How to Have More Fun With Your Photos
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I think we can all agree that no matter how fun photography might be, there are times when the creativity just isn't there.
Likewise, photography can sometimes feel more like a chore than something fun to do, especially if photography is your career.
So the question is, what can you do to have more fun with your photos?
In today's post, we'll go over a few simple and easy ideas that might help you rediscover just how much fun photography can be.
Snaptiles just released a plastic-framed photo tile that allows you to swap out the photo in each tile. See it here!
Learn a New Post-Processing Skill
Photo by gorodenkoff via iStock
One of my favorite ways to "get back in the saddle" with my photography is to learn a new post-processing skill.
Not only is this extremely valuable from the perspective of adding to my toolkit of skills, but it's also something that's necessary as technology changes the way we process images.
Think about it...programs like Luminar and Photoshop are relying more and more on artificial intelligence and machine learning to turn complex edits into tasks that require one or two keystrokes (sky replacement, anyone?!).
So, the next time you're feeling like photography isn't much fun, do a quick search on YouTube for some new tips and tricks you can use to make processing your images more effective and less time-consuming.
In the video above from Skylum, get a quick overview of Luminar AI's sky replacement tool. It could be just what the doctor ordered for making your photography more fun!
Learn More:
Find New Ways to Display Your Photos
I'm a big advocate of printing out your photos - not all your photos, but getting in the habit of printing out the very best ones or your favorite ones will help you engage more thoroughly in the process of photography.
Think of it like this - printing and displaying your photos is like waxing your car after a car wash. Waxing the car doesn't need to happen every single time you wash it, but when it does happen, the car looks really good and you appreciate it more.
The same applies to your photos. Having that tangible print in your hands and figuring out where and how to display it is a nice way to end the process of creating an image.
But rather than getting the same old paper prints of your photos, why not try something new?
Last year, I was introduced to Snaptiles, which are magnetic photo tiles that you can arrange and rearrange on your wall.
As you can see in the photos above and below, the way you display your images is limited only by your imagination. It's a great way to get your creative juices flowing (and you can get your family in on it too!).
It's a simple process...just peel the backing off the adhesive strips on the wall mount and place it on the wall where you want it, as shown above.
Then add the first Snaptile to the wall mount. Next, add additional Snaptiles. It's that easy!
Aside from the ease of use, these tiles are ultra-lightweight and cause zero wall damage. That means that you can rearrange your Snaptiles display in any way you want without worrying about any holes being left behind.
Instead, the tiles connect to one another with magnets - all four sides of a Snaptile are lined with rare earth magnets. They even make a snapping sound as they connect, which is really, really satisfying!
These photo tiles are well made, too. They're printed on a premium SBS acid-free archival-grade paperboard. So even though they're lightweight, they look great and have a luxurious soft touch as well.
They're also inexpensive - just $49 for four tiles and $9 per tile after that.
Snaptiles are great for getting creative with your photos. And like I said earlier, you can get your friends and family involved in coming up with neat photo displays. What's better than that?!
Change Up Your Photo-Taking Technique
Photo by Inga-Av via iStock
There are lots and lots of ways to get more creative with taking your photos that could help you have a bit more fun while you're out shooting.
If you normally shoot with an interchangeable lens camera, switch things up and limit yourself to taking photos only with your smartphone. Along the same lines, if your favorite lens is a 24-70mm zoom, take a few days to shoot only with your 50mm prime.
Another idea you might try is to ditch your comfort zone and photograph a totally different genre...
If you're a portrait photographer, try landscapes for a few days. If street photography is your thing, give architectural photography a try. If you usually photograph wildlife, try astrophotography.
Photo by lex_ugalek via iStock
The point is that there are so many different types of gear and types of photography to try.
Not only does experimentation often lead to improved creativity, but you might also find a new photography passion.
I typically shoot landscapes most of the time. But when using drones for photography became popular, I was hooked. Now I probably shoot as many photos (and videos) with my drones as I do with my cameras.
Try a Photography Exercise
Photo by Gajus via iStock
There are all kinds of photography exercises you can try to have more fun with your photos.
You might give our 30-day creative eye challenge a shot. Perhaps you do one of those Project-365 things where you take a different kind of photo each day for a year.
Heck, maybe you take a photography class, check out some photography books, or simply head to YouTube to find some quick photography exercises to help you get out of your rut.
Photo by PeopleImages via iStock
This is a great time to be a photographer because we have better technology than ever before to help us create compelling shots. But we also have access to more learning materials than at any point in the past. So, if photography isn't all that fun right now, all you have to do is put in a little time and effort, practice your craft, and give new things a try.
If you can do those things, you'll quickly find that you're having more fun with your photos!
