The 365 projects have become quite common these days. It’s probably due to the fact that they seem easy to complete and they can be challenging. To be fair, if you don’t have anything else to shoot, or haven’t got the time, a 365 is a good way to keep your creativity in shape. The problem is many photographers fail to complete their projects or cheat their way to the end, by uploading photos from multiple days to keep up. The point of a 365 is to finish it naturally and yes, I know it’s harder than it first seems. Here are 4 tips to help you get there.

1. Get some new gear

The motivation that new equipment can bring is amazing. For a lot of folks, the first time with a basic 50mm. f1.8 felt like a breakthrough. Maybe it won’t be a fixed lens, but a new set of lights or a highly capable compact camera, different strokes for different folks. One things is for sure though, once you buy a piece of equipment you’ve be thinking about for a while, shooting every day will suddenly feel more appealing.

2. Rely on friends

Your friends can be of great help with your 365 project. First of all, they can make great subjects that are easy to get to and work with. Second, by letting them know about what you’re doing, you have a lower chance of forgetting to shoot on a certain day, as your friends will most likely be naturally curious about how things are going with your project.

3. Constantly seek inspiration

Another common reason why people give up 365s is boredom. They simply get bored of photographing the same old, everyday items and people that surround them. Who can blame them? It does get dull after a while to try and see the “new in the old” every day. To make sure it doesn’t happen to you, try to look for inspiration constantly. There are lot of places to look for it, with Flickr and 500 px just to name a few. This exercise will also keep you sharp in your other photographic endeavors so it’s best to make habit out of it.

4. Take it easy on yourself

Self-discipline is necessary in a project like this, without it, you’ll end things long before you’re supposed to. However, it doesn’t mean you should beat yourself up if you miss photographing on a certain day because you had a family event or something else important going on. It’s not ideal, but it’s ok to pick up the next day. Just make sure you don’t forget to use your camera for a week. In that case, you might as well wait for next January to start over.

Also Read: THE 19 MOST EXPENSIVE PHOTOGRAPHS EVER SOLD 

Recommended Reading:

• 2013 Photographer's Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Selling Your Photography
• How to Create Stunning Digital Photography
• Best Business Practices for Photographers
• The Fast Track Photographer Business Plan: Build a Successful Photography Venture from the Ground Up
• Group Portrait Photography Handbook
• 500 Poses for Photographing Women
• The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images
• 500 Poses for Photographing Group Portraits
• Selling Your Photography: How to Make Money in New and Traditional Markets 
• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Photographer
• Photographer's Survival Manual: A Legal Guide for Artists in the Digital Age
• Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images
• Taking Stock: Make money in microstock creating photos that sell
• Going Pro: How to Make the Leap from Aspiring to Professional Photographer

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