good subject for 365 days could be something that changes with time, such as a tree.

Another project idea is to focus on a specific type of photography, such as crystal ball photography or steel wool photography.

Otherwise, you can use a specific technique, such as capturing light trails or motion blur .

Idea 3: Self-portraits

Credit: Pixabay

A self-portrait photo challenge is excellent to practice photographing people. Not only can you practice the photographic side of it, but also the modelling side.

Most photographers struggle with posing people or conveying to their models what they need. So, being your model will help you to develop those skills too.

There are endless creative photography techniques you can try around this project. You can start with simple things like an outdoor portrait.

As you improve, you can move on to more complicated things, such as double exposure.

• Self portrait photography ideas and tips
• How to take photos of yourself when alone

Idea 4: Night photography

Credit: Aleksandar Pasaric

Night photography is more complex than shooting during the daytime. That’s why it’s the ideal photo project if you want to push yourself.

It will help you to master the basics of camera exposure. This is because you’ll have to learn how to use a slow shutter speed without getting motion blur.

This is not just about a moving subject but about you causing camera shake. This is also related to the focal length you use. It might be necessary to use a tripod.

You’ll also learn about the relationship between ISO and noise. Sometimes, the autofocus won’t be accurate due to the dim light. So, it will also push you to work with manual focus.

Another helpful thing you can learn when shooting at night is the color temperature. You’ll notice how each type of light has a different color and how to deal with ambient light  that may include more than one.

All these technical aspects can be applied to the subject of your choice. So, you can do portraits, landscapes, and other shots that interest you while remaining within the project theme – night photography.

• How to take portraits at night

4 Photography Project Ideas for Students

These creative photography projects aren’t just for people learning about photography. They can be helpful for all sorts of students. Photography can be a powerful tool to teach physics, optics, and other subjects.

Idea 5: Illustrate a book

Credit: Levent Simsek

This exercise is excellent for photographers at any skill level who want to exercise their storytelling abilities.

Choose a book you like – it doesn’t matter how long it is or to what literary genre it belongs. You can use short stories, thrillers, romantic novels, etc.

Now, think about photography ideas that could illustrate each chapter or the entire book. Also, take a photograph that could be used as the book cover.

This is also useful as a high school photography project. Translating what they just read into an image or a set of images will help them isolate the story’s key moments. It will also make them engage on a different level with the book.

• Best coffee table books of the year

Idea 6: Forced perspective

Credit: Francesco Sgura (left) / Abdullah-Ahmad (right)

Forced perspective is a technique that creates an optical illusion. By doing this type of photography, you can make things appear bigger or smaller. Also, thanks to this manipulation, you can also alter the perception of distance.

There are many creative photography projects you can do using this technique. One of the most common examples is to photograph ‘holding’ a famous landmark in their hand.

This technique isn’t just used in photography. It’s also used in painting, sculpture, and architecture. It’s also common to see it in films – although you might not know it.

Have you seen Lord of the Rings? Peter Jackson often used forced perspective to make characters like dwarfs and hobbits look smaller than others.

Idea 7: Pinhole photography project

Making a pinhole camera and using it to capture images is a great project for students. Whether they are children, high school students, or beginner photographers – it’s a project that fits everyone.

Anyone interested in photography can use a pinhole camera to learn how pictures are done. This is because digital cameras still share the same principles of the camera obscura. Also, regular students can use it to learn how light travels or to see a solar eclipse.

You can make pinhole cameras out of cardboard boxes or a DSLR, depending on your resources. If you’re using a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, simply buy an extra body cap and drill a hole.

Then, cut a piece of aluminium foil and make a hole in it with a pin. Now, tape the aluminium foil on top of the drill hole you made on the cap.

Lastly, remove the camera lens and put this pinhole cap. This way, you can make pinhole digital images.

The traditional way of doing pinhole photographs is using a box or a tin as the camera body. The process is the same as I explained before. You can watch the above video to see all the details on constructing it.

• 32 homemade DIY photography props

Idea 8: Photo walk

Credit: Rafael Barros

Photo walks are small projects that can be done by any student regardless of skill level. It’s mainly about remaining focused and motivated. They’re also helpful as they teach you to see like a photographer because you’re on a ‘photo mission’.

The topic of the photo walk can be anything you want. You can use a theme such as geometric shapes or street signs – it doesn’t matter.

Another approach is to set limitations instead of a subject. For example, you can only use one lens – or one focal length in case you own a zoom lens.

You can use the same topic or limitation each time and see how it develops on a bigger scale. Otherwise, you can do different targeted themes each time. It all depends on how much you want to commit to this project.

5 Photography Project Ideas for More Advanced Photographers

Even advanced photographers can benefit from doing photography projects. This may be because they want to learn a new technique or how to use a new piece of equipment.

It may be because they want to grow their business by approaching a different type of photography. Perhaps it’s because they want to stay motivated and challenged.

Whatever the reason, these photography project ideas should be helpful.

Idea 9: Double exposure photography

Credit: Whicdhemein One

If you’re looking for a creative photography project that requires more advanced techniques, try doing double-exposure images .

This is a technique you can do in film and digital photography. You can also choose to do it as a post-processing effect.

The idea is that two images are compound in one image. Of course, you can also combine more images – then it’s called multiple exposures.

You can centre your project on the technique. If this is the case, you can do the same subject using film, digital, and editing techniques to achieve it. You can then compare the results as well as the pros and cons of each method.

If you prefer a more creative approach, you can use this technique to convey feelings to the viewer. You can also make visual metaphors if you like symbolism.

One approach isn’t better than the other; the important thing is that you come up with photography ideas that work for you.

Idea 10: Multiple light sources

Credit: Aleksander Dummer

Most photographers start by using natural light. Once they master it, they move on to flash and studio lighting . To understand how these work, you can think of projects that force you to use more than one light source.

Remember the first rule about finding project photography ideas – you must be passionate about the topic.

So, if you enjoy working with people, do a project for portrait light setups . If not, you can always make one about product or food photography.

• Everything to know about photography lighting

Idea 11: Abstract photography

Credit: Abstract

Doing an abstract photography project is a great way to push your boundaries or overcome a creative block.

Unless you’re already an abstract photographer , this photo project will force you to view and think about things differently.

It will also challenge you by presenting new limitations. Instead, it will remove some of the usual boundaries you have when you photograph things.

Shooting abstract images will also help you with your composition. You won’t be able to rely on the usual rules that guide where you put your main subject. Instead, you’ll be able to explore colors, textures, light and shadows.

As far as the subject goes, anything can be used to make abstract photography. Although, it may be challenging to find a way to make it look exciting and communicate something with it. This is because there isn’t such an obvious focal point as it would be in figurative art.

You can do this project with your equipment, which is excellent. However, you can also explore different techniques that may need specific gear.

For example, you can do macro photography. Ideally, you should use a macro lens , but there are less expensive options, like getting extension tubes. It’s also possible to reverse the camera lens.

A macro project works in abstract photography because you can isolate a detail from the surrounding scene.

Other ideas for abstract projects include a long exposure whit intentional camera movement or exploring a subject from multiple angles.

• See also: How to do intentional camera movement photography

Idea 12: Tilt-Shift photography

Credit: Daniel Tafjord

Photography projects for advanced photographers can be about specific gear. In this example, I’m using the tilt-shift lens . However, you can apply the same principle to any equipment you want to master. It can be a drone, a large format camera, etc.

Tilt-shift photography is when you change the orientation of the lens in relation to the camera sensor . Architecture photographers use this to correct perspective distortion. You can also use it to extend the depth of field, which is helpful in product photography , for example.

However, tilt-shift lenses aren’t just used to perfect the image – there’s also a creative use for them. You can make any city look like a scale model of itself.

Idea 13: Underwater photography

Credit: Victoria Strelkaph

This photo project is about getting out of your comfort zone. So, if you regularly do underwater photography or can’t do it for some reason – find a different way to push your boundaries. You can do aerial photography, for example.

We’re used to thinking about underwater photographers as professional scuba divers with special equipment. However, you can do a project with more attainable ambitions.

You can do underwater photography by snorkelling or doing it in a swimming pool. You also don’t have to focus on wildlife. There are beautiful underwater projects with ballerinas or even wedding photography.

The main point of this photo project is that it’s physically challenging, it requires new skills, and it can be as documental or as creative as you want.

So, it has a bit of everything. It’s the perfect project for the advanced photographer looking to try new things.

You’ve Completed Your Photography Project. Now What?

Credit: Mike B

Photo contests

Participating in photo contests is a great way to get your project out there. It will be seen by professionals in the photography industry, and you can confront your work with that of your peers.

Most photographic contests have categories dedicated to series or stories. The name may change, but the scope is the same – to acknowledge photographic projects.

You may also choose a single image from your project to participate in the single-image categories of a contest. This is because often the prize includes an exhibition. So, even if the judges only get to see one of them, you may get to show the entire project in the end.

You can find a list of photo contests here that we’ve selected that may interest you. You’ll also find a summary from a series of interviews Shotkit did with award-winning photographers to learn their tips on how to win.

Get your work exhibited

Getting your work out into the world is one of the biggest satisfactions after you’ve completed a photography project.

There are many ways to get your work exhibited. The most traditional is to approach galleries and see if they are interested in showing it.

Of course, getting picked up by a gallery is not an easy task. Fortunately, this isn’t the only way. You can look for open calls to participate in collaborative exhibitions.

Also, you can organize an exhibition yourself. You can approach cultural centers, photography schools , and even bars or coffee shops. They’re often happy to show work from emerging talents.

Make a photo book

Another way to distribute your photography project is by doing a photo book. There are two roads to follow: you can either approach publishing houses or self-publish.

Publishing houses have all the expertise and can reach a wider audience through their marketing channels. Unfortunately, getting published is difficult as there is a lot of competition.

So, you can choose to publish a book on your own. It can be made as an e-book, or you can use a print-on-demand platform if you don’t have a big budget to start with. Otherwise, you can print the first batch from the start.

• How to choose the best paper for your photo book

Build an online gallery

In this day and age, it’s easy and affordable to build a personal website. You can use this platform to showcase your work by doing galleries with your photography projects.

You’ll find Shotkit’s roundup of the best portfolio websites for photographers here .

Start another project

Last but not least, once you’ve completed your photography project – start working on the next one!

Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

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24 creative photography projects for 2024

4 seasons of creative challenges and inspiration to enjoy over the next 12 months

Creative photography projects for winter 2024

Creative photography projects for spring 2024, creative photography projects for summer 2024, creative photography projects for fall 2024.

It’s time to bid farewell to 2023 and say hello to 2024! The new year is always a great time to start afresh and to reassess your ambitions and aims for the year. As well as thinking of the personal changes you want to make, you can also think about what you want to achieve from your photography – and we are here to help you do just that. 

To get you started, we’ve curated 24 fabulous photo projects for you to try throughout the year. The aim is to tackle one project every fortnight so you can explore different genres and use different skills that will help you grow as a photographer.

To make it easier to follow, we‘ve themed the projects into seasonal categories, starting with winter, but mix and match as you see fit. You can also adapt our suggestions to suit your own shooting and editing style – feel free to put your own creative stamp on them!

Project 1: Fabulous flora

You may think that spring and summer are the best times of year to take stunning garden shots, and while this is true, the winter garden also has plenty of photographic opportunities. Look for structural and skeletal plants such as dead thistles or cow parsley to shoot as your main subject. Remember to get down low to compose your shots. Bring along a bag or old cushion to save your knees from getting dirty and wet on the ground.

• Convert your images to black and white. This style of photography lends itself to the monochromatic medium as your winter garden shots should all be about the form and structure of the plant. 
• Isolate your subject. Think about your background and how to make your subject stand out. A wide aperture setting will help you do this. 
• Consider how you are going to present your image. A double or triptych can work well.

Project 2: Bleak landscapes

Instead of waiting for the perfect golden hour, embrace the dull weather by shooting bleak and minimal landscapes this winter. Misty conditions are ideal and use negative space to aid your composition. This type of project can be shot in both rural and urban locations, so wherever you live, you can achieve great results. Trees work particularly well as a main subject, but so do man-made structures such as water towers and industrial power plants. Have a look at the works of Hilla and Bernd Becher and Josef Koudelka for some inspiration.

• When converting your image to black and white, it’s easy to over-boost the contrast and make the blacks too dark and the whites too light. Pulling it back a little will let the image speak for itself.
• A wide-angle lens is useful for this style of photography.  
• When it comes to composing your image, as well as using the rule of thirds, you can also think more symmetrically.

Project 3: Light the way

Winter months are the perfect time to shoot light trails. Head out into the urban environment or look for a busy and interesting piece of road for your location. Essential kit includes a tripod, high-vis (if you stand near a road) and a wide-angle lens. Experiment using different shutter speed settings (starting at 30 seconds) to see how they add to the final effect. The speed of the traffic and the number of vehicles will also affect the result.

Project 4: Serene still-life

On those days when it’s freezing cold or the rain is hammering down and you can’t face the outdoors, find some household objects to create a simple still-life setup. In our example, we used some candles as our main subject and draped a household plant around to add some interest to the shot. Your background choice is also important as this sets the feel and tone of the image.

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Project 5: Creative portraits

This project is easy to do at home but it will require some planning, milk (around six liters), a model and flowers, although these are optional. We shot our image using flash and elevated our position above the model using a step ladder. Make sure you have your camera strapped and secured to your body to avoid any accidents. To create the milky effect, fill your bath about halfway with warm water and then add the milk. If you don’t want to use fresh milk, you can also use milk powder.

• Bounce the flash to achieve a clean look. You want to avoid heavy or distracting shadows. 
• If you’re going to add floating flowers to the milk, add these after your model is in position; otherwise, they will go underneath the water as your model gets into the bath.  
• Once you’ve added the milk, the water cools down reasonably quickly – be ready to shoot so that your model doesn’t get cold!

Project 6: Festive bokeh

Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke, which means blur or haze. In photography, you can achieve an easy bokeh effect using a lens that can be opened to a wide aperture setting – the wider the better, so prime lenses are ideal. You will also need some lights in the background, and small lights work best, so Christmas trees are perfect for this type of effect.

Project 7: Bring spring indoors

When the first signs of spring start to emerge, we all seem to breathe a sigh of relief… However, we are also aware that April showers can go on way beyond April, so on those rainy days, bring the spring indoors. A flat lay is a great way to do this and can be achieved in a few easy steps.

Set up the background

Lay down a piece of coloured card on a table and place it next to a large window. As you want to make your image bright and vibrant, colored card will work best.

Bounce the light

To reduce the shadows, place a reflector on the opposite side to your main light source. This lifts the image and removes the stronger shadows for a more even result.

Set up your camera

Put your camera into Aperture Priority mode and set the aperture to f/4 and the ISO around 200. You can either shoot this handheld or on a tripod if your shutter speed is too slow.

Project 8: Animal portraits

Many animals are born in the spring, so take advantage of this to create some characterful animal portraits. For a winning shot, keep the focus on the eye or the face of the animal to create a connection between the subject and the viewer. Animals can be tricky to work with (especially those that aren’t domesticated) so be patient and keep shooting to ensure you get a winning shot.

Project 9: The Bartocha technique

Sandra Bartocha was one of the first to invent this popular technique where you layer images on top of each other (often nature images) to create a beautiful effect. To achieve this, shoot multiple images of your subject at different focus points and then build your image using an editing software program like Photoshop , where you can blend multiple layers together.

Project 10: Garden lifestyle

The spring garden is the perfect setting for a lifestyle project. Although this shot looks as though it has been taken candidly from behind the flowers, it has in fact been carefully composed and thought through to sell the dream. Placing items such as a blanket and a magazine on the table adds that lifestyle element to the scene and enables the viewer to picture themselves in that setting.

Project 11: Beautiful butterflies

By late spring, many different varieties of butterfly are starting to hatch. To shoot our spring butterflies, we grew them ourselves. We ordered some caterpillars from Insect Lore (insectlore.co.uk) and watched them grow from caterpillars into Painted Lady butterflies – this is also a particularly interesting project to do if you have children. When we released the butterflies into our garden, they were completely docile, meaning we could spend time getting them into a good position.

• Head to your back garden or the local park and look for flowers (such as the daisies in our example) or for interesting backdrops where the butterflies can rest.
• Use a long lens such as a macro 100mm prime for best results.
• When shooting at a close proximity, your aperture setting is affected. For example, our images were shot at f/8, which on a wide-angle image would be sharp from front to back. For our butterfly images, f/8 was the perfect setting as it softened the background while keeping some of the butterfly sharp, which was the effect we were after.

Project 12: Wide and shallow

As spring leaps into action, you’ll find fields of flowers starting to bloom. Our instinct and habit when we shoot a wide-angle shot is to set the aperture to a narrow setting to keep the scene sharp from front to back. On this occasion, however, you should do the exact opposite. Open your aperture to a wide setting and blur the background and foreground. This works best in-camera if you have a lens that can go as wide as f/2.8. However, if you don’t have an f/2.8 optic, shoot as wide as you can and then exaggerate the blur effect at the editing stage.

• Look for a colorful setting. Fields of tulips or lines of flowers are the perfect arrangement for this technique (lavender fields also work in the summer months).
• Think about where you want your focus to sit in the image. About a third of the way up often creates a pleasing result.
• Plan your shoot to coincide with good weather. Avoid the brightest part of the day and opt to shoot in softer light at the beginning or the end of the day.

Project 13: Splash and shoot

Jumping into the sea or a large body of water is great fun to do and you can get some eye-catching photographic results at the same time. To make sure your shots are sharp, set your camera to fire in the fastest burst mode you have and ensure your AF setting is set to the tracking feature, so you can follow your subject. You may need to get your model to do a few jumps to get the perfect shot.

• It’s all about communication. Speak to your model first to tell them where they need to jump so you can be ready to get the action shot.
• Shoot a sequence of images and either pick the best of the bunch or present them as a sequence. 
• Sea salt and cameras do not mix! Protect your camera with a waterproof cover and keep it clear of any big splashes. A long lens will help you get close to your subjects.

Project 14: Divine drinks

Cold drinks on a hot summer’s day make the perfect combination for a winning photograph. Not only is it better to shoot into the light here, but you also want to make sure your drinks are ice-cold so that they bubble with condensation, which adds to the overall effect.

• Think about your setting and how that adds to the overall look. In the summer, an outdoor setting such as a garden is the best way to go.
• Open your aperture to a wide setting to blur the background and isolate your subject.
• Bring in additional props to add interest to the corner or side of the frame, but make sure they don’t become the main focus. Here, we used a pair of sunglasses as a prop.

Project 15: Summer scenes

The first or last light of the summer day are the best times to shoot spectacular summer scenes. Blackpool Sands in Devon, pictured here, were shining as the sun set behind the fields. Shoot in raw format and bring those warm tones back into your image at the editing stage to make the most out of it.

• Calm and still days are the ideal settings to shoot scenes like the one below. Have a recce beforehand to work out the best spot from which to compose your shot.
• Use a wide-angle lens to frame the full scene and look for curves and shapes in the landscape to help you with your composition.
• At the editing stage, bring some detail back into the shadows. You may also need to warm the shadows up as the light is much cooler there compared with the rest of the scene.

Project 16: Perfect portraits

The long summer days are blissful and at the start and end of the day, the light begins to soften meaning you can achieve excellent results with your portraits. Coordinate your sitter’s clothing to match the scenery. In our example, the girl’s blue flowery dress matches the flowers on the ground perfectly. We’ve also added a creative filter and toned the image to make every element in the scene work together.

• Have fun and engage with your subject as you are shooting. Although it might be tricky to think about camera settings while directing a model, you should make sure they are comfortable.
• If working with children, you need to be quick as they won’t stand still for long. To hold their attention, do your research first – find out their interests so you can engage with them for longer.
• Keep the focus fixed on the face, but if shooting closer up, focus on the eyes.

Project 17: Capture fun at a festival

If you like people-watching and listening to loud music, there’s nothing better than photographing a music festival. These images were taken for the Dart Music Festival last summer and are the perfect example of how to get great results…

Look for light

Photography is all about finding the best light and this is also the case at a festival or an event. Natural or ambient lighting can be used to your advantage so look for opportune moments with your subject in the setting.

As well as photographing the musicians at a music festival, there are lots of images to be captured in the crowd. Look for fun moments, especially when people are unaware of your presence for a more candid and natural result.

Capture the moment

It’s all about being ready to capture the perfect moment. A shake of the head or someone jumping in the air are always winners. Keep your ISO above 800 to ensure your shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the action.

Project 18: Shoot big group photos

Shooting a large group of people is never easy so think of fun ways you can get them to engage with each other. People feel a lot less awkward if they have something to do or are given good direction. These colorful bridesmaids naturally formed around their bride, creating the perfect lineup for a group picture. Luckily, it was a hot day so it didn’t take much encouragement to get them to paddle in the water! Make sure you keep your aperture setting around f/8 so everyone in the frame stays sharp.

Project 19: Fall close-up

As well as offering plenty of opportunities for wide-angle shots in the fall, the small details of the season are also a joy to photograph. Look for slithers of light to frame your subject and when it comes to editing your images, follow our steps for atmospheric results. We think Lightroom is one of the best image-editing software programs for toning and styling your images, so we opted to use this.

Open Lightroom

Import your images and then go to the Develop Module. Start by adjusting the controls in the basic tab. Correct the Exposure and White Balance, boost the Contrast and use the Whites, Blacks, Shadows and Highlights sliders to tone your image. Also, play around with the Tone Curve setting below for further effects.

Profiles and presets

Profiles and presets are easy ways of toning and styling your image and are a great starting point. You can create your own or import them. There are plenty of profiles and presets for sale on the internet. We added a touch of a profile called Soft Fade as the base for our image. You can adjust the amount applied by any profile or preset using the Amount slider – sometimes a hint is all you need.

Color grading

Now take it a step further and go to the Color Grading feature. This enables you to color-tone the mid-tones, highlights and shadows separately. Start by picking your color, for example, warmer mid-tones and highlights and cooler shadows; you can then adjust the amount added by clicking further out on the circle. Again, less is more, so have a play around for subtle results like ours.

Project 20: Location portraits

Although landscape photographers search for that perfect autumnal light, portrait photographers also do the same when out on location. This image taken of a girl at an outdoor adventure club is the perfect example of what a setting sun in autumn can bring to an image.

• Keep your camera in Aperture Priority mode and knock the exposure meter down a stop to ensure your highlights aren’t overexposing.
• Shoot into the light, keeping the focus on your subject.
• Color is important for a shot like this so think about what you want your subject to wear. In our example, the red jumper is perfectly matched to the light conditions.

Project 21: Shoot abstract architecture

Sometimes less is more, such as in this example of an image of a beach sauna. The contrast of the patterned orange tiles placed against a clear blue sky is what makes it such an effective result. You don’t need to go far to find this type of image, so have a search around your local area to see what you can find.

Project 22: Still-life around the home

If you need a day at home, you can still take great photographs. The home has plenty of areas you can style, from living room areas to a shelf and dresser in the bedroom. If you have busy surfaces, remove the clutter and style your shots using a few books, plants, candles, blankets, cushions or whatever you have lying around… it’s also a good excuse to have a clean and sort out household items at the same time.

• Use a tripod as you want to keep your ISO down low to ensure your shots aren’t grainy. Using a tripod indoors enables you to keep your ISO low, at 100, as you will need to use a longer shutter speed. 
• Unless you have a library of beautiful old books that all match in color and style when shooting books, turn them around so you can’t see the spine to create a neutral look. 
• For scenes where you have a big difference between the highlights and shadows of the image, try bracketing exposures and merge the shots at the editing stage.

Project 23: Fire and food

Smoky and fiery conditions are perfect for food photography in action. Look for flames created by dripping meat to capture effective results. When it comes to selecting the right camera settings, don’t be afraid to push the ISO up if you are shooting in low light. Here, we set ours to 1600 and the aperture at f/2.8 to get a shutter speed of 1/400 sec. This meant the action of the flame and the hand stayed sharp.

Project 24: Present your photos

On those rainy days later in the year, take time to reflect on your photography, go through and organise your photos and edit them accordingly. Try printing out some of your images, thinking of different ways to present them, and if you need to share images with a client or a friend then find a pleasing presentation method, such as the wooden box in our example, or frame your favorite photos of the year and hang them on a wall.

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Claire is a professional photographer and writer, and lives by the the sea with her two young children, husband and cat in the southwest of the UK.

After graduating from The Bournemouth Arts Institute with a first-class degree in photography, Claire worked for a number of years in the publishing industry, including as Technique Editor for Digital Camera magazine.

She loves anything and everything to do with photography, from creating magazine articles to photographing ballerinas on the beach and newborn babies (but not at the same time). She mainly shoots with digital DSLRs, but does dust off her beloved Hasselblad medium-format film camera once in a while…

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Photo Books

Wedding invitations, 65+ photography project ideas you can start today.

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Dec 8, 2020

Do you want to sharpen your skills, learn fresh techniques or just have fun with your camera? Photography projects help you accomplish all three.

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Through themed projects, you can capture unique images that follow a certain framework or style. Your project can last a week, month or year—depending on how in depth you’d like to go. To offer you inspiration, we’ve compiled 68 creative photography projects that are appropriate for all skill levels.

Once you’ve completed your project, be sure to create a photo book with your images or select your favorite for a canvas print .

1. Self Portrait

By switching the focus from other subjects to yourself as the subject, your photography takes on a whole new perspective. When setting up your shot, choose a landmark item to use as a stand-in until you’re ready to jump in the frame.

Play with auto and manual focus with your stand-in until you get the shot just right. Then, enter the scene using the timer option.

For the wisdom project, the goal is to gather photographs of those who have offered you wisdom or a helpful perspective. You might feature grandparents or mentors—or be inclined to include young ones who have provided you a fresh angle on life.

Aim to capture individuals in their natural state, especially if it’s in a location where they shared a special moment with you.

3. Candid Photo

Photographing someone in their natural state allows for their true personality to shine through. With a candid photography project, incorporate a range of human subjects for a diverse collection, or capture the same subject across different settings and days.

Building a portfolio of several candids allows you to paint a vivid persona of your subjects.

4. Street Style Photography

Authentic street style photography allows you to snag shots of the latest fashion—all without the strut of the runway. Look for colors first (either eye-catching or stunningly neutral), then watch for the cut and structure of the clothes.

Aim for overall beauty within the frame, including the street or walkway, so the focus isn’t solely on the clothes.

5. All About The Details

Create a collection of shots with unique subjects that focus on the details. Whether the photos are for an engagement , graduation or everyday occasion, you can take portraits of smaller details, like wisps of hair, relaxed hands and prominent features. Making your subjects feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera is the first priority. Plan a single shoot for various angles to help capture what looks best on a given day or moment.

6. Natural Element

Plan for your gallery of photos to include candid shots of the subject in their element. Whether they love the beach or like to craft, you can capture your subject in their favorite space or place to go.

If a subject feels awkward in front of the camera, have him or her lean against something vertical, like a fence, wall or car. They’ll feel more anchored and their body angle will offer the photo some character without seeming unnatural.

7. Pet Photography

From cats to dogs to horses, the heart and soul of your pets can be captured with the right technique. Incorporate natural light in your shoot keep watch of your pet’s eyes. Expressions and personality often shine through and it’s a great time to capture these moments.

8. Motherhood

Being a mother is one of life’s greatest gifts. When we’re parents, beautiful moments take place along with messy and chaotic ones. Encapsulate the full spectrum of motherhood with photos from quiet moments like snuggling with your child to lively times like cooking together in the kitchen.

With any photography project, it’s important that your images tell a story.

9. Panoramic Pictures

A popular technique for landscapes, panoramic photography enlarges the viewpoint beyond the normal size of a camera lens. To ensure there are no gaps in your panoramic shot, overlap your image by 15-30%.

You’ll also want to keep your camera as level as possible to ensure the photo is even throughout. Don’t forget that panos work well for vertical shots, too, like waterfalls and deep canyons.

10. Sunsets Photos

Sunsets make for stunning photos—especially when executed well. For maximum beauty, be sure to slightly underexpose the sunset for rich and dramatic colors. Use manual mode and a fast shutter speed for underexposure, or use aperture priority with exposure compensation.

Make your sunset even more magnificent by arranging an object or scene in the foreground of the sunset, like a lake or mountain.

Mist and fog are natural elements that can enhance the beauty of your photography. Check the weather to determine when fog might pop up. Oftentimes the best lighting for fog photos occurs in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening after sunset. The low lighting causes a slower shutter speed, which means a shakier camera.

Keep your camera as still as possible or use a tripod. The best places for foggy photos? Open bodies of water and other sweeping landscapes like fields and low rolling hills.

12. Cityscapes

Hovering skyscrapers and diverse skylines are part of what makes cityscapes such attractive photography. For a cityscapes project, try different vantage points across the city to see what works best (think: a popular lookout compared with a more secret locale).

Prepare for an after sunset shoot, allowing the city lights to pop against the dark sky. Remember to use a wide angle lens to cover as much ground as possible.

13. Water (Rain, Ocean)

Whether you’re hoping to create scenes of smooth, flowing water or capture dynamic waves crashing against a seawall, it’s critical to have better than average camera equipment. For nearly every water shot, a tripod is also essential to keep the frame still for the length of the exposure (usually two to four seconds).

Pack along a lens-friendly cloth to remove splashes and water marks. Plan to get wet if you’re banking on a stunning water shot.

14. Seasons

Each season offers its own charms—from snowy branches to colored leaves. Select a location for your seasons project where you’ll snap photos throughout all four seasons. Once the year is complete, you’ll have a collection of stunning images that tell the story of your special place over the course of a year.

15. Star Trails

Spectacular from edge to edge, star trails photography is an adventure to shoot. The first step is to find a clear sky full of stars, but free of pollution and other light interference. Anchoring your camera on a tripod, set your camera to shoot on manual mode. The faster the lens you have, the better.

Once you have your shot prepared, select drive mode for consecutive shots rather than a single frame. With your remote, let your camera take photos for thirty minutes up to a few hours, depending on the length of star trails you’re creating.

Capturing still images with a remote-controlled drone opens up the options for angles and perspectives in your photography. Consider sending a drone above a beach, golf course or mountaintop.

Increase the altitude of your drone for a more impressive viewpoint and try GPS mode for a more stable shot.

17. Food Photography

As a still life technique, food photography requires a few main ingredients: good lighting, props and style. Place your items near natural lighting or use a flash to give the photo a balanced look. When it comes to the arrangement, consider adding in table setting details like plates and silverware.

Amplify the photo’s texture with decorative pieces like colorful fruits and sprigs of herbs. For a well-rounded food photography project, shoot a variety of foods and dishes.

18. Black and White Month

Instead of using the full color spectrum, this project idea prompts you to capture images in black and white only. Two-toned photography provides a different perspective or feel to your work, and gives you a chance to highlight people, places and objects in a novel way.

For instance, a close-up of hands be enticing when displayed in color, but in black and white, the image paints the story that all humankind is united.

19. Everyday Moments

Photos that showcase a slice of regular life contain a certain genuine beauty. When preparing for everyday moment shots, make sure subjects are comfortable. People should interact as if you aren’t even present.

The true magic happens when you’re able to capture two people’s true connection.

20. Random Acts of Kindness

The random acts of kindness project prompts you to capture someone doing something thoughtful or helpful for another person. By photographing these moments, you’re telling a larger story of humanity.

To be successful in this project, you’ll need to keep a keen eye out for small acts of generosity, like a young man holding the door or a little girl smiling at a stranger.

21. Shoes For a Week

Narrow your photography focus for a week by capturing different styles of footwear. From boots to sandals to athletic shoes, diversify your image collection. Be sure to utilize a range of angles to create unique stories for each photo (i.e. a guy lounging with shoes on, two people talking while standing, a woman running).

22. Comfort Zone Challenge

Pushing the limits of your creativity often leaves you with impressive and surprising results. With the comfort zone challenge, throw caution to the wind and experiment without expectations.

Maybe that means you’ll shoot a paragliding experience, a fireworks explosion or animals in action. When you’re snapping shots, play around with your shutter speed, aperture, focal length and movement.

23. 30 Strangers

Taking a photo of someone whom you’ve only just met can be thrilling. It can also be personally and professionally rewarding. Through the 30 strangers project, you’ll capture 30 portraits of people you’ve never met before. Find people on the street, in a shopping mall or at a park.

Be sure to ask each person’s consent first before posting publicly. The 30 strangers challenge will certainly stretch you outside of your artistic comfort zone.

24. Duotone

Duotone photography refers to a multitone production of an image, usually imposed through photo editing techniques. The superimposition of a contrasting color halftone (normally black) over another color halftone enhances the middle tones of an image.

Photographs with one main object, like a flower, seashell or tree, are ideal for creating duotone effects.

25. Perspective

Perspective photography can take many forms: those shot from a low angle, ones with strong leading lines and those that look straight up into the sky. Whether your scene is a railroad track or skyscraper, your image should emphasize the angle and the unique perspective you’re hoping to give the viewer.

Train your eye to notice patterns, lines and reflections you can capture from different angles.

Not only is coffee delicious and rejuvenating, it’s also a work of art. Collaborate with a barista on a latte design or the type of mug to use. Choose a simple backdrop so the coffee remains the focal point.

A dark backdrop is best if you’re aiming to capture the steam rolling off of a warm drink.

27. Create a Photo Album

Let your memories last forever by creating a photo album for a recent vacation, an adventurous summer or a year filled with fun. Design your photo album with a theme in mind to build cohesion. Vary your layouts from page to page for texture and personality.

28. Traffic Lights

When photographing traffic lights and other light trails, the best time is during or after twilight on a night when minimal wind is present. Based on your camera angle and objects, you’ll need to adjust and experiment with your settings.

Often times, shutter priority mode is ideal along with a shutter speed of six seconds. Make stability a non-issue with a tripod, and remember you won’t be using a flash.

29. Happy Days

Allow joy to take the center stage of your photos. Whether they’re candid shots of family members interacting or a single subject, make sure the smiles are natural. Enhance the happiness level by highlighting the subject with ample natural lightening.

30. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Challenge yourself and your fellow photographers by setting up a photo scavenger hunt . Rather than choosing objects and locations to capture, create a list of photography styles to achieve. For instance, your list might include building a motion blur or catching a clear action shot. At the end of your hunt, you’ll have a collection of impressive photographs.

31. Night Scenes

Night scenes, also known as low light photography, allow you to make the most of dark scenes that are hard to capture. When less light is present, it means you’ll also have slower shutter speeds, which equals more camera shake. For this reason, landscapes and long exposures at night time require tripods.

Whether you’re shooting special moments around the campfire or gazing up at the stars, utilize a wide aperture or a low f-number to let in as much light as possible.

32. Polaroids

Polaroids offer a timeless feel and give photos a natural frame. When creating a collection of polaroids, be sure to switch up your angles and perspectives. Try a few upclose shots of objects along with macro shots of mountains and lakes.

For polaroids with human subjects, allow for plenty of natural light and aim for candids.

33. Letters/Signs

With any inanimate object, the challenge with photography is to bring it to life. With letters and signs, try to enrich the shot with the surrounding scene whether it’s greenery or a neat light fixture. Angle your lens in a way that makes the lettering most striking.

Build a full photography project with at least five to ten different signs.

34. Action Shots

To nail a clear action shot—for sports, animals or anything else—the most important aspect is to be prepared. Consider pre-focusing your shot, so when the subject enters the frame, you’re ready.

Because it may take several shots to capture even one solid photo, shoot in short bursts for a few seconds at a time. Keep extra space at either edge of your frame to allow for your subject’s movement.

35. Abstract

Fundamental to abstract photography are lines and curves. The shapes you highlight will guide the viewer’s eye to a certain engaging element. To get up close and personal with an object or design, use a macro lens. With the macro, your photo composition will have clearer resolution and sharpness. Complete your project by gathering a collection of abstract photo pieces.

36. New Lens

Your camera equipment plays a large role in your work as a photographer. Your tools, like your lenses, can fundamentally change the structure your art.

To sharpen your skills, try using a single lense for an entire month. Ideally, the lense will be new to you—allowing you to master the new tool and broaden your photography skills.

37. Architecture

Photographing architecture—whether modern or classic—presents unique challenges. Consider capturing an array of building styles for your portfolio and don’t forget to mix up your angles. Vary your shots by choosing a different weather conditions and times of day.

Through your diversity of shots, you’ll have richer story of the buildings’ relationship with the environment.

38. Thankful

To enhance your gratitude and happiness, consider completing a thankful project where you take one photo every day of something you’re grateful for. From flowers to pets to family members, find subjects that have personal meaning to you.

By capturing what you’re thankful for, you connect deeper with the people, places and things that surround you.

39. Sunday Mornings

Whether you’re enjoying a cup of coffee or a good book, snap a photo every Sunday morning for one month or a year. Capturing everyday occurrences through photography is a form of artistic journaling, helping you to document life’s big and small moments.

40. Top View

The angle of your shot makes all the difference in how appealing and engaging it is. Try a series of photos where your perspective comes from the top. Amp up the creativity by getting higher for your shoot and using a wide angle lens.

A busy environment, like a packed street or active household, can become a striking composition when using a top view perspective because it offers necessary distance from the cluttered setting.

41. Guilty Pleasures

We all have foods and activities we love despite feeling that they might not be held in high regard. Perhaps your guilty pleasure is cream-filled donuts or binge watching reruns of your favorite sitcom.

Collecting images of your guilty pleasures will likely bring you humor and levity, knowing that these items are a part of you, but they don’t necessarily define you.

42. Silhouettes

Forming a distinct contrast between light and dark, silhouettes highlight one or multiple subjects. Ensure your subject is backlit with the sun behind them. The best times to shoot silhouettes are in the morning or late evening.

Build a stunning image by setting the scene with open space, like in a field or along the beach. Set up your camera angle facing the sun, then ask your subject to stand between the sun and you. Play around with the exact angle until you have a strong contrast.

Create a collection of photos shot with prism filters on your lens or by placing a prism in front of your lens. The light that dances off of the prism will add creative effects to your photography by dispersing light before it hits the camera. Secure your camera on a tripod so you can have your hands free to play with the prism and lighting.

Prism photography can include large subjects like nature scenes and architecture or smaller objects like books and candles.

44. Symmetry

Finding subjects that offer you symmetry is the foundational step for this photography project idea. Look for symmetry in architecture and nature, but don’t leave out human and animals subjects. Smaller details, like hands or feet, often make for the perfect symmetrical photo.

Bokeh photography is denoted by one unique characteristic: a blur produced in the out-of-focus area of an image. The blur, produced by a lens, helps direct the focus of the photo. A fast lens is necessary to achieve this technique, with at least an f/2.8 aperture.

With a wide open lens, you can create bokeh with subjects like butterflies, humans and fencing around a baseball field. These photos are perfect for framing around your home .

46. Action Figures

Due to their size, action figures are easy to rearrange and shoot from multiple angles. Bring the scene to life by having the figures interact with each other. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, tell a story through your action figures, like one you would find in a comic book. Include action shots against a simple backdrop.

47. Steel Wool

Although it may seem like steel wool photography would require expensive equipment, it is a surprisingly inexpensive technique. For this project, you’ll need the following: a camera, lens, tripod, shutter cable, steel wool, string, stainless steel whisk, lighter and protective gloves. In a dark location—away from combustible items and other people—burn steel wool that’s loosely packed in a whisk.

As the steel wool burns, spin the whisk either vertically or horizontally to create the desired effect. The burning will only last about ten seconds, so you’ll want to set up for at least five seconds of exposure time. Steel wool photography creates wild and interesting images, but be sure to follow safety precautions to avoid hazards.

To enhance your skills and test out a nifty shooting technique, try macro photography on tiny subjects like insects, match-heads and flowers. Keeping your budget in mind, choose a magnification lens that lets you make super small items appear larger than life. For your macro project, vary your subjects.

Consider nature’s smallest members, miniature household items and up close shots of human elements for your portfolio.

49. Double Exposure

Double exposure, also known as multiple exposure, is a technique that combines two images in a single image. By using double exposure, you can create a distinct effect like a mirror image or ghost-like presence. The layering technique can be done with or without photoshop, depending on your equipment and skill set.

50. Escapism

Photography, like any type of art, can be a form of escapism. Through the camera, we can create images that help us step out of reality and into our daydreams. Prepare for your escapism photography project by thinking of your ‘happy places’ or locations you go to get away.

After brainstorming, head to one of those locations and shoot scenes that offer a mystical aura—whether it’s birds fluttering in the forest or the clouds lifting off of the mountains.

51. Shadow Art

Just as light is a critical element to photography, so is darkness. With shadow art, the focus is placed on the subject as it blocks light from reaching a surface, like a sidewalk or table. Experiment with the angle, distance and size of your light source to alter the intensity and scale of your shadows.

Consider humans as your subjects, but inanimate objects, too, like musical instruments, buildings and action figures.

52. Texture

From brick walls to tiled roofs to wooden fences, textures are all around us. Complete a photo challenge where you take one shot of a textured surface every day. Turn on your auto focus to ensure the object is in perfect focus. Adjust your distance from the subject based on how much detail you want in your image. This idea is perfect if you’re also looking for creative Instagram photo ideas .

Aim for a ninety degree angle when you shoot the image so your texture is lined up straight with the camera.

53. 365 Wardrobe

On each day of the year, snap photos of your clothes before you begin the day. Arrange them differently—sometimes orderly, sometimes more carelessly—to gain a sense of how your mood changed from day to day. Remember to include accessories like purses, shoes, belts and headbands.

54. Suspend Time

Photography is a powerful art medium: it can even pause time. Whether you’re suspending an item with a fishing line or taking a shot of someone jumping, you can create the look of time being stopped. Start this photography project by choosing three items or people you’d like to suspend.

55. Balloons

Bursting with color or more neutral tones, balloons make for versatile props. Let helium balloons off into the sky and capture photos as they float up. Surround the birthday girl with balloons in an otherwise empty room. Or tie a balloon to a child’s wrist and photograph them as they wander through a park.

56. Hotel Carpet

If you travel frequently, the hotel carpet project may be the right kind of fun for you. Next time you’re walking through a hotel lobby, glance down at the carpet beneath your feet. All sorts of patterns and colors are used in hotel carpets across the world. Take a snapshot (ideally at a 90-degree angle) of each carpet for a collection that will help you remember all of the places you’ve been.

Across neighborhoods and cities, doors provide insight to each home’s character. For this photography project, set out on an adventure to collect as many styles and sizes of doors as possible. Choose a macro approach, where the whole door makes the shot, or go micro by narrowing the frame to door handles and styles of wood.

58. Juxtaposition

To build juxtaposition in your photographs, place two opposite subjects next to one another. Like a blue ocean and a green forest, the contrast between the two is noticeable yet stunning. Types of juxtaposition might include a person and their shadow or a thin item next to a thicker item. For this photography project, try several contrasting subjects or locations.

Photos full of irony can be humorous or thought-provoking. Maybe you snap an image of a tow truck hauling another tow truck or you notice a descriptive sign in a place that doesn’t quite seem to fit. When it comes to ironic photos, a keen eye is needed along with a quick wit.

60. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights make for beautiful focal points. You can wrap the lights around a tree, weave them between human subjects or fill mason jars with them. Build a larger scene by ensuring no backdrop distractions are present or capture the fairy lights up close.

Regardless of what subjects and scenes you decide to shoot, proper exposure is crucial.

For this photography project, choose smoke as your primary accent. Incense sticks are easy to use and allow you to play with various colors. Your setup should ensure ample ventilation for the smoke to escape the room. Some photographers merge two photographs (one of the smoke and one of the object) to design a special scene, like one of a toy train blowing smoke or a tea kettle steaming.

62. Vintage Cars

From sporty models to classic town cars, vintage vehicles never go out of style. Look for vintage makes at car rallies and exhibitions, although sometimes you’ll come across them in your everyday happenings. The golden hours, right after sunrise or right before sunset, are ideal for shooting cars. Highlight specific parts, like bumpers, trunks and hoods for diverse perspectives.

63. Faces In Things

You’ve probably seen images that double as a face and another object. In this photography project, you’ll create a similar effect. Take a close look at nature, food and furniture to locate hidden human faces. Compile as many faces as you can, and see if your friends can guess what’s in the images.

Alter your perspective by shooting your subject through a picture frame. The frame technique works best outdoors where you can place ample distance between your lens and your subject. Consider creating scenes with a woman standing on the beach, a tree in an open field or a tall building at the end of a street.

65. Reflections

Any body of water—like a lake, river, pond or swimming pool—can act as your reflective tool for this photography project. You’ll want to avoid direct light on the water to eliminate glare. Practice using reflections on waterfront cityscapes or mountains overlooking a lake.

66. Take My Hand

When you can represent human connection in photography, the emotion of the image is strengthened. Head out on a hike or stroll through a garden to practice photographing two hands linked together.

67. Picception

A relatively new technique, picception images incorporate another camera or photo into the shot. It can be a picture-in-a-picture style or something more subtle like a photograph of someone taking a photograph. While often informal, picception shots can be formal if intentionally designed.

Often eye-catching, neon photos provide a stunning mix of light, shape and color. Whether you’re on the Vegas strip or exploring your hometown at night, take photos of neon signs with your camera’s evaluative meter exposure setting. Choose a low ISO of 200 or 100 to avoid noise. Be sure to place your camera on a tripod for stability.

No matter which photography projects you decide to complete, remember to enjoy the process and save copies of your photos. Design a themed calendar or metal print to showcase your results.

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How to do a Photography Alphabet Project

A Post By: Megan Kennedy

Do you remember the ransom notes left behind by kidnappers and villains in movies? The notes made up of different letters cut out of magazines? My first encounter with the concept of a ransom note was while watching a movie called Baby’s Day Out. The 1994 movie, aimed at kids, tells the story of a toddler kidnapped by three crooks disguised as photographers (funny, huh?). The kidnappers then leave a ransom note constructed from letters cut from magazines. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not encouraging kidnapping here, or any criminality for that matter. But this project does involve building up a photographic library of text, for artistic purposes only!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not encouraging kidnapping here, or any criminality for that matter. But this project does involve building up a photographic library of text, for artistic purposes only!

We encounter so much written language these days that it is often overlooked as a photographic subject. Written language in any environment is made up of an endless combination of fonts, colors, shapes, and applications. Of course, there are random text generators online, but automated programs won’t add anything to your photographic practice.

By scoping out letters in the field you’ll train your photographic senses to seek out unusual subjects, an invaluable skill for any photographer. By concentrating on an unusual yet familiar subject, you can build up an interesting and varied typographic library. It’s a great way to view the world through the written word.

Some history of the alphabet

The first true alphabet was created roughly four thousand years ago in the land of Canaan. The alphabet, containing between 20-32 individual letters, didn’t contain any vowels so people had to guess what vowel sound followed each consonant based on what the word looked like. Despite this, the system worked and ended up replacing the complex system of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

The new alphabet meant that people didn’t need to memorize thousands of different symbols, allowing more people to communicate through the written word. The Greeks added vowels to the alphabet – creating the first alphabet with a letter to represent every sound in a language. From there, the alphabet spread to Italy where it evolved into the Latin alphabet. The English alphabet evolved after the Romans took the Latin language to Anglo-Saxons England, who amalgamated the Latin and runic alphabet.

Some letters are harder to find than others. For the letter Y, I had to get a bit more creative – borrowing the registration from an aircraft overhead.

What you will need

One of the great things about this project is that it doesn’t require any special equipment. You can simply grab your camera and you are good to go! However, there are a few items that you can pack to make your trip a little easier.

Bring along a folded piece of paper and a pen to take a tally of the letters you photograph. This way you won’t have to constantly scroll through the photos you have taken previously to check if you’ve stocked up on a particular letter. This is also useful when tracking numbers or upper and lower-case letters you’ve photographed. To separate the tally of each letter more easily, I use a highlighter. That way you won’t get mixed up or add a mark under the wrong letter.

Scouting for letters

A rusty bus zone sign makes for an unusual addition to your alphabet stockpile.

Like many subjects, once you start looking for something, you become attuned to the sight of it. This honing-in on detail is an invaluable skill for photographers, who often have to decipher both the detail and greater landscape simultaneously.

For starters, try collecting letters to make up a phrase. Then go on to building the whole alphabet. The more variety the better. As an extra challenge, try photographing a different source for each letter or add numbers to the mix.

I found plenty of material from traffic and warning signs alone. You may notice that many signs are made up of eye-catching colors. Red and yellow shades draw attention, so they are commonly used for warnings. By incorporating these bright colors into your collage, you’ll create a very attractive composition. You could even photograph the labels on tins and packets of food. Though if you’re doing this in a supermarket or grocer, be sure to check with the manager first.

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

is a photographer and writer based in Canberra, Australia. Both her writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications. More of Megan’s work can be viewed at her website or on Instagram at MK_photodiary .

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Home » Lifestyle » 14 Creative Photography Projects Ideas You Need to Try

Tackling a photography project is not only a great way to improve your photography skills but it can keep you from feeling like you take the same photo everyday. However trying to come up with photography project ideas can be a challenge. Below are a list of photography ideas.

Creative Photography Project Ideas

1. project 365 or project 52.

You know I love a Project 365 and have lots of tips on completing one . Whether you take a photo a day in a Project 365 or choose to do one photo a week in a Project 52 this is a great way to focus on your photography skills.

2. 30 Day Project

Take on a shorter commitment by doing a project that lasts on 30 days. There are many different ways you can do this. In my ebook, The Unexpected Everyday, I give you a 30 day photography ideas challenge to learn a new skill and give you a prompt for each day. You can’t help but improve your photography all while taking timeless photos of your children.

Read more: 30 day photo challenge (become an EVEN BETTER Photographer)

3. Pick a theme

Deciding on one particular thing to focus on can help you improve a skill. Theme ideas:

• Light – backlighting , low light , natural light , indoor light
• Composition – framing , leading lines , golden spiral
• Street photography
• Macro – even if you don’t have a macro lens you can use macro filters
• Candid Photos

4. Choose a subject

If you have children you may notice they are in 95% of your photos. Focus on a new subject to try new compositions and break out of your normal photography routine.

Subject ideas: – Shoes – Flags – Windows – A color – Lines – Doors – Chairs

5. ABC project

There are two ways you can tackle this project. You can either choose a letter to photograph something that starts with that letter. Another photography idea is to photograph something that looks like the letter. This option is fun if you want to create a collage of photos to spell out your last name or “welcome”.

6. Work through a book

There are many books out there that will teach you different skills. You can tackle a new chapter each week or month. Book ideas include:

• The Photographer’s Mind: Creative Thinking for Better Digital Photos
• The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos
• People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs

7. Grateful photography project idea

Choose to photograph things, people or places you are grateful for. Not only will you never run out of ideas of things to photograph but it helps you focus on what is really important and how blessed you are.

8. Focus on one lens

If you have multiple lenses choose one your don’t normally use. Stick that one on your camera for a week, a month or a whole year. This will help push your creativity. I remember doing a photo walk with a photographer who took street photos with a macro. Don’t assume a certain lens is only for one time of photos.

Not sure which lens to use? Check out our photography resource page.

9. Go outside your comfort zone

Maybe you rock at portraits, try your hand at food photography . Try a different type of photography you are used to. Not only will you learn some new skills but it is fun to try something you aren’t strong at.

Read more: How to Shoot Still Life Photography to Push Your Creativity

10. Photograph birthday month/week

Whether it is your birthday month, or one of your kids or loved one. Photograph them everyday for the week or month of their birthday. It is a fun way to document them that year as well as capture what they are like at that age.

11. A Day in the Life of

I do this once a year, but you could really do this once a month or more. Photograph your day all day . You can either take photos through out the day or just on the hour. Either way it is a fun way to capture the everyday moments and routines that we often forget to capture.

12. 10 on 10

A lot of photographers will capture 10 photos on the 10th. This is similar to the “Day in the Life of” project. But this may help you to remember to do this project each month on the 10th.

13. Letters to Our Children

This is something I do with a few other photographers. Write a letter each month to your children or just focus on one child. Then take photos of them to include with the letter. I write advice to all my girls. This helps me to get at least one photo of all three of them together each month. This can be quite the challenge but I enjoy it. Some girls in the group choose one child to write a letter to and do a mini photo shoot each month with that child. Do what works best for you.

14. Self portraits photography project idea

Photographers are not in enough photos. Choose either to do a self portrait , daily, weekly, or monthly. What is important is that you are getting in the photo. When I did my first Project 365 I did a “Monday Me” where each Monday I took a self portrait. It’s a good idea to have a specific day in mind. If you are going to do it monthly, choose the date of your birthday and each month take a photo on that date.

Which ever one of these photography project ideas you decide to tackle it’s important to do something. The key to growing and improving as a photography is taking these photography ideas and implementing them into your day to day life.

Which one of these photography ideas will you start today?

Learn it all, step-by-step, with me, the force behind Click it Up a Notch, a Huffington Post Top 5 Blogs for momtographers.

A former teacher who got into photography to capture my beautiful family, I am eager to share what I’ve learned over the past 5 years & open the door to photography for other moms.

• 365 Photography Project Tips Read More >
• 6 Ways to Stay Motivated with a Photography Project Read More >
• Photography Project – One subject, 30 days Read More >

This will certainly challenge me. I am just an amateur and love taking pictures. But want to learn more and be more creative. Put those books on my Amazon Wish List to get sometime soon.

Awesome! Aren’t we all wanting to learn more and be more creative :)

I did a 365 a few years back. Every day I took a shot out my window and made a time laps out of it. Pretty cool as the snow got deeper and then melted…Also as the leaves changed

Other than that,,,,meh!

That is a great idea to focus on one window!

Big salute to you. I am trying to edit photo black and white effect as you did; sadly my edited photos were not like you. How should I make black and white style( the black and white effect you did) . Plz show mercy with me. :D waiting for you

DANNY THE KACHIN

I start with the Casablanca preset from Clickin’ Moms Cinema collection and adjust it to achieve the look I want. Make sure you start with a properly exposed and correct white balance image :) http://store.clickinmoms.com/cinema-presets-for-lightroom/

Thanks you for your kindness. I am working on it. God bless you. :)

Love your site. I find this app useful for projects learnphoto.ca/apps

Thanks for these ideas. I’m a beginning photographer and always want to find ways to improve. I will tackle one of these for 2014!!

Thanks! Good luck with your project!

thanks for your tips.. I’m thinking of doing a project featuring my sister..I’ll take picture of her everyday for 23 days before her 23rd birthday and that would be my gift for her. .

Yep, I decided to do a 10 on the 10th project this year. My plan is to create a book at the end of the year. I cheated this month though. I forgot to do it on the 10th so I did it on the 13th instead which turned out great because my daughters school Valentine party was that day.

Hi, I stumbled upon your website by accident a few weeks ago and I am so in love with it. I have been taking picturs for years now with 2 young kids but have recently lost my mojo and motivation. Your blog has given me new inspirations and ideas. Thank you so much.

I love hearing that. Thank you! Welcome!

Great tips. I need to start taking more self portraits.

Hi Courtney,

Thanks for the ideas, I am sharing this with the Board of our community’s camera club, for ideas on our summer projects, we take the summers off because we live in Florida and a few members are snowbirds, great IDEAS, thank you….

Thanks so much for sharing!

Hi! Love some of these ideas! I’m an amateur, who prefers nature macro. Do you know the name of the person you did the street tour with, that did it all with macro? This would be fun perspective for me. Thanks!

Hey Amy, I believe it was Stacey Vukelj – https://www.facebook.com/staceyvukeljnycphotography :)

How do you recommend taking self portraits?

Are you wondering about what lens to use?

I haven’t started yet but I’ve been considering a rainbow challenge. Take a day/week and take all red pictures, then yellow, orange and so on. It’s something you can vary the difficulty of since some colors are going to be easier to find depending on the season but if you want a real challenge you can mix that up.

Thank you so much. This is exactly what I needed to read right now. These are great!!

Do you have any specific blog sites you would recommend using for a new amateur photographer?

Yes –> http://clickitupanotch.com/how-to-start-a-photography-blog/

How do you Link up to Others 365 i tried Clicking on the Links but it just goes Back to The top of the page. Thanks :-)

I’m confused by what you mean you click on the link and it takes you back to the top. Which page does it take you to the top of?

Hi, I just click on the names of the sites and it doesn’t take me anywhere, sorry I don’t have a blog just google+1, I completed your 30 day challenge what you did in June, and decided to carry on, but wanted to see everyone else who was doing it. Thanks for getting back to me :)

Some of the people may no longer being doing the project. We started that list last November :) I think it’s great you are going to keep going! Yay!

This has been such an inspiration! I am looking forward to starting a challenge. Even though I am in college I think this will be a cool way to remember all that I have done!

Thanks for the time you put together for this post :)

I love that! I wish I had some kind of photography challenge when I was in college. What a fun way to remember your time!

Thank you so very much. This is a wonderful article and you have given me and lot of awesome ideas for future photo shoots and a lot of fun for my family as well.

I happened upon your blog late last night. I’m a new photographer, eager to find a direction. I think doing one of your 30 day projects is the ticket to getting my ball rolling. Thank you. I’ll be back. (website to come in the future)

Welcome! And thank you for your sweet words :) Excited to be a part of your photography journey.

I am a mom of a 13 year-old & a 20 year-old daughter, who has a 2 month-old daughter. I have always dreamed off taking up photography as a serious hobby. Now is my time since I am staying home full-time caring for granddaughter. I am absolutely clueless about what camera to purchase. I hear talk of DSLR. I am committed to investing in a high quality camera & expect to make a financial investment. But, what camera is for me? Would love to get involved in your project, but need to purchase quality equipment. Some advice please? Thanks so much for any input.

I love all these photography projects. I have no idea which one I want to try first! Great post!

Thank you for this great ideas…!!! I just finish My 365 project and I really want to start an Other project…!!!

I started a 30 day project after reading your book Courtney, and enjoyed doing that so much that I continued on and finished my 365 project at the end of April this year Great timely post to give me some other ideas for my next project. I had sort of continued with the 365 with half thoughts of turning it into a 52 project, but might incorporate some of the other ones as well. Thanks for being part of my learning journey Courtney it is really inspiring to read about your journey and others on your blog:)

I’m a 13-year-old photographer and I’ve been wanting more things to take pictures of so I decided to do a photo project. This article gave me so many ideas for my project so thank you!

Wonderful! Enjoy, Alex :)

These are all great ideas! Thank you for the inspiration!

I love your site. I plan to read more of your posts tonight! Yay!

Wow! This list was so great, and for my senior project, I think I’ll do the Grateful Project. Thank you so much for the idea!

Hey, thanks for sharing. Just in the middle of planning a new project, but I find it’s quite challenging with a little one running around. Although, my boy is a great model, I quite like exploring – what I call Organic Sculptures- and then photographing them.

During my last project I grew mold and here are some shots that came out of it https://digitalphoto.blog/2016/11/29/first-blog-post/ but obviously it’s not the best idea cultivating mold now with a young toddler…

Will get there though, I hope…

Wow! This project ideas list is so awe-inspiring. Can’t wait to see more of your articles. Thanks for sharing!

NOW I GOT A FIRE IN MY BELLY!!!

Thank you you have given me ways to keep myself busy in 2022.

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How To Write a Stand-Out Photography Proposal

Writing a photography proposal can feel like trying to capture the perfect sunrise. No matter how much experience you have, whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, the challenge remains the same. How do you create a proposal that highlights your unique style and skills and resonates with your clients?

Your proposal is much more than just a list of services and prices. It's a chance to tell your story and show what sets you apart.

In this guide, we'll show you what your proposal should include and how to ensure it stands out to prospective clients, showcasing all your talent and hard work.

What is a photography proposal?

A photography proposal is a personal presentation showing what you can do and how it fits the client's needs. It's not just about quoting the price but also about giving an impression of your unique style and the value you bring.

It clearly describes the services offered, like corporate event coverage, professional headshots, social events, or product photography. These details are crucial because photographers need to ensure that everyone understands what to expect from the start so there are no surprises later. The proposal should include the number of hours of coverage or allotted for the shoot, how many shots will be sent over and how many final, edited photos the customer can expect as well as all of the pricing details including travel time, extra editing or expedited turnaround times.

The photography proposal can also be a small exhibition of a photographer's work. It's a chance to show off your best photos and demonstrate how your eye for photography and professional skills go together. The proposal reflects who you are, what your brand stands for, and your experience.

See Qwilr's photography proposal template below for a visual example:

Photography Proposal Template

Land clients with a visually appealing and persuasive photography proposal – design a creative, coherent, and impactful proposal in minutes.

Steps to writing a photography proposal: key elements to include

A good professional photograph proposal should combine artistic flair, professional skills, and understanding the client's wishes which is key to any good sales methodology .

1. Design a stunning cover page

The cover page of your photography proposal is the first impression you make. It's important that it catches the customer's eye and gives them a taste of what's to come.

This should start with a great image. Choose a photo that matches your style and the job you're applying for. Next, add your company name and logo. Place these in a prominent place on the page. A professional-looking logo will make your offer appear more credible and polished.

The quality of your cover page is crucial, especially if you want to print it out. Ensure the printed or digital copy looks sharp, with no blurry or pixelated images.

2. Write a personal introduction

This is where you tell your client a little about who you are and why you love photography.

Your introduction should be warm and inviting. Think about what makes your photography stand out. Are you good at capturing spontaneous moments that tell a story? Or are you particularly good at taking slick, polished magazine-style images? Or maybe your specialty is product photography. This is the perfect time to let your unique personality shine through.

The way you introduce yourself when writing a sales proposal establishes the tone for the rest of your proposal. It's not just about making an excellent first impression; it's about building a connection.

3. List your photography services

After your warm introduction to the photography proposal, it's time to discuss your services.

Start by describing each service. For example, if you photograph corporate events, tell how you capture the essential parts of those events. Explain how you photographed the speakers, the people networking, and the general atmosphere of the event.

It's imperative that you clearly state what each service entails. By being transparent, you can avoid confusion later on and build client trust right from the start.

4. Showcase your portfolio

Your portfolio is like a storybook where each photo tells a story. These images show your style, skills, and how you see things through your camera.

Choosing the right images for your portfolio is very important. You should choose photos that match what the client is looking for. For a corporate event, you should include pictures from similar events you have already photographed. And if the client wants portraits, choose ones that show how well you capture people's personalities.

Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and well-organized. This shows you are actively involved in your work and passionate about it.

5. Outline the project timeline

Here, you tell your client what will happen and when. First, you need to set the date for the photo shoot. Setting this date is essential, whether it's a corporate event, a portrait session, or a product photo shoot. That way, everyone knows when the big day is, and everyone can prepare for it.

Include details like when you will arrive, how long it will take for you to set up, and if you need access to electricity or somewhere to charge a light or backup battery. You should also outline any breaks you will need and when you will tear down any equipment you've set up.

After the shoot, your clients will be eager to see your hard work. Let them know when they can expect to see the first draft. The last step in your timeline is the final handover of the images. This is when your client will receive the finished, edited pictures. Be realistic when you set this date. Think about how much time you need for editing to get everything right. Better to over-deliver than over-promise!

6. Detail the pricing structure

Start by explaining your usual prices and payment terms . This includes how much you charge for different photo shoots or events.

Photography often comes with additional costs. This could be travel costs for a shoot in a faraway location, special equipment for a unique photo, or additional costs for printed photos or albums. You must mention these costs in your quote. Again, transparency equals trust here.

7. Include testimonials and references

When you include testimonials from past clients in your proposal, it's like a group of supporters vouching for your work. It's not just saying what you can do. It's about showing real stories of how you've made other customers happy. Social proof holds a lot of sway, especially when people make big decisions.

You must choose the right testimonials. Look for feedback that highlights your strengths. Maybe a client praises your creativity, professionalism, or how you perfectly captured their special moment. These are the kinds of comments that will appeal to future clients. If the job aligns closely with the one you are proposing for, all the better.

We also have a comprehensive guide on writing case studies that resonate with your prospect.

8. Close with a call to action

This is your chance to encourage potential customers to contact you to talk more about the offer or book your services.

When you write this part, use words that are welcoming and confident. You're not pushing them to decide immediately but opening the door and inviting them in. For example, you could say, "I'm excited to hear what you think about this proposal and how we can make your vision a reality. I'll shoot you a note to get your thoughts next week." This is friendly and shows you're looking forward to talking to them.

Then, make it as easy as possible for them to contact you. Include your phone number, email, or a link to your website or social media accounts.

Example of a photography project proposal template

Qwilr’s photography proposal template helps you land clients with a visually appealing and persuasive document. It can be easily edited in our proposal software to reflect your style and to include all the information we’ve covered above. And, of course, it can save you a huge amount of time, which is a trait of the best proposal templates !

In the template you'll find the following sections that you can customize:

• Executive Summary: Start strong with a brief overview of your offering. This is your chance to make a great first impression, quickly showing your clients the value you'll bring to their projects.
• The Challenge: Here, talk about the specific challenges your client faces. It's about showing you understand their needs and are ready to meet them with your photography skills.
• Your Priorities: In this section, align your services with what's most important to your client. Whether capturing a special event or telling a brand story, show how your photography meets their needs.
• Photography Project Plan: Detail the steps you'll take to bring the project to life. Combine the practical logistics with your creative approach.
• How We Can Help: Highlight how your skills and experience make you the perfect choice for this project. Show the value and difference you can bring.
• What Success Looks Like: Describe what a successful outcome will be. Give your client a preview of the great results you're aiming for.
• Recent Client Wins: Share your recent successes. This builds confidence and trust, showing that you promise great results and have delivered them before.
• Our Team: If you work with others, introduce your team here. Show off the skills and expertise each person brings.
• Your Investment: Be transparent about the cost of your services. This part is about being upfront with prices and what they include, avoiding surprises.
• Next Steps: Encourage your client to take the next step with you. This is a gentle prompt for them to move forward in working together.
• Conclusion: End your proposal with a note reinforcing your excitement and readiness to start. Leave your client feeling enthusiastic about what's to come.

Alternatively, you can try our AI proposal generator for free and create your own professional looking proposal in minutes.

What's the best format for a photography proposal?

The best format for a photography proposal is visually rich, clear, and concise. It should clearly outline your services, showcase your previous work, and highlight your unique style. Ensure your proposal has a clear layout, eye-catching images, and easy-to-read sections.

What is the ideal length for a photography proposal?

The best length for a photography proposal is usually between 2 and 5 pages. It must be short enough to be easily readable but long enough to cover all the essential details. The most important thing is that you present all the necessary information clearly and in an engaging way without making it too long or overwhelming for your client.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a photography proposal?

When writing a photography proposal, you should beware of a few common mistakes. Firstly, you should be clear about your services and how much they cost. It's also important to tailor each proposal to the individual client – a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work well.

Don't forget to showcase your unique style and discuss your past successes; this will allow clients to see what you can do. Finally, ensure your offer is well structured and ends with a clear call to action that invites the customer to take the next step.

What's the best way to follow up with a client after sending a photography proposal?

After you've sent your photography proposal, you should give your client a few days to review it. Then, you can send them a friendly and professional email or call them. This shows that you're genuinely interested in working with them, giving them time to consider your proposal. This is also an excellent opportunity to answer questions and discuss the next steps.

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Final thoughts

From a clear pricing structure to testimonials, every part of your proposal helps build a connection with your clients. It's about making an offer that is clear and engaging, showing your passion and skill. We hope this article has given you the confidence you need to go and create your own.

And if you're looking for a way to make your proposals even better, Qwilr makes creating beautiful, professional offers easy with our photography proposal template . They will keep you on track with everything yours should include, help you win business, and give you more time to spend behind the view-finder, less time behind the computer!

About the author

Brendan Connaughton | Head of Growth Marketing

Brendan heads up growth marketing and demand generation at Qwilr, overseeing performance marketing, SEO, and lifecycle initiatives. Brendan has been instrumental in developing go-to-market functions for a number of high-growth startups and challenger brands.

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20 of the most popular photography projects of 2021

As we reflect on the last 12 months of content at Creative Boom, here's a look at our 20 most visited photography articles. And there's been plenty this year for photography artists to get their teeth into.

© Tomesha Faxio

It's been a year of activism and social change, with marginalised groups beginning to find a voice, and the world's youth marched for more action on the climate, such as the expansion of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London.

It was also the year America witnessed an uprising in the Capitol and marked the 20th anniversary of September 11th. And of course, it was the second year of the pandemic, with continuing lockdowns and restrictions imposed across the world, plus the arrival of vaccines and new treatments shining some light down the end of that particular tunnel.

Many of these themes and movements have informed and influenced photographers, while others ploughed their own furrow and continued to push their practices forward creatively. As ever, we brought the most interesting on Creative Boom, and here are the best of the best.

1. Photographs of flowers submerged underwater look like classic oil paintings

Known for her serene underwater portraits of women, artist and photographer Barbara Cole has recently explored a different approach by capturing submerged flowers instead. Appearances feature dreamlike images of anthropomorphised flora that could be mistaken for Masters' oil paintings, given their delicate and blurred beauty.

© Barbara Cole

2. Boys of Volta: Photographs of fisher boys in the world's largest human-made lake

In his award-winning series, Boys of Volta, Brooklyn-based photographer Jeremy Snell hones in on the people and environment surrounding the world's largest human-made lake. It follows the story of the fisher boys Jeremy encountered during his travels to Lake Volta in Ghana.

© Jeremy Snell

3. Pastel-coloured, dreamy travel photographs by Teresa Freitas to brighten your day

Portuguese photographer Teresa Freitas loves to give her images of the world a slight cinematic twist. In this interview, she explains how she uses soft-coloured pastels to transport us to a subtle change of reality.

© Teresa Freitas

4. Lauren Tepfer's photographs capture what it's like to grow up in American suburbia

Lauren Tepfer is a 21-year-old photographer and director living and working in New York City. Having grown up in southern New Jersey, she's adept at capturing the essence of teenagers living in suburbia. "Growing up with a creative mind in the boundaries of a town populated by less than 7,000, I've learned to create my own magic," she tells Creative Boom.

© Lauren Tepfer

5. Tomesha Faxio's photographs celebrate the beauty of black hair in its most natural state

Wash Day, a series by photographer and mixed-media artist Tomesha Faxio, celebrates the beauty of black hair in its most natural state while also providing a glimpse into black culture. It's a thoughtful and ultimately inspiring celebration of pride and authenticity.

6. Holding the Baby: Photographer Polly Braden offers a glimpse into the lives of single-parent families on the poverty line

Today, around 1.8 million single parents exist in the UK, making up nearly a quarter of all British families. Photographer Polly Braden's year-long participatory project highlights the day-to-day reality of seven of these one-parent families.

© Polly Braden

7. Primary-coloured photographs of 'quirky' London by Josh Edgoose

Every day on London's streets, countless small but meaningful interactions take place – but usually go unnoticed. Someone who does notice is British photographer Josh Edgoose, and in his photobook Brilliant Parade, we see a fascinating visual document of the capital that spans five years.

© Josh Edgoose

8. Exploring representation and otherness through portraiture with Ryan Prince

London-based documentary photographer Ryan Prince explores themes around blackness through his personal work. In his portraiture series 'Can You Sit With Me', he questions the aggressive and sexualised tropes often associated with black people and show the soft and human side instead.

© Ryan Prince

9. Youth Rising: Rarely-seen photographs of young people in the UK captured over four decades

Young people often lack a voice, but photography can provide them with one. An exhibition entitled Youth Rising in the UK 1981-2021 brought together the work of nine photographers documenting young people across 40 years. And these images showcase just how much each generation is unique in a way that's so visually captivating.

Alice from the series ‘Of Quiet Birds’ ( © Sadie Catt

10. Aerial photographs of 1960s communal dining areas in Singapore's social housing

On the empty, void decks of Singapore's public apartment blocks lie various old stools and tables available for local residents to enjoy. Jonathan Tan's photo series 'Lepak Downstairs' offers us a bird's eye view of the furniture arrangements, bringing us interesting shapes and colours throughout.

© Jonathan Tan

11. Photographs that document a Chinese family living in New York City for the last 18 years

Hidden histories have emerged everywhere in 2021, and here's another great example. For nearly two decades, photographer Thomas Holton documented the life of a Chinese family living in New York. The Lams of Ludlow Street has emerged as one of the important series about the 21st-century Chinese American experience to date.

© Thomas Holton

12. Photographs of classic cars that have reached the 'end of the road' in a cleaner London

The Ultra-Low Emission Zone enacted in London during 2021 has meant the death knell for many classic cars. London-based photographer Ray Knox felt compelled to document them before they finally disappear from the capital, and the resulting photos are strangely beautiful.

13. Photographer Adrian Fisk on documenting the frontline of Britain's environmental protests of the late '90s

One popular lament amongst today's young environmental activists is that the older generation has failed them by "doing nothing" about climate change until now. But it's important not to tar everyone with the same brush. In this eye-opening photo series, Adrian Fisk looks back at the early British environmental protests of the late 1990s. The photographer was right there in the thick of the action and tells a fascinating story.

© Adrian Fisk

14. Photographer Inzajeano Latif's street portraits of the real people of Tottenham

Gentrification is happening all over London, and Tottenham is not immune. Photographer Inzajeano Latif calls the area home and, in his autobiographical series 'This is Tottenham', tells his story via the people who live there.

© Inzajeano Latif

15. Photographs by Lucas Foglia of the first summer in New York after the September 11 attacks

Back in 2002, one year after the 9/11 attacks in New York, photographer Lucas Foglia spent the summer there, photographing the city's residents. "The city was recovering from an event that shook its sense of security," he recalls. "Yet, most people said yes and looked straight into my camera lens. I am grateful they chose to trust me."

© Lucas Foglia

16. 'There is no one to listen and provide a platform': Justin Keene discusses the importance of representation and ethics in photography

The documentary photographer's ongoing project 'It Must Be Built From The Ashes' focuses on educational inequalities and youth in Mitchells Plane, a township located on the outskirts of Cape Town built in the 1970s as a relocation area during apartheid. In our interview, we chat with Justin to learn more about his journey to date and the importance of honest storytelling.

© Justin Keene

17. Seductive photographs of LA's liquor stores celebrate the city's poetic beauty

When you visit Los Angeles for the first time, one thing that immediately stands out is the fact there are liquor stores on every corner. It's this theme that Ben Hassett highlights to fascinating effect in his long-standing photographic series, 'Beer, Soda, Lotto'.

© Ben Hassett

18. London in Lockdown: 24 photographers share stories of love, loss and resilience

In 2020, the UK capital's streets were emptied as the pandemic arrived. Some of the photographers who remained share their stories in the book London in Lockdown, with an introduction written by Jilke Golbach, curator of photographs at the Museum of London. Here we chat to Jilke about the publication and why photography is an apt tool for telling these stories.

© Jilke Golbach

19. Take a trip to Tokyo through the illusory lens of photographer Rumi Ando

Japanese photographer Rumi Ando has an eye for the spectacular. In her series Tokyo Nude, she creates pastel-tinted photography inspired by the dreamy compositions found in Yamato-e paintings.

© Rumi Ando

20. I AM NOT INVisible: powerful exhibition explores the state of homelessness in America

Thilde Jensen's first UK exhibition, I AM NOT INVisible, examines the issue of homelessness. As the Danish photographer tells Creative Boom, the arresting images in the show can trace their route back to a 2014 encounter with two homeless men from Syracuse, New York.

© Thilde Jensen

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52 photography projects: a great technique to try every week of the year

Our pick of the perfect weekend photography projects

• Home photography projects
• Outdoor photography projects
• More outdoor photography projects
• Long-term photography projects

Looking for photography projects to stimulate your creativity? Whether you’re a beginner who’s just learning the ropes or a seasoned snapper in need of inspiration, trying out a new technique can help you grow as a photographer. That’s why the list below features our pick of the best ideas to try with your camera.

From painting with light trails to capturing twilight landscapes, there are countless creative ways to use your camera and its lens. This round-up of our favorite weekend projects features suggestions to suit every skill level – whether you’re shooting with a smartphone or a ‘proper’ camera like a DSLR.

Some you can do from the comfort of you home, while others will have you heading out in search of specific scenes. Whether it’s a novel technique or an inventive suggestion for finding fresh subjects, every idea below has one thing in common: it should challenge you to try something different and find a fresh perspective.

Most of the projects can be attempted using the equipment you already own. Those that do require additional materials should all be achievable with pocket-money purchases – and if there’s any crafting involved, it should be well worth the effort when you see the results.

We’ve shared 52 of our favorite suggestions to do in 2022 below. Try them all and, in a year’s time, there’s a good chance you’ll be a better photographer, with a keener understanding of your camera and what it’s capable of. Plus you’ll be all set to attempt the final project: self-publishing a photo book.

The best home photography projects:

1. water drop art.

The basic idea with this project is to suspend a container of liquid and let drops fall through a small hole, then capture the resulting splash. Timing the shutter as the splash is created is everything. We achieved good results using two flashguns set to their lowest power (1/128th), an aperture of f/22 and water mixed with Xanthan gum to make a more viscous solution. We also used a SplashArt water drop kit from PhotoTrigger , which helped to regulate the size and frequency of the drops.

2. Indoor splash shots

For this project you'll need a flashgun that you can fire remotely, a container with clear sides for your water, a coloured background and a tripod. Set up the container and backdrop, then position the flash over the container. With the camera on a tripod and set to manual focus and exposure - f/8, ISO200 and the fastest shutter speed that will work with your flash - drop the object into the water and fire the shutter as it hits.

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3. Shapes of bokeh

Out-of-focus orbs of light can add magic to any image, but the bokeh effect needn’t be limited to standard circles. From love hearts to stars, a simple cutout filter can transform background sparkles into brilliant shapes. 

Using your lens cap as a guide, draw a circle on a piece of card. Cut out the circle, score a small shape in the centre using scissors or a craft knife, then push the card onto the front of your lens (or attach it with an elastic band). When you next shoot a scene, any unfocused light will take the form of your shape. 

Use a wide aperture to maximize the effect and remember that, as the filter restricts the amount of light entering your lens, you’ll want to set a longer exposure or higher ISO. Try simple shapes such as triangles to get started, before progressing to stars, hearts, crosses and more.

4. Create smoke art

Smoke trails are a firm favourite among still-life photographers. But how about taking it to the next level and using the shapes in a creative Photoshop project. Once you've taken a few good smoke art photos, make a blank document in Photoshop, then copy and paste one of the smoke images into it. Set the blending mode to Screen and use Warp Transform to reshape it. Continue the process to combine a range of smoke shots into a new image.

5. DIY lightbox

Lightboxes are used to illuminate objects evenly against a plain background, often for the purposes of product or food photography. Luckily, you don’t have to have a pro budget to make one at home. All you need is a cardboard box, some white paper and a table lamp. 

Remove the top flaps, stand the box on one end and cut window holes in either side. Line the box with a single, seamless piece of white paper and cover the holes with thin paper or fabric, taped in place. Then it’s as simple as positioning a desk lamp on one or both sides: the paper will diffuse the light, evenly illuminating whatever object you put inside. 

Or for an even simpler setup, use a single piece of paper as the backdrop, with one white wall made from card, and position near a window (as pictured). Experiment with aperture and shutter speed to shoot subjects with totally white backgrounds or some shadow for a sense of perspective. Then mix things up with color backgrounds. If the quality is high enough, you could list your images for sale on a stock photography website to earn some lockdown pocket money.

6. Lubricate your lens

Want to give your housebound portraits added glow? If you have a spare lens filter lying around, try an old Hollywood trick: smear a layer of Vaseline on the glass to give your images a soft, dreamy look, keeping aperture wide to emphasize the ethereal effect with a shallow depth of field. 

Get experimental by leaving the middle of the filter free from Vaseline to create a halo effect, with the centre in clear focus but the outer elements blurry and soft. Don’t want to sacrifice a filter? Stretch cling-film tight across the lens and keep it in place with an elastic band, before using the Vaseline in the same way. If you’re not into portraits, try the effect when shooting a light source for a unique style of diffusion.

7. Make your own filters

It’s no secret that color is a major element of any image, but you don’t need expensive filters or editing software to experiment with saturation. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your home: all manner of household objects can function as color filters to bring new hues to your photography – and to transform mundane moments into brighter snaps. 

Attach tissue paper to your lens with an elastic band for an instant change of scene, or try shooting through thin fabric with a light source placed behind. Too easy? Take a snap through a laundry capsule for a liquid tone adjustment or use a whisky bottle for sepia shades with a hint of distortion. Petals are pretty effective, too, as are translucent sweet wrappers.

8. Try cross-polarization

This fun project exploits the effect that polarised light has on some plastics. You'll need two polarising filters - ideally one of these should be a sheet of polarising film. You can pick up an A4 sheet of Lee 239 polarising film for £50 (try www.robertwhite.co.uk or www.pnta.com ). The sheet of film should be placed on a lightbox or in front of the only light source. An iPad screen and most computer screens have a polarising filter built in, so if you don't have a sheet of polarising film you can always experiment by creating a white document to fill the screen. Simply attach the circular polariser to the camera lens and rotate it to make the colours appear in clear plastic items

9. Food landscapes

Spice up your food photography! All you need is a set of model figures - Hornby 00 gauge figures are perfect, as they're available in a wide range of poses. Preiser has a great range too. The most important aspect is to establish a sense of narrative. Here you can see that there's a conversation between the characters, with the mountaineer on the 'mash face' being helped by his colleagues on the ground.

10. Fine-art food

Try turning your dinner ingredients into photo art using just a lightbox and a very sharp knife. Slice fruit and vegetables as thinly and evenly as possible, then place them on the lightbox. With the camera positioned directly above, use Live View to focus manually on the details. Set an aperture of f/8 to give adequate depth of field, and dial in some exposure compensation of +1 to +3 stops as the bright light can fool the camera's meter into underexposure.

11. Flowers in ice

A relatively inexpensive way of taking 'kitchen sink' close-ups that look great blown up as wall art. Freeze flowers in plastic containers of distilled or de-ionised water (available through your local auto or hardware store). The flowers will float, so try to weigh them down or fasten them in place so that they freeze under the water. Place the block of ice on top of a clear bowl or glass in a white sink or plate, so that the light can bounce through from below. Position a flashgun off to one side, angled down towards it, and shoot from the opposite side.

12. Abstracts in oil

Oil floating on the surface of water is a great way to make striking abstracts. This table-top photo project exploits the refractive quality of oil and bubbles to accentuate and distort colours. All you need to do is place a few drops of cooking oil on the surface of water in a glass dish. Make sure the dish is supported about 25cm about the table top, then place coloured paper under it and use an anglepoise lamp or flashgun to light the paper.

13. Play with fire

It doesn’t take a pyromaniac to see the photographic potential of fire, but it does take patience, skill and plenty of precautionary measures to capture a stunning action shot of a match igniting. If you’d rather not risk singeing your fingertips, try a different type of flame photography.

Shooting by candlelight alone can lead to magical results. As with any single source of light, it allows you to experiment extensively with shadows – especially if you’re capturing a portrait – while the soft, warm tone and flicker of the flame both contribute to an especially ethereal effect.

In a darkened room, try shooting with a medium-high ISO and a relatively slow shutter speed. Start with just a candle and your subject, before introducing additional elements and playing with positioning. A nearby wall, for example, will throw the candlelight back in different ways, while glass will add to the magic with fiery reflections

Tweak shutter speed to affect the strength of shadows or try adding further flames – though you might need to adjust the white balance if things look more yellow than mellow.

14. Repaint the walls with camera obscura

Familiar with pinhole photography? That technique relies on camera obscura – a natural optical effect that occurs when a small hole in an otherwise sealed space (such as a box) projects an inverted image of the world outside onto the opposite wall. You could make a pinhole camera as an at-home project, or you could go even bigger: with the right setup, you can create the camera obscura phenomenon in an entire room. 

First, you’ll need to black out a room – for example, by taping opaque sheets over your windows. Then you’ll need to make an aperture through which light can enter; the smaller the hole, the sharper but dimmer the image. Camera obscura works best in small/medium rooms, with an aperture of around 10-15mm diameter. Allow your eyes to adjust and determine whether you need to brighten the image by making a larger hole, then marvel as an inverted version of the outside world appears on the wall. 

Capture the entirety of this remarkable natural effect using a wide angle, a relatively long exposure and a tripod, or focus on specific elements of your room to emphasis the effect – such as houses appearing to float upside down on your mantelpiece.

15. Camera tossing

Chucking your precious photographic equipment into the air might sound like something designed to void the warranty, but – provided you’re not too clumsy – camera tossing can deliver some truly spectacular results. Try it in a dark room with a single light source. Set a shutter speed of around one second (roughly the length of time it’ll be in the air) and, as the timer hits zero, launch it upwards. Catching it is the important part, but once you’re comfortable with the technique you can experiment with multiple light sources, different colors and even spinning your camera as you release it.

16. Psychedelic soap film

This is a wonderful project that makes for vibrant desktop wallpaper or abstract wall art. You'll need liquid soap mixed with glycerine for long-lasting soap film, plus a wire loop, a black cloth background and a macro lens of at least 100mm. The colours created by soap film only appear when hit by light from a certain angle, so set up near a north-facing window and shoot from around 45 degrees.

17. Refractive art

Light bends when it passes through water, causing the objects behind to change appearance. This is called refraction, and you'll make use of this phenomenon in this arty photo project. All you need is a few glasses, a flashgun, a tripod and a black-and-white pattern print. Simply place the pattern in the background with the glasses in front. Fill them with different levels of water and move the pattern backwards or forwards to fine-tune the effect.

18. Kitchen close-ups

Your kitchen is an ideal location for shooting a macro project. Its reflective surfaces can be used to create interesting backgrounds for your shots, and a shallow depth of field can transform the most mundane of objects you'll find there. Creating a triptych of images can result in a piece of fantastic wall art for your kitchen too, although it's important to think about how they're going to work together before you start shooting. Here, 3 objects - a fork, a bowl of cereal and coffee granules - were all shot from a similar angle, with the impression of height linking the sequence.

19. Invert the world with a crystal ball

Shoot through a crystal ball and, while you won’t see into the future, you will capture an inverted version of the scene behind the orb. Just as light is refracted when it passes through the glass elements of a lens, the same thing happens with a glass sphere. There are dedicated photography balls on the market, but the effect can often be achieved using a clear marble or even a paperweight. Nothing suitable? A water-filled wine glass can also work. 

All sorts of subjects look good through an orb, from sunsets and cityscapes to abstract items and even portraits. Try shooting with a macro lens to fill the frame with the sphere, or with a wider angle to include some of the scene behind. To really play with perspectives, rotate the image with editing software so that the background is inverted but the scene in the orb is the right way up.  You can also incorporate elements that support the ball into the image, such as hands, bowls or miscellaneous objects.

20. Still-life bokeh

Something as simple as a crumpled piece of foil can be the basis for a creative photo project. Position a still-life subject on a sheet of glass with a piece of dark material underneath it. Scrunch up the kitchen foil then smooth it back out and place it in the background. Shine a table lamp or torch on the foil and, with a tripod mounted camera, dial in the lens's widest aperture to create some beautiful ' bokeh '. During the exposure, shine a flashlight onto the subject.

21. Play with shadows

Photography is fundamentally about capturing light, which is exactly why shadows can be so powerful. They can create contrast with lighter parts of a composition or add texture to an otherwise plain subject. They can even be manipulated to tell a story. Incorporating shadows into your images will challenge you to think not just about the objects within a scene, but how things outside of the frame can affect the light that falls within it.

To play with shadows, all you need is a light source and a solid object to block it. This could be something natural, such as the shadow of a tree cast by sunlight. Equally, it could be something man-made, such as the outline of a street sign created by a car’s headlights. Or it could be something you create yourself: try playing puppet-master by shining a torch and dancing your hand in front of it. 

You can also invert this idea by shooting a subject which is predominantly in shadow and experimenting with how splashes of light fall upon it.

22. Still life light trails

Light trails can be used in all kinds of photography, but they're perfect for a creative still life project. You can use a regular Maglite torch, but try removing the end to reveal the bulb and make the light more direct. Use some electrical tape to attach a coloured sweet wrapper, which you can use as a makeshift 'gel'. Set the canera's shutter speed to around 30 secs with an aperture of around f/8, then start moving the torch within the frame before pressing the shutter. Continue the movement throughout the exposure. Here, we suspended the torch from a piece of string and made a gentle circular movement to create a spiral around the bottle.

23. Light spirals

You'll need to attach a torch, suspended by string, to an open area of ceiling. Fit the widest lens you have on your camera, and mount it on a tripod pointing straight up. With the light turned on, autofocus on the tip of the torch and set the lens to manual focus to lock the setting in. With an aperture of f/11 or f/16 dialled in, use Bulb mode and a remote release to keep the shutter open for a minute or so as you send the torch spinning in the dark…

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Current page: Home photography projects

Phil Hall is an experienced writer and editor having worked on some of the largest photography magazines in the UK, and now edit the photography channel of TechRadar, the UK's biggest tech website and one of the largest in the world. He has also worked on numerous commercial projects, including working with manufacturers like Nikon and Fujifilm on bespoke printed and online camera guides, as well as writing technique blogs and copy for the John Lewis Technology guide.

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10 Personal Photography Project Ideas For This New Year

It’s New Year now, and everyone is busy making resolutions. I know. But, after a few weeks, we forget about the resolutions we made, and go on with our usual, mundane lives. Do you really want it? I am sure you are reading this because you don’t want it. This year you might want to improve your photography, make it better than how it was last year. There are various ways to do it, but, I think, the easiest and funniest way to do it by starting a personal photography project . It will make you active as well. Some of you might have already made a list of personal photography project ideas by now. Anyway, I am suggesting you some ideas on photography project that you can start this New Year.

• 10 tips to improve your photography
• 5 more tips to improve your photography

Personal Photography Project Ideas

#1 Random word: It might sound weird, but it works, and it is fun. You pick a random word and see if it is good as a photography project subject. This is one of my favorites among my personal photography projects. Some of the projects in this category I am doing are sleeping , reading, conversations, games etc.

#2 The 100 strangers: You have to take portraits of 100 strangers. It’s tough and quite challenging unless you are a people person. Avoid candid shots. Ask strangers to pose for a moment so that you can take their photograph. It is not only a good project idea, but also helps you in developing good people skills.

# 3 Project 365: Take a photo every day of the year. Although this is a common photography project, but, if you haven’t tried this out yet, you can have a good experience.

#4 Self portraits: This is fun to do since you are the photographer and the subject. It gets you a lot of photos of yourself. Also, you can go specific about this project: self-portraits in different locations, self-portraits in front of a mirror etc.

#5 Get close: If you had given up on macro photography before because you find it difficult, or If you haven’t tried macro photography yet, why not start it as a photography project this year.

Read: Introduction to Macro Photography with some examples

#6 Through the seasons: Capture the essence of seasons starting from this year’s spring!

#7 Night owl: Try some night photography. It is tricky. But once you get the hang of it, you can make beautiful images. At night, your camera can see what you can’t see with your naked eyes. Another interesting thing about night photography is that you are converging time using your camera by doing long exposures. Interesting, isn’t it?

Read: Night Photography tips with beautiful examples

#8 Go wide: Shoot with wide apertures — f2.8 or wider. You don’t have to own any expensive lens for this project. You can use your 50mm f1.8 lens for this. The shallow depth of field from wide apertures gives a new look and feel for your photos.

Read: Top 8 reasons why you should buy a 50mm f1.8 lens

#9 From the hip: Until now, you might have been taking photos by standing, or, sometimes, by sitting. Change your perspective by shooting from the hip. You will see how a change in perspective affects your photographs.

#10 Windows and doors: There’s nothing to explain about this. You see windows and doors on a daily basis. Shoot various kinds of them.

Some tips to get the best out of a project

Finding a project idea is one thing, but following it and accomplishing it is another thing. Here are some tips that you might find useful:

Choose the right project for you: Inorder to keep yourself move forward, you need to select a project that you think you can do. I am not saying that you should escape challenges. Let me explain: If you are planning to do underwater photography project, you need specific equipment for the purpose. You can’t use a normal camera for underwater photography unless you don’t care about your camera 🙂 I hope you got my point.

Set a time frame: When you start a project, you will go on for few days, or even few weeks. But when do you finish it? So you need a time frame. Setting a time frame for your project helps you to accomplish it.

Set an objective: This is important. You don’t want to take some snap shots. These projects should benefit you. Set a goal. Learn a new technique; improve your skills through your project. Having an objective in mind will help you to stay focused throughout the project.

Share your work while doing the project: I believe that sharing your works with others will help you in getting some inspiration. But, beware, only share it with the right kind of people. Try not to share your work with a cynic if you are a beginner. However, the decision is always yours — you don’t have to share if you don’t want to.

I hope I gave you enough information and ideas on personal photography projects that you can start this New Year. So do it now!

Let us know your progress. Have fun shooting!

Vidhu Soman

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UN GRAND MERCI SUPER!

GREAT help, thank you!

Great ideas! I’m in need of a good project and I think I’ll start here! Thanks 🙂

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Photography for the Serious Amateur

The Urban Alphabet: A Photography Project

• Published: January 26, 2008
• Updated: August 2, 2023
• In Photo Project

An ‘Urban Alphabet’! What an idea! Your project this time is to see differently. This is a fun and challenging project to help you see objects around you creatively and to see possibilities where you didn’t think any existed. You need to imagine and sculpt the shapes of the English Alphabet from found objects in everyday scenes around you… This project is also called an Alphabet Photography Project , and we’re going to do it in an urban setting.

Table of Contents

Why Choose An Urban Alphabet?

An alphabet photography project can draw from any group (or multiple groups) of objects, so you needn’t restrict yourself to urban scenes. But there are good reasons to do so…

A Gateway to Street Photography

However, by challenging yourself to go outside and look for interesting scenes, you are becoming more comfortable taking photos of found scenes in an urban setting… This is not very different from street photography. It’s one way to become less conscious of yourself as being part of the environment, and a way to allow yourself to focus on actually observing the scene unfolding around you.

Cities Are Beautiful

Cities provide us with a wonderful resource in juxtaposed objects. Magnificently textured drain covers from a different era, placed right next to modern paving and street markings, an ultra-modern skyscraper freshly sculpted out of the earth, yet forever posed against the immortal sky… these shapes and textures are all there for the taking. Put one against the other, and see what alphabets you can make out of them. Sounds challenging, yet easy. It is neither.

The Urban Alphabet Photography Project Challenge

This photography project intends to test your skill at seeing juxtapositions of foreground & background, shapes & shadows, angles & straights, and much more. Finding perfectly juxtaposed straight and curved edges are both more common, and uncommon at the same time.

Of course, taking photographs of letters found around the city is against the rules. You can only use objects, textures, patterns, and shapes that are not actually alphabets to craft your 26 alphabets, from A to Z.

Learn About Alphabet Photography

Alphabet photography is where the subject of the image is letters created by taking pictures of everyday objects that make up the shape of the letters, or by finding individual letters in the environment. For example, a photograph of a tree, a leaf, and a rock could create the letter “T.” It can also be done by taking pictures of signs or graffiti that contain letters, although I’m not in favor of taking this ‘easy’ way out. Alphabet photography can be used to create words, phrases, or even entire stories.

How To Create The Urban Alphabet?

The Urban Alphabet is all around you. Look around yourself as you move through your city. Your challenge is to see shapes that have meaning to us in the form of letters. You’ll look for them in shapes (objects) that are intended for other purposes, and reimagine them for photography . This takes a little bit of vision, imagination, and a lot of curiosity & observation skills .

To create the urban alphabet, you’ll have to make use of lines, outlines, textures , light & shade, parts of objects, and techniques that you can use with your camera (such as using depth of field to blur backgrounds). These skills will help you to find shapes that are not quite what you need, and to reshape them into the letters of the English alphabet when seen through your photography.

This is a great time to hone your skills of observation, and awareness of your surroundings , to see what others are likely to miss .

Some Tips For Better Alphabet Photography Ideas

This urban alphabet photography project is essentially an exercise in seeing creatively and using the photographic tools that you’ve learned about so far. However, you could always do it better with a few tips and hints, right? So here we go…

• Look for unique and interesting compositions: Try to find interesting angles or perspectives to photograph your alphabet letters. This can be as simple as shooting from a high angle, or low angle, or looking for reflections in windows or other shiny surfaces.
• Use light and shadows to your advantage: Look for ways to use light and shadows to create contrast and add interest to your photographs. For example, you could photograph a letter in front of a bright window, or use a flashlight to highlight a specific part of a letter.
• Pay close attention to how shapes interact with each other , and also how they interact with the edge of your frame. Change your composition… move closer or further away to emphasize certain shapes in the objects that you choose, to form an alphabet shape.
• Try to find a diverse range of found objects to work with . Variety makes the project more fun.
• Don’t take photos of alphabets that already exist . While some people do it, it’s just too easy and doesn’t push your skills to the limit.
• Clear the clutter: Shapes are more easily understood if they’re clearly seen against a strong background. Distracting elements in the background will make the shape weak and less easily seen.
• Use macro lenses, landscape orientation, square crops, and diagonal frames.
• You can move items around a little to make minor adjustments but don’t do it too much or too often
• Don’t stop at one . Take more than a few photos of each of the alphabets when you see them. You won’t know which one works better till you compare them on the screen. Plus, you’ll want to use more than one image if the word you’re forming has alphabets repeated.
• Set a defined start and end date to ensure that you progress consistently through the project and not keep putting it off for later.
• Search for your alphabet photographs all the time, everywhere.
• Don’t give up . Keep looking. Finish all the letters of the alphabet, but have fun!
• Share your project results with us on the Beyond Photo Tips Flickr Group  or Facebook Page .

The idea is to see everyday objects in a new light .

Increase the Difficulty by Trying Found Object Alphabets

If you find alphabets in shapes easily, then it’s time to make the project more difficult. Change the rules so that you can’t touch any of the objects to reposition them, or even add light with a flash or reflector. You’re to take photographs of objects exactly as they’re found. This is called “Found Object Photography”, and combining it with your Alphabet Photography project will make it even more challenging.

Bringing it Together: Make Words

Once you have finished your project, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

• Open up your images, select the best, and delete the rest .
• Process these images so that you are happy with them. You could increase contrast, and brightness, or crop the images slightly differently. Finally choose whether the image should remain in color, or be converted to black and white. You can use a mix of the two.
• Finally, import them into an image editor of your choice, and paste them one by one into a larger document. .
• Now you can arrange them to form words and sentences.
• Print them out, and you’re done!

Alphabet Project Variants: Urban Numbers, Ransom Note Alphabet

You could also do variations of this photography project:

• Create an urban alphabet out of interesting lettering (from different signs, etc.) that you see around you in the city. Imagine that you’re making a ransom note, except that instead of cutting out letters from different print sources, you’re taking photographs from sign boards all around your city. This is an easy project.
• Create an Urban Number . Find shapes that look like numbers. See how many numbers you can get at the end of the project.

You can find more such projects on the Photo Project home page . If you have any suggestions for similar projects, or if you would like to share your work, do get in touch in the comments.

Featured Image: maloupictures

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• Susheel Chandradhas

Susheel Chandradhas is a Product Photographer and Filmmaker based in India. He has been taking photographs (almost) all his life. He has a diploma and a bachelors degree in Visual Communication, where his classmates all believed that he would write a book on photography... Instead, he writes on this website (because - isn't a community more fun?).

His passions include photography, parkour, wide-angle lenses, blue skies, fire extinguishers, and fast computers.

In addition to writing for Beyond Photo Tips, Susheel is a staff writer for Fstoppers.com , and owns and runs ColoursAlive, a photography, and video production studio.

You can connect with Susheel on Twitter , Instagram , or LinkedIn .

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Wow, I think creating an entire alphabet would be super slick. I might have to start keeping my eyes peeled for those letters!

I do like the idea ! actually I love it but when does it start end etc… ? I would also ask you if you would be interested in joining us at PhotoProjectsWiki.com it would be cool to have your projects there with the rest !

It is a pretty slick idea… but also quite difficult if you want to do it well. I’m going to be looking out for them too…

Hi ADIDAP Dreamer…

I’ve been visiting your site now and then for a while now… Thanks for stopping by at Beyond Phototips.

These projects are not really put up as an organised event. They’re more in the order of Do-It-Yourself home projects. I’d love to see things change, and for the projects to turn into something really participatory. That will be up to the readers though… I’m hoping to see some comments come in before taking things further.

This is a great idea..I hope to post something like this on my site in the next week or so but use the letters in my name!

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50+ Photography Keywords and Definitions (Top Terms)

When you’re a beginner in photography, there can be many terms and expressions that you may have never heard of. Or you are writing a detailed piece of photography coursework and need those extra keywords to help with your marks.

These photography related keywords can help you improve your skills and is definitely vital in becoming a better photographer .

Feel free to come back once you have read this page, especially if you’re researching a photographic technique and need to find a definition.

What are Photography Keywords?

Photography keywords are specific terms used to describe various aspects, techniques, equipment, and styles related to photography. These keywords play a vital role in organizing and categorizing photographic content, aiding in searches, and improving visibility across online platforms.

Importance of Photography Keywords

Utilizing the right keywords can significantly impact the discoverability of your photography work. By incorporating relevant terms into your descriptions, titles, and tags, you increase the likelihood of your images being found by potential clients, collaborators, or enthusiasts.

Common Photography Keywords and Definitions

So these are the 50+ photographic keywords every beginner photographer should know

Aperture: Simply it is the size of the opening of the lens. This can determine the exposure of an image and is measured in f-stops.

AE: Automatic Exposure.

Ambient light:  Is the light that is already present in the scene you are shooting. It can also be known as ‘natural light’ and is commonly the name for the light.

Aperture Priority Mode: Also abbreviated to A or AV on your camera, Aperture Priority Mode is the setting on your camera that will control the f-number while the camera selects a shutter speed to match the light conditions. Therefore this is a semi-automatic mode and is a mode most photographers use.

B&W: Black and white.

Bokeh: Is produced by blurring the background of an image and is popular in portraits as it forces you to focus on the subject.

BULB: Normally found in the Manual Mode setting. Bulb mode means the camera will keep taking an image until you tell it to stop, usually used for long exposures. This can be by holding your finger over the button or using a remote for your camera.

Burning: Decreases the exposure of an area within your photo. This technique is used within Photoshop and darkroom prints. It’s also the opposite of dodging where it increases the exposure of the selected areas.

Camera Angle: Is the specific location at which the camera is located so it can take the shot.

Camera Obscura: Is a technique where light from a scene outside is projected onto a wall or canvas. This then allows the artist to trace the image with a high amount of accuracy.

Camera Raw: Also known as RAW, is an image file that contains a minimal amount of processed data from the scene. Many photographers favour this image format over JPEG as it allows more control at the editing stage.

Cloning: Is a digital processing tool that allows you to copy part of an image to another part. This means you can remove part of an image that is unwanted.

Composition: Is the placement of relative subjects and elements within an image or scene to create a pleasing feel. 

Contact Sheet: Used primarily in film cameras, is a sheet of all the frames and is used as a proof print. However, it is now also used with digital images to showcase work to a client from the shoot.

Contrast: Is the difference between the light and dark areas within your images. High contrast means the blacks are darker and whites are brighter, vice versa.

Cropping: When you make an image smaller by removing the outer parts it is referred to as cropping.

Depth of Field: Abbreviated to DOF, is the distance between the closest and farthest subjects in a scene that look noticeably sharp in an image.

Double-Exposure: Superimposing two or more images on top of each other creating a unique image. 

DSLR: Digital Single-Lens Reflex

Exposure: Is the amount of light entering the camera’s sensor. Too much light and the image is overexposed and not enough light and it’s underexposed.

Exposure Compensation: Normally the +/- button on the camera and is where the photographer can control whether you want the image over or underexposed. This can help with sunsets or photographing snow where you want to underexpose and overexpose respectively.

f-Stop: Or f-number is the aperture size or aperture stop in a number that controls the size of the lens opening. Therefore controlling the amount of light entering the camera.

Feathering: A digital editing technique, blurring and smoothing out edges within the image.

Focal Point: Is a way to describe the main part of the image or a point of interest within the image.

Glass: Refers to a camera lens.

Golden Hour: The hour during sunrise and sunset where you get the best light for your image.

Graduated Filter: Normally known as a graduated neutral-density filter, it is a dark filter which is split halfway allowing the sky and ground to be exposed the same.

Histogram: Is a graph that shows the tonal values within the image, allowing the photographer to pick out which areas are too dark and too bright.

ISO: The sensitivity of a camera sensor is determined by the cameras ISO setting. Lower ISO settings are usually used for bright settings and higher ISO’s are used in darker surroundings.

JPEG: An image format (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and is the most common default setting for cameras and phones.

Macro: Photographing objects that are extremely small. Normally macro photographers would use a lens with a 1:1 ratio, which is the size of the subject on the sensor.

Midtone: Or middle tone, describes the middle tones between two colours. For example, grey is the midtone of black and white.

Monochrome: Is defined as an image that is made up of one hue or colour. Most black and white images are made up of black, white and grey.

ND: Neutral Density.

Panning: Moving the camera, usually on a tripod, with a long shutter speed to blur the background.

Rule of Thirds: A compositional technique where you place the main subject or horizon off from the centre. If you imagine a 3×3 grid placed over the image you can place the subjects on the intersecting points which create a more pleasing image. Check out this post for more compositional techniques.

Saturation: Can provide a colour boost to your image by allowing you to change selective colours within the image. Monochrome images are 100% desaturated as there is no colour.

Sharpening: Sharpening defines the edges within an image and can be used to correct the blur within the image.

Shutter Priority: Sometimes S or SV on your camera dial is the mode for which you can change the shutter speed, as the camera matches the correct aperture for the right exposure.

Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera shutter is open for, therefore controlling the amount of time light is entering the camera’s sensor. Long exposures use longer shutter speeds and sport/action photographers use quick shutter speeds to freeze the subject.

Telephoto Lens: Long lenses, typically used by wildlife and sports photographers.

Time Lapse Photography: Is a type of photography where a camera captures many images over a set amount of time, to create a video where time is moving faster.

Ultraviolet filter: Protects your camera lens from UV light and scratches.

Viewfinder: The photographer looks through the camera’s viewfinder to focus and frame the shot.

Vignetting: Is common in camera lenses and means the darkening of the image corners compared to the centre.

VR: Vibration Reduction, image stabilization technology used within lenses.

Warm Colours: Normally associated with sunsets and is the reds and yellows within the image.

Watermark: Is typically the photographer’s logo or name imprinted onto an image to protect the photographer’s image.

White Balance: (WB) is used to regulate colours to match the actual light in the scene from fluorescent lighting, sunlight and bulbs and takes into account the colour temperature within the image.

Wide-Angle Lens: The focal length of a lens which is classically smaller than a normal lens, it is normally used by landscape photographers to capture wide scenes.

If you have any other ideas for keywords please leave them in the comments below and I’ll add them in the future.

If you’re studying photography I highly recommend you check our worksheets on  Photography Analysis!

Included in these worksheets are, 3 pages of Photography Keywords and Terms, The Photography Analysis Worksheet and examples of my own analysis work!

Thanks again and if you enjoyed reading it please share and even pin it to your Pinterest wall!

Some of these links are affiliates which means I make a small percentage if you use my link.

You may enjoy reading  What are the Different Parts of a DSLR Camera?

Why are photography keywords important?

Photography keywords are essential for organizing and categorizing images, improving search visibility, and enhancing online presence.

How can I optimize my photography keywords for SEO?

To optimize photography keywords for SEO, conduct keyword research, use relevant terms in titles, descriptions, and tags, and ensure consistency across platforms.

What is the significance of aperture in photography?

Aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera and affects depth of field, exposure, and the aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas known as bokeh.

What are some compositional techniques used in photography?

Common compositional techniques include the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, symmetry, and balance, which help create visually engaging images.

How does white balance impact the color accuracy of photographs?

White balance adjustments ensure that colors appear natural and neutral under different lighting conditions, preserving the overall accuracy and tone of the image.

Understanding photography keywords and their definitions is fundamental for anyone passionate about photography. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can communicate effectively with fellow photographers, improve your technical skills, and enhance the overall quality of your work.

You may enjoy reading  What is Street Art Photography?

The Photography Revision team are a group focused to simplifying the world of photography through revision tools, info sheets, product reviews and many more. We are an experienced team of photographers looking to help people who share the same passion.

Related Posts

What is the definition of lines in photography 2024, what are the different parts of a dslr camera, what is flambient photography: capturing the perfect balance of flash and ambient light.

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8 Great Tips for Using Text or Typography in Photography

You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training:

Typography photography is an excellent way to add meaning and layers in your imagery. It can be used to add meaning, emphasize a point, or simply to make your photos more interesting. Here are eight great tips for using text or typography in your photography.

The Benefits of Typography Photography: Why Add Text in the First Place?

The way typography works in your image strongly depends on the reason you added it in the first place. Do you want to say something and make your message as loud and clear as it can be? Or do you want to create a small Easter egg for especially keen spectators to notice and enjoy?  I believe that there are two main ways to use text in photography:

• as an artistic detail, which adds to the atmosphere,
• as a message, and a leading hero of an image.

Make Details Accurate to Add Realism to Your Images

Create Props You Can Reuse

Include Typography That Matches the Theme of Your Shoot

Mix Chalkboard Writing With Real Objects

Keep the Chalk Piece Wet

I prefer chalk markers because they provide a thinner and more accurate line. If you only have regular chalk, keep it wet. Drawing with wet chalk is much easier. The lines will look a bit faded at first, but let them dry.

Create Typography Out of Everyday Objects

Form Letters With Negative Space

Use a Paper Template to Create Letters

Create Typography With Baked Goods for Creative Food Photography

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The Photo Project

Stop Believing" the Cloud" is all you need 

Yes, I want peace of mind! Sign me up!

Full Price $297 SALE PRICE $97 USD

No more wondering if those precious memories are safely backed up to the cloud. It’s time to master the best tools that yield quick results and finally put the 50K photos you have on your camera roll to good use! 

Yes, busy mom, I’m looking at you! How would it feel to finally get your photos organized, accessible, and be confident that your memories are safe? To finally have beautiful photo albums that document your family’s life?

Stressed about the 55,230 photos stuck in the cloud, on your husband's phone and an old laptop? 

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🙋🏻‍♀️ I have no idea where to start. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m not sure exactly what the cloud is or how it works.  🙋🏻‍♀️I would organize my photos….but I don't know how to get them off my phone or out of the cloud. 🙋🏻‍♀️ My photos are saved…all over the place.  🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m never going to find time to organize our family’s pictures. 🙋🏻‍♀️ Technology scares the crap out of me. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m not one of those techy moms. 🙋🏻‍♀️ I don’t have time to tackle my photos! Mama, you are not alone. Most people don’t know where to start or how to navigate the tech. And even if you do back up your phone to a cloud service, you want to be able to access those photos as effortlessly as you walk down memory lane in your mind.

you’d love nothing more than to wake up everyday, knowing that every single picture of your babies, your kiddos, your family is safe, organized and available to use.

Does this sound like you.

 finally clean up your photo mess and start using your photos the way they were meant to be used.

Keep chugging along doing the bare minimum to keep your family memories safe...or

Let’s move from overwhelmed to organized with ease. .

The Photo Project, the ultimate solution to your digital photo organization woes. The course that simplifies the tech and teaches you how to create a photo library that you will love.  Say goodbye to the frustration of scrolling through endless folders and hello to a seamless and organized photo collection.

You have bedtime stories to read and scraped knees to kiss and memories to make. And I don’t want you to miss out on a single one of them!  That’s why The Photo Project contains only the information you need to meet your organization goals and nothing you don’t. I’ve stripped down the process and focused on the pivotal pieces that have transformed my library and allowed me to go from a complete photo mess to an organized system that is safe, secure, and a pleasure to look through.  Inside, you will learn exactly how to organize your photos with easy to follow lessons. 

How to clean up your camera roll Understanding Storage & the 3-2-1 Method How to Find and Centralize your Photos How to Remove Duplicates How to Organize your Photos How to  Backup using the 3-2-1 Method When to delete originals

Let’s break it down. Here's what’s waiting for you inside: 

Will This Course Teach Me?

okay, but what exactly

– Elizabeth, TPP STUDENT

My photo organizing project is going very well, thanks to you! Honestly, I wouldn't have known where & how to start, and I consider myself fairly tech-comfortable! Your recommended apps have been amazingly helpful. And I really appreciate the videos that I can replay as often as needed to understand & complete all the steps.

“amazingly helpful” 

– Megan, TPP Student

Thank you so much, Megan. My first photo book just arrived in the mail. The first one I made was a baby book – for my 17 year old daughter. Before I found your course, I was honestly overwhelmed and a little paralyzed about doing this “right.” Your course plus your done is better than perfect approach made this possible. The book is so beautiful. Now my 14 year old daughter gets one. And then on to yearly photo books!

“Thank you so much” 

During the course of my business I have been asked by my clients countless times how to store digital images. It was then that it dawned on me that not everyone understands the tech behind creating a digital photo library. So I started helping my clients on a 1:1 basis but couldn’t keep up with the demand. That is how The Photo Project was born: as a way to give my clients the resources to create a digital photo library and create family yearbooks for their family just like I do for my own. 

the photographer

Photographer, Digital Photo Organizer, Hype-woman, Achiever, Mama of 2 and obsessive organizer of all things!

I’m megan. .

what Students are saying 

I am an organizational freak in 90% of my life. The 10% I've never cared much about has been my photos. I felt like they were in the cloud so they were there, even though they were messy. . I've been paying for iCloud, OneDrive and Google Drive for the last few years and when I saw the ad for the Photo Project. I was intrigued about consolidating these sources. I bought the course and after the first lesson got 'stuck' on cleaning out my photo roll. HOWEVER...I then enrolled in the Photo Project Membership and it was a GAME CHANGER! Meg has a great way of getting you unstuck and keeping you moving forward! It was great to know that I had a weekly check-in to make some sort of movement...I have organized and condensed about 200,000 photos down to about 25,000. 

game changer” 

on to the next

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stop right now and book your session” 

– Tiffany and Michael

my jaw hit the floor when I saw the images" 

Are you ready to tackle your  Photo Mess?

It was not a small task and Megan got everything set up and easy to search and keep organized. I would recommend it to anyone who has fallen years behind on keeping their digital files organized. 

The results

Being a busy mom with two young kids and having a small business that requires a lot of content creation for social media, I have tens of thousands of photos on my phone. I needed help to organize and pull out photos of my kids and family from photos for my business.

ABOUT TRACY, MOM OF 2

 “working with Megan to organize my digital pictures was amazing.” 

CASE STUDY —

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the program start?

It starts as soon as you hit purchase. You will be sent direct access via email to the online course. You can start organizing your family memories today!

Can I join next time? I want to try on my own right now?

The course is only available at this price for a limited time. You can always sign up later, but the price may be higher. (And let’s face it, moms…later usually means never, am I right?)

Are there any additional costs inside of the course? 

The short answer is no, because I will show you how to complete each task for free. I’ll also show you programs you can purchase for an additional cost that make some steps quicker, but ultimately that is up to you!  

Do I have to use the Cloud Service you recommend?

No, but the video tutorials in this course are created using Amazon Photos. So you may not have all of the steps you need to complete the system without it.

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It’s time to claim your photos and start treating them like the treasures they are, because if not now, when?

are you ready?

iPhone Photography Basics: How to shoot a 365 project

W hat better way to learn the iPhone photography basics than by capturing an image every single day for a whole year? A 365 project might sound like a daunting task, but when you consider the thousands of photos that likely already exist on your iPhone or on iCloud , it’s an entirely doable challenge. In fact, there’s a good chance you use your iPhone camera almost every day anyway. The only difference here is that you’re going to be taking your photography that little bit more seriously so you can develop your skills as an iPhone photographer. 

Embarking on a 365 project will immediately give you a goal to work towards, adding a sense of purpose to the photographs that you capture. And if you plan your days effectively, you’ll be able to throw in your fair share of challenges along the way. This is integral in allowing you to develop your photography skills, just make sure you don’t become too ambitious too quickly. Just like an endurance race, a 365 project is a marathon, not a sprint. Shoot three sunsets and four sunrises in the first week and there’s no way you can keep that level of commitment up. 

So, if you’re thinking about starting a 365 project today, here are a few tips to help you avoid throwing the towel in so you can journey forth and become a better photographer…

Brainstorm photography ideas

There is quite simply no genre of photography that doesn’t benefit from planning. And a 365 project is no different. If you leave capturing your photo to the last minute every day, you risk running out of ideas and becoming frustrated. You certainly won’t be capturing your best work. 

As soon as you commit to a 365 project, brainstorm your ideas. Your iPhone’s Notes app is a great way of doing this, so you have access to them at all times. Write down the various genres you’d like to try and then get more specific with particular mini projects you’d like to work on. You can then start to plan your time more effectively and shoot more ambitious images.

Avoid unrealistic expectations

Vowing to capture 365 images in a single year is a huge undertaking and it’s easy to become disillusioned, especially if you set unrealistic expectations. A 365 project is anything you want it to be: a visual diary of your life, an excuse to take photos or a practice regime that allows you to build your skillset. Just don’t expect to capture an award-winning iPhone image every single day. Even the world’s best photographers would struggle to shoot their best work on such a consistent basis. 

Instead, allow yourself to find creative ways to come up with easy wins on days when you’re busy and save more ambitious projects for the days when you’ve got the time. If all you manage to capture is an artistic ray of window light, highlighting the cup on your desk one day, that’s not a problem. And while you should try your best not to miss a day, if you do, simply shoot two photos the next day and move on.

Keep a camera with you at all times

If you were shooting with a dedicated camera, this would be an extremely important step. But it highlights the real beauty of iPhone photography and why – even as a seasoned photographer – I take my iPhone Camera seriously . It’s the camera that’s always by your side, making it arguably the best camera you could use for a 365 project.

Whether you’re on your way back to the office with your lunch and you spot a fantastic piece of architecture, or you’re walking the dog in the evening and are met with beautiful golden light, or you’re off on a city break, your iPhone is the camera that’s always by your side.

Experiment with genres and iPhone tech

Experimentation is key if you want to use your 365 project to develop your skills, but it’s also a great way to get to know your iPhone camera inside out. I’m willing to bet that most iPhone photographers keep their camera on the main wide-angle lens and don’t deviate further. This is your chance to experiment with different lenses: try shooting a fun portrait with the ultra-wide-angle lens or if you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone 15 Pro Max , put that brand-new 5x telephoto lens through its paces. Explore functions like Pano, Portrait, and Night modes. Apply a filter and shoot in black and white or finally get round to learning how to edit iPhone photos the right way by delving into the Photos app’s editing functions. 

Challenge yourself

Just as you don’t want to set yourself unrealistic expectations, you also don’t want to go too far the other way. If all you do is take a quick snap every day, with little thought regarding composition , the quality of light, or whether or not you’re using the right lens, you simply will not improve as a photographer. You need to push yourself out of your comfort zone at certain times throughout the year. This might be trying a different genre like street photography or portraiture, it might be learning more about your iPhone camera and using the various features to their fullest. Either way, you have to push yourself to get better.

Share and collate your images

There really is something special about seeing a body of work. In a world where digital photography means we can shoot and move on, and the time-sensitive nature of digital media means articles and images are soon lost to the annals of time, seeing a collection of your images in one place is a really satisfying way to chart progress. It’s one of the main reasons why Instagram became so popular, after all. 

Creating an Instagram account for your 365 project is a fantastic way of collating your work and sharing it with others. It also gives your project an additional purpose and allows you to receive constructive criticism, garner inspiration from other accounts and receive positive comments to motivate you further. And if you don’t want to share your project online, you can create a folder in the Photos app, so you can still collate your work and browse through it in one place.

Find a photography partner

Persuading a friend, or even a group of friends, to partake in a 365 project is a great way to stay inspired and motivated, while also introducing a healthy dose of competition. This allows you to really immerse yourself within the project. Encouragement will spur you on and constructive criticism will help you develop. You may even find yourselves heading out together and becoming more ambitious with your efforts. But easily the most valuable by-product of teaming up, is an added sense of accountability. If you ever find yourself disillusioned or lacking the motivation to continue, your photography partner will be there to lift you up and encourage you to push on.

But I’m too busy to take a photo every day… 

Photography should be about having fun. Force yourself to embark on a 365 project and it could have an adverse effect. If your life is simply too busy for a 365 project right now, you can still use almost all of the tips above, but apply them to more manageable, mini projects. This might be taking a photo every time you walk the dog, only capturing black and white photography for a month, or focusing on a street photography project during a city break. Multiple ‘mini projects’ throughout the year may prove just as valuable as a 365 project. You're on the right track as long as you’re motivated to capture photos regularly.

• Add an image
• Draft and add content
• Rewrite text
• Chat with Copilot
• Create a summary
• Copilot in Word on mobile devices
• Create a new presentation
• Add a slide or image
• Summarize your presentation
• Organize your presentation
• Use your organization's branding
• Copilot in PowerPoint for mobile devices
• Draft an Outlook email message
• Summarize an email thread
• Suggested drafts in Outlook
• Email coaching
• Get started with Copilot in Excel
• Identify insights
• Highlight, sort, and filter your data
• Generate formula columns
• Summarize your OneNote notes
• Create a to-do list and tasks
• Create project plans in OneNote

Add an image with Copilot in Word

Note:  This feature is available to customers with Copilot Pro (home) license on Web. Coming to Desktop and Copilot for Microsoft 365 (work) licenses soon.

Copilot can generate images

Imagine you’re working on a report about the Monarch butterfly, and you’d like to include a creative visualization. In Microsoft Word, simply ask Copilot to " Create an image of a Monarch butterfly in a spring scene" . Be as descriptive as you can, and Copilot will generate a brand-new image based solely on your instructions.

Copilot uses Designer's Image Creator to create AI-generated images in Word Copilot, powered by an advanced DALL-E 3 model.

Tips for prompting generated images?  

Creating an image works differently than searching for stock images.  

Designer’s Image Creator works best when you’re more descriptive, so get creative and add details like adjectives, locations, or even artistic styles such as ‘digital art’ and ‘photorealistic.’  

Here's an example of a how to create a longer, more descriptive prompt:  

Original prompt: " Create an image of a lion ."

Descriptive prompt: " Create a close-up photo of a female lion in a vast grassland with multiple shades of green and brown .”

Copilot can suggest licensed stock images

Copilot can also step in to recommend licensed stock images that come with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Maybe you are creating a document for recipes with strawberries, but it could use some images. Simply ask Copilot to " Insert a stock image of a delicious dessert with strawberries " , and let Copilot find the right stock image for your document. 

Give it a try with your own prompts and see what Copilot can come up with for you!  

Copilot Lab - start your journey 

Where can I get Microsoft Copilot?

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AI + Machine Learning , Announcements , Azure AI Content Safety , Azure AI Studio , Azure OpenAI Service , Partners

Introducing GPT-4o: OpenAI’s new flagship multimodal model now in preview on Azure

By Eric Boyd Corporate Vice President, Azure AI Platform, Microsoft

Posted on May 13, 2024 2 min read

• Tag: Copilot
• Tag: Generative AI

Microsoft is thrilled to announce the launch of GPT-4o, OpenAI’s new flagship model on Azure AI. This groundbreaking multimodal model integrates text, vision, and audio capabilities, setting a new standard for generative and conversational AI experiences. GPT-4o is available now in Azure OpenAI Service, to try in preview , with support for text and image.

Azure OpenAI Service

A step forward in generative AI for Azure OpenAI Service

GPT-4o offers a shift in how AI models interact with multimodal inputs. By seamlessly combining text, images, and audio, GPT-4o provides a richer, more engaging user experience.

Launch highlights: Immediate access and what you can expect

Azure OpenAI Service customers can explore GPT-4o’s extensive capabilities through a preview playground in Azure OpenAI Studio starting today in two regions in the US. This initial release focuses on text and vision inputs to provide a glimpse into the model’s potential, paving the way for further capabilities like audio and video.

Efficiency and cost-effectiveness

GPT-4o is engineered for speed and efficiency. Its advanced ability to handle complex queries with minimal resources can translate into cost savings and performance.

Potential use cases to explore with GPT-4o

The introduction of GPT-4o opens numerous possibilities for businesses in various sectors: 

• Enhanced customer service : By integrating diverse data inputs, GPT-4o enables more dynamic and comprehensive customer support interactions.
• Advanced analytics : Leverage GPT-4o’s capability to process and analyze different types of data to enhance decision-making and uncover deeper insights.
• Content innovation : Use GPT-4o’s generative capabilities to create engaging and diverse content formats, catering to a broad range of consumer preferences.

Exciting future developments: GPT-4o at Microsoft Build 2024 

We are eager to share more about GPT-4o and other Azure AI updates at Microsoft Build 2024 , to help developers further unlock the power of generative AI.

Get started with Azure OpenAI Service

Begin your journey with GPT-4o and Azure OpenAI Service by taking the following steps:

• Try out GPT-4o in Azure OpenAI Service Chat Playground (in preview).
• If you are not a current Azure OpenAI Service customer, apply for access by completing this form .
• Learn more about  Azure OpenAI Service  and the  latest enhancements.  
• Understand responsible AI tooling available in Azure with Azure AI Content Safety .
• Review the OpenAI blog on GPT-4o.

Let us know what you think of Azure and what you would like to see in the future.

Provide feedback

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