Photography-related products don’t always have to be expensive. Sometimes, the cheapest and most beautiful props can be found in the most unexpected places. If you take the time to look for them, you’ll find priceless gems that will boost your inspiration and make you a more creative photographer. Being able to make unusual items look graceful in photographs will give you a chance to improve as an artist. Your skills will help you make the most of any photo shoot, regardless of your budget. This will attract clients to you, give you more room to think outside the box and make you stand out as a photographer.
If you want to be a more imaginative artist, you should expose yourself to more opportunities. What every person can benefit from is the ability to find affordable items that will help him or her create a masterpiece. These items can be found almost anywhere: in thrift stores, libraries, and more. Here is a complete list of places where you can find awesome props and boost your inspiration.
Thrift Stores
Some items simply don’t look good when they reach a certain age. Others go out of fashion, are passed down to unenthusiastic family members, or lose their spark. While these possessions may not appeal to their owners, they could catch your artistic eye. Clothing items like scarves, which may not look that beautiful on a neck anymore, can be turned into props and used as elegant backdrops, foregrounds, or materials for DIY projects. There’s no limit when it comes to the potential of used items like these.
Other things you might find in thrift stores are vintage gems ideal for conceptual photo shoots, interesting items of clothing, and materials you could use to create foregrounds/backgrounds. Such props may also inspire you to embrace photo manipulation; for example, obscure items like curtains can be transformed into mighty waves or extravagant gowns in Photoshop. If you’re a fan of editing, thrift stores will open a whole new world for you!
Second-Hand Bookstores and Libraries
Purchasing used books will open your mind, give you creative ideas, and encourage you to experiment with something new. A fictional character’s perseverance, for instance, may become a source of empowerment for you. If you’re into fiction, look for relatable stories and characters. Finding comfort in magical realism will provide you with an unquenchable thirst for meaningful photographs.
If you prefer non-fiction, keep an eye out for coffee tables books with inspiring visual references or how-to books related to art. These guides will teach you something new about your beloved hobby or simply give you the opportunity to find pure inspiration.
Online Stores
Websites like Amazon and eBay are filled with cheap props that can significantly improve your work. When you search for items, make sure you avoid products that might hurt you or damage your camera. Safe props include:
Backdrops
Wigs
Costumes
Accessories like glasses
The quirkier an item, the more striking your results will be!
At Home
Confetti garlands, giant polaroid photo frames, flower crowns, chalk drawings, dreamy photo filters, and paper masks are all things you can make on your own. (If you have children, some of these DIY projects will keep them entertained and encourage them to pose for the camera!) DIY projects can be found almost anywhere online. The ideas are unique, affordable, and fun.
If you’re interested in any of these projects, let us know and we’ll make a separate tutorial for you! 🙂
Though investing in valuable photography equipment is necessary, you don’t have to do it all the time. Find used items, turn them into works of art, and show others how wonderfully creative you are. Once you’re happy with the results, donate your props; someone might find them just as inspiring and create incredible art of their own. It’s a beautifully organic process. Why not become a part of it today?
Developing a photography vision is a challenge. But what is exactly this “Vision” thing? It is the way you see the world. The problem is that we are so used to see the things from our point of view that a lot of times we don’t even think about it as something unique. But our vision is really unique!! As photographers, we have the chance to express our vision through images. However, to do so we need to do some previous work first in order to recognize and develop our vision. Today I want to share with you some ideas about how to do it.
#1. Make a list of the things you love and things you hate
For this first exercise, you don’t need your camera yet. This one it is a bit of self-analysis. You just need a piece of paper and a pen. It will be good that you do this exercise in a moment you are relaxed and that you can invest some time in it. If you feel like, prepare a cup of coffee, tea or any other drink will make you feel cozy. Do anything you need to feel comfortable and make it a nice experience/moment of the day.
Once you are ready, make 2 columns on the piece of paper: “Things I love” and “Things I hate”. Put on them anything that comes to your mind. Anything. The list might seem a bit of a mess, but that´s ok. And remember, the important thing here is that you write things you “love/hate” and not just “like/dislike”. Vision is driven by strong feelings, so a big first step is to identify them.
Feel free to add to your list anything you love/hate. You will be surprised at the number of things you will come up with!
#2. Make it “abstract”
Next step is to take the subjects of each column and think why you love or hate them. You will need to dig more into concepts, ideas, values… To do this might be a bit difficult, especially if you have a long list of things you love/hate. Work just with some of them for now. In the future, you can always come back to your list and pick new ones.
You will have a collection of concepts that move you. These are some of the things in life that make you react, that make you feel. These are the ingredients of your vision.
Going abstract with the list of things I love I realized that something that moves me in nature is its colors. I am always amazed by the vivid tones you can find in a simple tree. As I want to show colors, I stopped trying to convert my photos to Black & White and instead I am studying color theories in order to get deeper into the subject.
#3. Take photos with your subjects and concepts in mind
Now it is time for action! Pick some subjects from your list and take photos about them for a period of time. It can be during one day, one week or one month. Choose the time that is more realistic for you to keep.
It is always easier to start with one of the things you love because it won´t generate any strong conflict between you. If you want to take photos of the things you hate (in order to make some type of protest for example), make sure you don´t go so far. It is important you don´t do anything you don´t feel comfortable doing or that you put yourself in awkward or even dangerous situations. The whole idea here is to recognize the things you are attracted to and the things that produce rejection on you. In any case, these justify you (or others) end up suffering.
And here the important thing: you need to keep always in mind not just the subject of your photos, but the concepts you linked to it. This is the key of everything!! Because in order to take photos that convey your vision you need to do a little switch in your way of thinking the photo: you need in fact to take photos of the concepts, not just of the subject!
One of the things I love is finding nature in the cities. For that reason, I can just stop in the middle of a street to take a photo of any botanical element. Sometimes people stop by to see what I am doing. This is one of the side effects of following your vision…that some people might think you are a bit crazy 🙂This is one of the photos I took that day.
#4. Keep your gear simple
When you work on your vision, your aim is not to take the perfect shot, but to try to convey what moves you. Keep this in mind because it is easy to get trapped in the technical part of photography. I think that the technical part of the craft is important and you need to master it too. However, I tend to relax a little about technical issues when I do these type of exercises to develop my vision because I want to focus on feelings and concepts. For the developing the technical part, there is another type of activities.
An easy way to keep things simple is to limit the gear you will work with. Take just one lens, or take photos with your phone a compact camera. In this way, you won´t get distracted.
Compact cameras and some phones might not have the capabilities than more advanced cameras can provide you. But using them might help you to work in your vision because their simplicity takes out of your mind a lot of technical decisions.
#5. Find ways to emphasize the concepts in your photos
This is the trickiest part. Here is where all your creativity and knowledge about composition has a role. If you are not familiar with composition yet, you can start by having a look at the article written by Julian Rad about the subject.
Try to highlight the concept linked to your subject. The way to do it will depend on each concept, so there is no a universal rule here. I recommend you to approach it as a game. Experiment, have fun. You will probably end up with a lot of photos that might not be perfect but that will put you closer to your vision. It is a learning process.
Something that usually works is to keep the composition the simplest you can in order to avoid elements that might make the viewer lose the attention/interest for the main subject.
Simplifying your compositions can be a great way to highlight the elements you want from your image. Here I wanted you to see these 2 rings placed together (symbolizing connection).
#6.Edit photos with your vision in mind
If you edit your photos, this is a good moment to work on your vision too. Editing has a huge role in conveying emotions. Before starting editing a photo, take a moment to think what are the elements in the photo that moves you (that caught your attention). Your mission is to edit the photo in a way that these elements out-stand from the rest of the photo. This is quite an extensive subject, so if you are interested to have a look at the article I wrote an article about How to post-process your images according to your photographic vision. It will give you a good starting point.
#7. Build something with your photos
Once you have some finished photos that show your vision, do something with them. One option is to print them and hang them in a place you can see them often. By looking at your photos you will realize if they are really conveying your vision or not. If you don´t look at the photos anymore because they are somewhere in an external memory, they won´t sink on you. In addition, if somebody else is coming to your place and see the photos, you can talk with them about them and check if you manage to convey what you wanted.
For printing, it is always great to find a high quality developing place and work with them. Printing in high quality is a world on its own. You need to take care of color calibration, know a little about paper quality, check the printing resolution… If this sounds too much for you right now, forget about high-quality printing and find a printing lab you like and that will make the printing experience for you easier and nicer. Prints for working in your vision don´t need to be huge or expensive. I rather print the photos in lower quality that not printing them because it is too expensive or too complicated. I personally print the photos to work on my vision in lower quality labs and I send my absolute favorite photos to be printed in high quality.
You can do other things besides or in addition to printing your photos. You can build collages, make albums, build collections in galleries… you can do what suits you the most. The idea is always the same: keep your photos in a way close to you that you can come back to them easily to check them and analyze them.
I print the photos I want to work with and I glue them into an album. I personally like this option because I can write notes and ideas about the photo. I that case, the print is not a high-quality one, but I printed it in 5 minutes in a photo laboratory next to my place. It makes its job as a learning material. When I want to frame a photo is when I look for high-quality prints. This is just my personal way of working. Of course, you can print all your photos in high-quality laboratories too.
I hope this will help you to develop your vision. I just have the last piece of advice: be flexible about your vision. Our experiences in life make us change the way we see things, so our photography vision might change accordingly. Working in your photography vision is a lifelong endeavor. It is good to take it easy and enjoy the ride!! Have a happy shooting!
Every kind of hair is photogenic, no matter its color, length, or texture. Since there are so many variations in the world, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that every portrait shoot is exceedingly unique. However, not having to worry about being monotonous as an artist shouldn’t stop you from pursuing more and more creativity. When you photograph either yourself or others, ask yourself which feature, appearance-wise, stands out most to you. More often than not, hair is going to be one of your answers because of the significant part it plays in portrait photography. Decorating it in elaborate ways will provide you with an opportunity to share more of your artistic and imaginative skills, which is something clients of all sorts favor. If you’re finding yourself short on time or feel that you’re out of ideas, try out the following hairstyles. They’re quick and easy and capable of making your images pop!
Side part
Perhaps the simplest of all hairstyles is the side part, which is especially suitable for client shoots. If you wish to have a shoot that’s simple, easy, and elegant, then this hairstyle is for you.For an exotic touch, make your subject wear a flower crown, a hat, or a single flower. The simplicity of this look will provide enough of a frame to nicely complement your subject’s facial features. Best of all, it won’t be too distracting; this is perfect for photo shoots in which striking compositions aren’t a necessity. Side parts also make great foregrounds when making closeups – if part of your subject’s face is covered by their hair, the side that is covered will be blurred, further accentuating features that are exposed.
Wild and free
For my own self-portrait shots, I often turn my hair into a messy combination of knots and curls. This allows me to work closely with my imagination, challenging me to make the most of a random look. The results, which are often pleasantly surprised, never fail to fill me with original ideas. Though messiness isn’t often associated with positive feedback, messy hairstyles are an exception. The textures of a messy look give images a painting-like atmosphere. It’s almost like going back in time and allowing a famous painter like John Waterhouse to capture your features on a canvas forever. This works best for medium-length (or longer) hair. Unruly hair looks incredible in black and white images; combine this with freckles and you’ll have yourself an impressive shot.
Top knot
Though top knots can be cliché, they have the potential to look wonderful, especially in cozy indoor settings. If you’re having a casual shoot with a friend or are simply in the mood for taking warm photographs, experiment with this look. It’s fun, easy to make, and will give your subject’s appearance a pleasant frame. For additional coziness and texture, make the top knot messy!
Wigs
If the aforementioned ideas don’t appeal to you, buy or rent a few wigs. These are guaranteed to give you an endless amount of creative possibilities and thoughts. If your wig looks too artificial, convert your photos to black & white (or shoot in b&w mode if your camera supports this feature). A lack of color will direct the viewer’s attention to your subject’s facial features rather than the quality of his or her wig. Wearing a hat or other hair accessories with a wig will also provide the viewer with an effective distraction.
Whichever style you choose, don’t forget to experiment and be creative! Sometimes, the messiest of looks end up creating the most astounding images. Add your own unique style to a commonly used hairstyle; for example, a ponytail can be combined with a small top knot, or a messy hairstyle can be accompanied by a tiny hat. Be fearless and your work will thrive because of it.
Moscow, though often associated with endless coldness, goes through a variety of unique seasons. Every month possesses an air of mysteriousness; however, despite the unreliability of the weather, a creative opportunity is always waiting to be found and cherished. In this article, you’ll be introduced to the unpredictable seasons of Moscow, from freezing winter months to welcoming spring days. I hope this gives you a better idea of what this grand city is like throughout the year.
Moscow’s Winter
Winters are unrelenting in Moscow’s more rural areas. The city is treated kinder than surrounding villages, providing visitors with warm stores and outdoor food stands. Exploring the city’s streets often feels like observing everything through fogged up glass. The snow, often reminiscent of the violent storms one sees in documentaries, seems to speak of endless cold days and silence (save for the endless traffic, which is at its busiest). This time of year in Moscow is perfect for cozy indoor shoots. Those who have the time and desire to experiment with studio photography will find themselves thriving during this time. The brave individuals who do step outside are often provided with outstanding photo opportunities. Whichever option you choose if you ever visit the city, remember to dress warmly and have a thermos (or two) with you at all times!
In villages, the silencing atmosphere can be either comforting or intimidating, depending on how much of a city person you are. Village homes are covered in thin layers of frost. It’s not uncommon to see chickens huddling and clucking busily, completely familiar with the season’s harshness. The sight is so unique that one can’t help but take photos of everything, even if the temperature threatens to freeze any exposed skin. Though this time of year is considered the most discouraging, it holds uplifting treasures for those who listen, observe, and create.
Moscow’s Spring
In the spring, magic resides in details. Winter’s ice cold hands finally begin to thaw, leaving behind signs of exhilarating life. This is a hopeful and tender time of year filled with long days and sweet-smelling parks. Colors slowly begin to bleed into the picture; though they’re not as intense as summer’s bursts of color, their presence is strong enough to lift even the heaviest of spirits. This, of course, is necessary after months of dullness. Spring, unlike winter, is ideal for outdoor shoots. The floral additions, rejuvenating golden hours, and energizing mornings promise gorgeous wedding, portrait, and nature shots. Those who love anything flower related in the creative world will find joy in the middle of the month when the flowers lose their shyness and confidently step into the world.
Moscow’s Summer
Summer enters the scene grandly, like a relative you can always rely on. It lazily walks around, each step a day full of hazy thoughts and memories. The heat in Moscow isn’t unbearable, much to everyone’s relief. There may be days when the very center of the city seeks to burn your skin, but that is often impossible to predict beforehand. (This is why it’s always handy to have access to suncream and a hat.) It’s during this time of year that photographers of all sorts can thrive. Golden hours and longer days generously spend their time with people, promising endless creativity. The endlessness is so comforting and believable that for a moment, it’s possible to forget that the colder months are just around the corner. However, summer has a way of removing that fear and we almost, almost, don’t mind it when autumn knocks on the door with a suitcase full of leaves.
Moscow’s Autumn
This is a product of summer and winter, a realm between two very different worlds. Autumns in Moscow are crisp morning air, dry hands, and the foretelling of a renewed cycle. This is a time of preparation, of finding warmth before the winter calls the city’s name. Autumns are perhaps the most wonderful time of year for fashion and portrait photographers. Before the leaves depart, Moscow is a golden nest ideal for portraiture, landscapes, and everything in between. The lack of intense coldness allows for relatively comfortable shoots; at the same time, the chilly weather makes coming home all the more pleasant.
And just like that, the cycle begins all over again, each season waiting for an artist to capture its best and worst sides.
Autumns in Cyprus are a blur of fog, crunchy leaves, and rainy (self) reflections. Every autumn, my family and I would spend hours collecting refreshing water, hiking, and taking quirky photos in the mountains. Since Cyprus is a fairly humble little island free of endless traffic jams, getting to places requires no effort at all. This easiness allows the island’s inhabitants to freely explore the entire island. In the autumn, this is particularly useful.
There was a certain year when autumn grandly announced its arrival and showered the island with shades of amber and brown. Everybody was in a state of perpetual awe during this enchanting time; most people were either taking snapshots all the time or simply absorbing, wide-eyed, the bountiful supply of picturesque scenes. I was amongst the former, dutifully photographing both landscapes and details with any camera I could get my hands on. It was a refreshing period of time which put us all in a world where worries concerning time and pain didn’t exist. Because every individual had the chance to experience this worry-less reality, even if temporarily, more people seemed to get along. It was as if the season had cast a spell of tranquility on us all, blocking all resentment from entering our newfound bubble of safety.
The mountains’ personality changes along with the time of day. Aware of this fact, we decided to visit the mountains before they awakened. On a cozy morning, we packed spinach pie and a thermos full of hot tea and went looking for an adventure. On our way there (a trip that takes no longer than an hour and a half), we spotted a shepherd herding a flock of sheep. The group was carefully hidden behind a timid layer of fog, a ghostly yet comforting reminder of a simpler life. Such a sight, though common in the mountains, is a rare occurrence in the city itself. This is why exploration is precious – you could visit the same location over and over again, but the creative opportunities it would provide you with would always be diverse and endless. Finding unexpected situations to photograph is an absolute joy for us all. The good news is that you needn’t go far to experience this joy.
Around 30 minutes into the trip, we stopped to grab a few snacks in our favorite store, a place that smells like the best bakery in the world mixed with the wondrous scent of forests. There, we spotted another unexpected moment: birds appearing out of nowhere like fountains in the sky. They quickly and elegantly flew around the area, leaving behind mild echoes and feather souvenirs. This, combined with Birdy’s cover of the song Skinny Love, left an unforgettable mark on me. Though the grandiosity of this moment might not have abandoned me in the years to come, I would’ve forgotten to remember it had it not been for the images I took during that experience. It is for this reason – that significant yet unpredictable moment, when documented in one form or another, stay with us forever – that I cherish photography and everything it has to offer.
Entering the heart of the mountains was, as always, akin to a sigh of relief. Our favorite spot, an outdoor space where visitors could relax and collect fresh water, was located next to an abandoned little shed surrounded by a stream. In another environment, this would’ve been a disconcerting view; in the autumnal morning mountains, it was a visually appealing comfort. We spent the rest of the morning nibbling on goodies, discussing the beauty of the chilly season, and taking comfortable walks in the area. Every moment felt strangely endless, and in a way it was. When I go through the photographs I took back then, I find myself reliving every vivid moment as if it only happened a week ago. To quote from Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Slaughterhouse Five: “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.”
I encourage you to visit all kinds of places, even your own backyard, and to look at them through the eyes of a curious observer. In that world of inquisitive thoughts, you will find exactly what you need, especially things you never knew you needed. There is endless value in being both present and photo-ready on this unpredictable, marvelous, colorful earth.
Rainy day? Stuck at home? Few spare hours? Bored? But your camera is within your reach, you love photography and want to practice your photo-taking abilities. There is just one thing standing in your way – you have no idea what to shoot. No problem at all – as here are few ideas of things you can photograph at your house and garden.
Photo ideas: Food-o-graphy
Food-o-graphy
Vegetables, fruits, sauces, pasta, desserts… take out whatever you have in your fridge and place it by the window as a side or back natural light is the key. You can also take photos of actions in the kitchen while preparing food, but if are not a good cook – no worries, order a pizza and take photos of it. Remember, a lot can be learned about lighting by doing food photography.
Plates and cutlery
Everyone has spare plates and cutlery laying around in the kitchen. Position only plates, or only cutlery or make a combination of both in an unusual, evocative way. Imagine storylines involving them and illustrate those stories from start to finish by moving the objects in different directions.
Consumer products
Shoes on shelves or in your hands closed or opened perfume bottles, clothes on hangers or on the bed, wrist watches, wall clocks, toys, jewelry and the list of consumer products that are in your house goes on and on. If you keep their original boxes, even better – you can play with them as well, as long as you think outside the box. The number of objects in your house you can shoot is only limited by your imagination.
Photo ideas: Things on the floor
Things on the floor
A big vase, a candle holder, an antique, a potted plant or even your sleeping baby can take the center stage in the middle of your floor and be photographed from above. You can be as creative as you want with different objects and shooting angles.
Portraits and self-portraits
It doesn’t matter whether you shoot a self-portrait or portraits of people currently in your house, nor whether you show happy or sad emotions. You can create a simple portrait studio at home and experiment with different poses and expressions of your subjects. If the people in your house are camera-shy, then just focus on their hands, feet, lips, silhouette or anything else that captures that person without showing their face.
, here is a challenge for you. Photograph your pets or your neighbour’s pets, the fish in your aquarium, the insects on your window sills, the bird in the tree outside your window or flying over your house. If you have an aquarium or terrarium at home – you don’t need an underwater camera, just use a polarizing filter to be able to cut out the glare on the glass.
Photo ideas: Water drops
Water drops
Another cool photography idea is to capture rain drops on windows or water droplets on glasses and plants. A variation on this topic would be to have the water drops on portable small items frozen in the freezer. You will have only a short time to shoot them before they melt but that would add the excitement and increase your focus on extreme close-ups. After the droplets melt and combine they will create fascinating patterns on the dry surface.
Street life outside your window
The everyday life right outside your window can be a theme for many photo projects. For example, shoot the ever-moving clouds, mystical sunrises, magical sunsets, busy road workers, random passing strangers and cars. Take your tripod out, set your camera to take single images or time-lapse and always be mindful not to take photos of people’s faces without their permission first.
Garden photos
Flowers, fruit trees, vegetable plants or even grass – all of them can be reasons for colourful and unique series of narratives. If it has been raining for days and no beautiful flowers are available in your garden – then check for worms, insects or wild weeds. Beauty can hide in the most unsuspecting things.
Fun with photos
If you have photo prints or photo negatives you no longer wish to keep or you can print duplicate photos, you can either burn parts of them or poke holes and shine light through them and re-shoot them . You can also cut and fold them in different ways from unusual angles to create dramatic photographs.
Have fun with any or all of these 10 ideas and really go after it. Give yourself a mission to try them out at the first moment you feel like wasting time and find the beauty that is often overlooked – photography has the power to bring it out your creativity.
Photography is a creative craft. Taking a great photo requires a combination of several factors: you need to have good gear and know how to use it. You need to know the different photography techniques and composition. You need to have good conditions (sometimes you could control these factors and other times not). Also, you need to know how to work around the conditions you are facing and the list goes on and on. The factor I want to talk about today is a slippery one yet very important- inspiration. I think that all photographers suffer ups and downs regarding their inspiration. I have periods when I know exactly what to photograph, how it should be and which emotions I want to convey. During these periods I find myself trying new things and developing photography projects.
There are periods in your photography journey that are bright and full of ideas. But these periods don’t last forever. You will suffer times without inspiration and photographer’s blockage. These ups and downs are part of the life of any creative activity.
Sometimes, without any apparent reason, inspiration just slips away. My muse abandons me and I feel lost. I don’t know what to do with my camera or where to go to take photos. In fact, I don’t even feel like taking photos at all. If you have suffered one of these periods you know what I mean. The problem is that artistic muses are unpredictable and fickle, so it is difficult to know when they will come back to you or what may trigger them. Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do to bring the muse back into your life and make you run to grab your camera again.
Visit museums
Plan a visit to one or several museums located close to your place (or not so close if you feel like traveling a little). You can leave your camera at home and just focus on the museum. Any type of museum might work: paint, history, sculpture… The idea is that you see new things. You never know where inspiration is going to come from. But you will have more probabilities of recovering your muse if you increase your artistic inputs. This is because of the creative process itself. The brain collects images and information from the world and builds its own ideas. The more you experience, the more your brain will have raw material for creating.
Expose yourself to other cultures
Another way to increase your information and artistic inputs and boost your inspiration is learning about other cultures. My favorite way to do this is traveling (when I can afford it…). However, when traveling is not an option, there are other ways to learn about cultures such as books, articles, blogs, and talks. Personally, I learned a lot about other cultures thanks to friends from other countries. You can ask them to tell you about their traditions. Be curious and keep your mind open; there is a whole world out there!
Meeting people from different origins is a great way to get in contact with new cultures, such as the Bedouin and Australian aborigine of these photos.
Go outdoors
When you feel out of ideas, it is easy to go online and check photography websites to see what others are doing. Although this strategy might work sometimes, it can also be a bit frustrating. You might think: “Look at this! Everybody is creative but me!”. This line of thought will increase your frustration and won’t help you to get your inspiration back. In these moments, I recommend you to go outdoors. You can organize a hike, or you can just go for a walk to a park or a nearby city. You will get two benefits from doing that. First, it will help you to disconnect and clear your head (muses usually prefer relaxed minds) and second, you never know what or who you will see out there.
Connect with family and friends
Besides the fact that friends and family are the ones who would be there for you and could give you ideas, tagging along with them and trying to do new things is always a source of new ideas. Do you have a friend that loves cooking? Join him/her! Maybe you end up discovering that you like food photography and then you will have lots of new things to photograph! This was just an example, but the possibilities of exposing yourself to new things are endless. Put attention to what your family and friends like to do and join them! You might be surprised by the result!
Join a photo community
Photo communities are a great source of new ideas. There are a lot of online communities, so you will need to do some search and decide which type of community is best for you. I find the most interesting communities offer weekly or monthly challenges or assignments because they make you grab your camera and do something. Although the challenge itself might not be an idea of your own, the experience will get while trying to achieve the goals can lead you to your own creations which is great! I also recommend joining a local community. This type of community gives you the chance to meet with other photographers and share ideas that will enrich you as an artist. They usually organize photographic walks that are not always focused on the subjects you usually photograph. Going out a little of your comfort zone is always a good way to increase the chances to get inspired.
I like nature photography and portraits, so if it is up to me, these are the subjects I photograph. I decided to join a photo walk with a photography community in Barcelona and they took me to a train station. At the beginning, I didn’t know what to do with myself. But after a while, I got inspired thanks to the enthusiasm of the other photographers and I managed to take some decent photos from a subject I am not familiar with at all.
In summary, if you want your inspiration back, a good way to get it back is to expose yourself to new things. With all of this new knowledge, your brain will be able to create new ideas. If you feel blocked, keep calm and find new things to learn and do. Enjoy and your muse will find you!
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