How to get into the Creative Flow
In this post, you will learn how to turn every photography excursion (or session) into a success.
The key is to have a plan before you leave the house.
Leaving the house without any idea what to capture and aimlessly looking for “something good to photograph” can be mentally draining. Firstly, you will always feel compelled to have at least a couple of “reasonably good” photos on your SD card when you get home. Otherwise, your photography outing would have been pointless. Inevitably, you’ll focus on subjects you’ve succeeded with in the past and capture them again similarly. You’ll be “rewarded” with photos you feel little to no connection to and feel unenthusiastic about downloading them to your computer.
It makes sense always to have a few ideas noted down before you leave the house (or start the session).
In this post, I’d like to show you a different approach to easily get you into the creative flow.
Focus on one photography subject for several weeks and master capturing it. This will reward you with more and better photos and bring you closer to developing your unique photography style.
To begin with, you can select a photography subject with a wide bandwidth of potential and that you regularly have access to.
As an example, I’ve chosen “Coffee Cups” (that just happen to be my favourite photography theme 🤗
You have several options:
One coffee cup for ALL your photos:
capture it in different settings (on a tabletop, on a window sill, on a bookshelf)
in different light situations (golden light, light + shadows etc.)
with different fillings: coffee, tea, dyed water in various colours, sweets/candy/chocolates, flower petals, large flower heads, coffee beans, etc.
Different coffee cups in the same setting:
include different accessories, fillings, or even your hands
change the perspective and focal length each time
OR
Using several cups in artistic ways:
Can you see how quickly you could get into the creative flow by taking this approach? I took all the photos above in the same afternoon and was disappointed when it started getting dark.
Focusing on one subject of a period will make you more creative. You’ll practice with one subject until you’ve mastered it, and this will improve your skills.
If you like this approach and would like more ideas and themes that are similarly effective as this one, then sign up for the “Creativity Box” workshop. You’ll be guided through the process with more fun themes and a step-by-step guide to making the most of each subject.
Getting into the flow, improving your skills, and flexing your creative muscles is the best foundation for developing a photography style as well. You have nothing to lose, and everything to win!