16 Photography Project Ideas to Improve Your Photography
At the start of every year, or sometimes in the middle of one, a photographer, or mom with a camera decides that their goal is to improve their photography. One of the best ways to start is to start one of the many photography project ideas out there.
Photography projects jumpstart your creativity, help you strengthen your photography skills and document parts of your every day life that you never would have captured otherwise. There are lots of ideas out there, but for this post I’ve got 16 photography project ideas for you! Choose one and watch your photography improve! And have fun!
16 Photography Project Ideas
*this post contains affiliate links*
1) Project 365
This is one of the simplest and most popular photography project ideas out there. Simply, you take a photo every day for 365 days.
A project 365 is one of the best ways to improve your photography because it forces you to take a photo every day. You can do this on your own by simply picking up your camera and taking a photo of whatever takes your fancy.
Or you can participate in my 365 Project : Cherish Everyday! Details here!
2)Project 24
When you can’t quite make it for a project 365, sometimes, taking 2 photos a week is just the thing you need. With this project, you simply take 2 photos a week, every week for the entire year.
3)A Day in the Life
With this project, you choose one day and take photos all day to capture a day in the life of you, your family, your dog..anyone. It’s a great way to capture routines and a slice of your life on what is an ordinary day.
I do these all of the time, and an easy way to do it is to set your timer every hour and take a photo. You can do it with your DSLR or your iPhone.
4)30 Days of Thankful
Every Thanksgiving, or anytime for that matter, photographing something that you are thankful for 3o days straight not only improves your photography but helps you to acknowledge the things in life you are grateful for.
5)Pick one Lens for one week/one month/one year
The idea behind this project is to stick to one lens for an extended length of time. For instance, if you shoot lifestyle photography, try sticking with shooting only your 35mm for a month.
Or for an even bigger challenge, try shooting only with a specialty lens like a Macro lens or a Lensbaby.
6) 10 on 10 Project
I love these! You take 1o photos on the 10th day of the month. It’s like a shortened Day in the Life.
I love these because it forces you to pick and choose the best photos from your day.
7) 100 Days of…
Simply: take a photo a day, 100 days in a row. My favorite here is the 100 Days of Summer.
8) 52 Saturday Mornings
Simply, take a photo of your Saturday morning, every week for a year. There is an active group on Instagram that does this or this blog here.
9)Work Through a Book
There are a few photography based books that are meant to be worked through.
Examples include Chris Orwig’s People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs
10)ABC Project
Take each letter of the alphabet and take a photo of something related to or that starts with that letter. You can stretch it out 26 days, 26 weeks or 26 months.
11) Black and White Photography Project
Take photos with the intention of converting them to monochrome. If anything it will teach you what makes a good black and white photo.
You can do this by converting to black and white or take a photo in black and white IN camera.
12)Letters to Our Children
Each month,write a letter to your child or children and take photos surrounding the photos. Most photographers do this in a blog circle.
13) Self Portraits
This one is a hard one, even in this world of selfie mania. But a Self-portrait project is one of the best way to get in the frame and practice composition, light and storytelling with a cooperative subject.
Most of these projects are weekly or monthly.
14)Shoot Like you are shooting film
Shoot Like you are shooting a roll of film: take exactly 36 shots like you are working with a “roll” of 36 exposures.
Be intentional every single time you press your shutter button.
15) iPhone only Project
Shoot only with your iPhone. Shooting with your iPhone regularly can help you learn composition, light and framing. And it’s so easy! I’ve done a 365 with my iPhone and right now I’m doing a day in the life like project called Saturdays
16) Project 52
A Project 52 is a project where you take a photo every week for 52 weeks. It’s a great alternative to the project 365 if you don’t feel like you have enough time to devote to a 365.
We started a Project 52 project here on Everyday Eyecandy this year and didn’t quite complete it. BUT, I’m going to try again. I figure since I’m going a 365 project, why not add in a Project 52?
Unlike last year, It won’t be a formal challenge, but something I will share on social media and here on the blog. If you want to participate, tag your photos #eyecandyproject52 so I can see!!
So there you have it, 16 photography projects ideas for you to get creative with! Which one will you choose?
Join Us!
Join the Everyday Project and get this Limited time FREE Ebook to help you get started taking your best photos this year and access to resources, tools and tips to help you with your photography projects this year.
This is just the post I needed to read today because I’ve been thinking of what photography projects I want to take part in come the New Year. I’m pinning this post and bookmarking for later. 100 Days of Summer, black and white challenge and Project52 would probably be my favourite out of the bunch. Thanks for the inspiration!
for more great ideas, see The Photographer’s Playbook. 500 pp of ideas from photographers/teachers.
All of these sound awesome! I like the sound of Project 52. I really need to be better about taking meaningful pictures, so this might be a great way to get started! Thanks for sharing!
I am tempted by several of these photography projects. I would love to do the monochrome project, the self-portrait project, or to work through the book for taking better portraits. I do so much food photography that I’m honestly weak in everything else!
These are some really cool projects and your son is absolutely adorable! I’ve always wanted to actually understand how to use my camera instead of just pointing and shooting. I really love pictures because they have the ability to capture a moment in time. Beautiful blog and these projects looks like lots of fun!
I am doing the project 365 I am doing my notes today and putting down some of the people that I can follow along and do some of the prompts but based on my own project. I am ready to go starting on Friday. I hope I finish even if I am a few days late. I am going to plugin fatmum slim and bethadilly and all my hashtags. I am also doing a project 52 but it will be based on branding so can’t wait. Let the pictures begin
Letters to Our Children sounds like an awesome idea.
I want a new camera! It’s been awhile since I’ve taken any photos of leisure other than my own time.
Now that I have new camera, I’m looking forward to starting a 365 photo journal project for my kids starting after the New Year!
God help me I’ll finish the Bethadily challenege, my project 52 was good and I actually finished soooo maybe there’s hope lol
I have just gotten myself a new mirrorless camera and I’m excited to try different photography projects as well. It’s great to have stumbled upon this post. Project 365 indeed makes me more inspired to pick up my cam and take whatever takes my fancy.
I’m going to try Project 52 again this year. I think I made it 3 weeks in 2015. I have a book to help get ideas AND I signed up for the Brown Girl With a Camera workshop so I can learn some more tips and techniques.
So glad you’re doing a hash tag to follow along!
I love photos and how photography just capture the right images at the right time. This is an awesome list of photography projects and I am sure photographers would love to take up the challenge. Thanks for sharing this.
I want to do Number 11- the black and white project!
These are great projects! I need to improve my photography skills this year! Too often I’m rushed or run out of natural light and am not happy with the results! I really love the idea of a Day in the Life of ….. I think I may try that!
These are certainly a lot of great ideas for those who are unsure of what they should take a picture of. It also gives a novice photographer a chance to hone their skills.
I am so determined to finish one of these. SO. Determined.
I am thinking since I did complete NaBloPoMo I can surely do a 365 and a Project 52.
I’m going to give both a whirl this year, especially since I do understand that I can use my cell phone which in the past I was against for some reason. I think I will still focus on using my DSLR but know if I get in a bind my cell phone will do.
Here’s to 2016 photography challenges!
Yay!! yes, I am giving myself permission to use a cell phone photo here and there when I need to!
I Think ‘A Day In The Life’ would be my favorite project. I just love learning about different cultures, experiences, and day-to-day lives of other people. How fascinating that would be! 🙂
These are great ideas! I love photography but afraid to commit to a challenge for 2016 with baby coming in Jan but then again maybe that’ll be more of a reason too. I’d love to hone in and sharpen my photography skills! Thanks for sharing!
-Natasha | http://www.lovelyyoublog.com
I like quite a few of them, but I need to do the easiest one right now. I’m not sure. I like that day in the life, saturday morning, project 52… so many good ones!! I will see … let me think about it.
I may try the Saturday one. I know that I would probably not stick to a 365 project, but doing the same day each week seems like an easy way to remember that I need to take at least one photo! 🙂
I definitely want to participate in some of these projects. I haven’t taken my camera out for a while now.
This is AWESOME. I’ve got a DSLR, but I’m definitely waaaaaay new to photography! I think the 30 days of Thankful looks like my favorite. I feel like it’d just leave me feeling happier and more inspired by the end…and hella thankful!
Coming Up Roses
Now this is an interesting compilation of photography ideas! I have actually done the Project 365 before and I had so much fun doing it! Maybe I can get into the habit again. Thanks for this list!
I’m going to attempt to complete a 365 (again) this year as well. Let’s hope we make it this year coming up!
These are some great ideas… I have tried a few and never completed any. Maybe 2016 will be different. Great post!! I will be sharing for sure.
Great post! Just what I needed. I am going to try your 52 week project! I think is something I can do, and possibly finish to the end.
I’m participating in your 52 week project. Posting on my other blog: http://www.withcoffeeandacamera.com and on Instagram.
Have a happy new year!!!
I love the idea of a day in the life. I so often take pictures all day and feel like they do not nothing but take up valuable space on my phone and flash cards. Thank you for the idea.
Quite an informative post! Someone on my friend’s list on Facebook share a link to your site. So glad I found you!
Sounds super fun! I wanna try!
-Tia
http://retouchingblog.com
The photographer you refer to is Chris Orwig not Orwing
Cheers
thank you!
Thanks for the ideas. I want to try Project 52 and ABC and hopefully, be able to finish them.
Thanks for the ideas. I want to try Project 52 and ABC.
I love all of these projects! I did the “a day in the life” project for a photography class over the summer, and it turned out great! Thanks so much for all the fun ideas!
Now this gives me inspirtation to start a project! Thanks for sharing.