5 Photography Ideas to Help Find Your Direction
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- Head to squarespace.com/kylemcdougall to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code: kylemcdougall
It’s easy to get caught up creating images that feel like they lack meaning, or to know which way to head with your photography-I’ve been there, many times. So in this video, I’m sharing five different things (ideas, challenges, and projects) that can help you find your direction and confidence in photography. These are things that have helped me in the past, and that I took into consideration when planning out my work for this year. Hope this helps!
-------------------------------
►Follow me on Instagram: / kyle__mcdougall
►Order my new book ‘An American Mile’: bit.ly/3Og6Z45
►*DISCLAIMER*
Some of the links below are affiliate links, where I earn a small commission if you click on the link and purchase an item. The money I earn helps me make this type of content consistently.
My '35mm Film Photography Course' on Skillshare (FREE with this link): skl.sh/2JrGhFs
My 'Medium Format Film Photography Course' on Skillshare (FREE with this link): skl.sh/3r7KLta
Where I source music for my videos (One FREE month with this link): fm.pxf.io/c/1953156/1347628/1...
Videos on this channel are filmed using the Fuji X-H2s: bhpho.to/3UEjFVs
►FILM PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR (*these are affiliate links):
My go-to medium format camera: ebay.us/GaK9Kp
My favourite 35mm film camera: ebay.us/82WyVI
My favourite 35mm film lens: ebay.us/u0V817
My favourite medium format travel camera: ebay.us/FVcfWk
My go-to light meter: ebay.us/QIFXF0
My favourite film stock: ebay.us/orbudp
My favourite 645 medium format film camera: ebay.us/ydY4HK
→Instagram: bit.ly/2GuYV21
→Website: kmcdougall.com
Lots of ideas from this video. One thing I've started doing is to take my Fuji X100F on my morning walk. I choose a theme or exercise, like shadows or texture ~ shooting only in B/W and have to take at least 10 images. It forces me to see more opportunities. It's taken the pressure off "trying" to find an image in the boring suburban streets that don't inspire me. I'd love to get that wide instant camera to do the same exercise, so I can see the progress on a pinboard. Thanks for the video. ⭐️✅🥰
I love that idea, Jennifer. An excellent way to develop your vision. Thanks for watching!
I do a similar thing to the cork board. Every few months I'll run off a bunch of prints from whatever adventures I've gotten up to, and they all go up on the fridge with some little magnets. It's a nice little pause in the day to reminisce whenever I grab a drink or snack, and it's a good conversation piece whenever people are over. There's also a box with a few years of "fridge archives" that's fun to look back on every now and then.
Great motivation to start the year off. After never doing so before I wrote out a goals list for my work for this year and it’s already got me on the right track to be making and thinking about projects constantly.
I'm sitting here with my 14 month old daughter while I'm watching this. I took up photography again last year when she was born to document her life and surroundings for when she is older, and has the ability to look back - hopefully with me. She is my present and future client.
Your video is so timely and made my heart melt. Thank you for everything you do ❤
Cheers, Kanwal. Glad to hear you connected with this one! Yeah, that mindset and focus has had a huge impact on my direction moving forward.
Speaking of kids, complete aside question, any tips on childproofing one’s home studio area?
Printing your work is amazing. I've worked in the printing industry for about 11 years now I've been a photographer for the last 3. To take something digital and pull it into the physical realm is incredible. Appreciate your videos always mate. Best of luck in yours, and everyone here's endeavors.
I appreciate that, Nick. And for sure, I agree, there's just something special about the photograph as a print.
Thanks for the ideas! I started shooting film a few moth back and I have spent lots of films and haven’t done nothing I like yet. Thanks again I now have a starting point.
Look forward to the videos to come. Great work!
Love these idea! Great inspiration to the start of the year!
What a perfect timing!
I just fell in another creative hole the last few days. Today I was so fed up I started binge watching tutorials on basic things, making inspirational galleries and tried re-editing good images I took before, but nothing quite struk the chords to make me happy with what I do. Now this video is here and gave me a slight glimmer of direction even though I have yet to overcome the frustration about my own craft.
Glad this may help a little bit. We all end up there at times. Most important thing is to just keep pushing forward, and also to be ok with taking a break at times. Take a week or two, or a month. I've only been out to shoot once so far this year. Sometimes you need to recharge.
I am with you on having lost a bit of my creative inspiration. This video came at a great time!
Thanks for reminding me that I should print some of my photos. =) I am a pure hobbyist and put my pictures on Instagram like so many people - and so far, that’s where they’ve stayed. Not every photo I post deserves a print, but some of them I really like and some are also pretty meaningful to me. I should really print some of them, even if it’s just a small size to pin them to a wall. That’s a great idea actually. :)
Very inspiring & motivating, as always. Thank you !
Thanks Kyle. This was super helpful. Hope your 2022 is amazing.
Thanks, man. Same to you!
once again seems like youre tapping straight into my brain. great video man.
Cheers, man!
Really great stuff in here! I've been wondering what I want to do next with my photography and I definitely got some good inspiration from this video.
One thing I thought about while watching this was to keep more of a short-term mindset. Create an idea for the next year, or 6 months. This doesn't have to be your career defining decision or something you feel can't stray from down the road.
Cheers, Scott. And yeah, small steps, for sure. It's good to have big goals, but it's also important to have smaller ones that you can check off. Those usually provide a lot of motivation.
Excellent tips, thanks!
What a great video! Super keen to hear about what looks like an awesome project, but this helps me keep the motivation up to keep progressing back towards resharing and progressing my work in various forms. Thanks Kyle!
Cheers, Thomas!
Kyle - I recently discovered your channel/work and I applaud you for what you're doing. I believe the camera review channels on RUclips have become mostly ridiculous. The technology has matured to the point where what most photographers need to advance their photography is not a new camera but to really think about what they are photographing, why and how. Your channel explorers these more difficult questions and you're doing a great job!
Thank you, Jeff. I try to cover a mix of everything. I like gear as much as the next person, but I agree, it's one of the lesser factors when it comes to the success of an image. I'm actually shooting a video about that topic tomorrow. Cheers.
Jeff,
You hit on an excellent point. Watching one of his videos talked me out of purchasing a camera that I think would have been a mistake for me.
His approach is cerebral and objective. Other influencers get on a kick and the next thing you know a certain point and shoot worth $40 is going for $150 for no real reason.
Wonderful video and so inspiring for me and my own photo projects! Thanks so much for making this and sharing-it helps me to keep moving forward in my projects. Thank you for sharing from your own experiences!
Thanks, Amanda! Really happy to hear that you found this one helpful.
Great video as always! Thanks for the Nuclear Family shoutout too, that was a pleasant surprise to see
Cheers, Josh. Happy to share it!
Thank you so much for sharing these tips! I really want to put a lot more effort into my photography this year and have some project ideas I don't know how to start.
You're welcome. Thanks for checking this out.
Some really great advice Kyle thanks for putting this video out!
You're welcome, Will. Cheers!
Thank you Kyle, Its easy to become blinkered now and again, Really inspiring video, opened my mind up to new opportunities .
Happy to hear that, Paul. Cheers.
Informative and enjoyable .
Thanks 👍
Super interesting thoughts Kyle. And definitely some useful tips that I'll keep in mind in regards to my photography this year. Thanks for the video!
Thanks, man! Hope you're well. Gotta catch up soon.
Great stuff as always! I'll try to implement those tips, bit by bit. The first one seems to be the most important one to me so I'll start there. Thanks for sharing, very inspiring!
Cheers, Noah. Yeah, the first one has been a huge motivator for me!
Very nice overview and inspiration ...
hello, I am a Belgium based photographer and I love your work, love your videos and everything. You are the most inspiring thing for me, you keep helping me with getting ideas, or printing and so on. I am thankful!!!
Thank you. That means alot!
Really great tips for direction! I've got a bunch of trips planned for this year already and my goal is to slowly form a zine/book as I go and see the images I produce while I'm out wandering the US haha
Good ideas Kyle. Thx 🙏
Your videos are absolutely inspiring!
Thank you. 🙏
Great video!
Great, inspirational video Kyle. I’ll take it to heart and try to run with it. Thank you
You’re welcome, Alan. Cheers.
Great tips dude
Was really considering quitting recently & it comes in waves and it’s always stronger than the last. Thanks for keeping my creative gears trying.
Cheers, Seb. We've all been there. I have many times. The creative process has ebbs & flows, and it's not something that ever goes away. Take a break, or try something new, and keep pushing forward.
Cheers Kyle.
Great video as usual, appreciate you taking the time to help others who may be lost when it comes to their photographic direction. Was curious if you had any upcoming photobook releases, or if you had any planned. Love your work and looking to support!
Thank you! I'm close to publishing my first book. Just putting the wraps on things. Will hopefully have some news here soon. I appreciate the support!
📕😍 Thanks for featuring my photo book, “Kuya”, Kyle! Much appreciated 👊, hope you enjoy it!
You're welcome! Really enjoyed it and happy to share it!
So good! Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome, cheers.
I got an instax wide for christmas that i am very excited to use when the weather warms up. As far as printing, i have heaps of 4x6 prints now and am filling out photo albums. I have an Epson ecotank ET-7700, and no they are not archival prints, it uses a dye ink, not a pigment ink, but you get like 1000+ full color photo quality prints on an ink supply, and refilling is super cheap. HIGHLY recommend this printer for anyone who just wants to touch their photographs but not spend an arm and a leg on ink cartridges. Sure, the colors may fade in 10 or maybe even 5 years, who knows? ill print them again later if i want, but the joy of holding a print is just too good to pass up.
Not an ad, just wanted to share the toy that ive been having fun with lately. Cheers.
That's awesome, Dylan. Thanks for the suggestion!
Top stuff again Kyle. Love the cork board idea. In the process of planning a little zine project myself so cheers for sharing your thoughts. Always helpful ✌
You're welcome! Yeah, I'm excited to get a collection of prints going that I can see unfold throughout the year. Good luck with the Zine!
@@KyleMcDougall Good stuff! Well I look forward to following along with the process. Cheers man.
Loads of good suggestions to break out of a mini-rut/start making action towards a project, Tryfan looking stunning at the end
Cheers, Will. Going to visit Tryfan in a week or two!
Some nice and easy digestible (100% doable too) tips thank you
You’re welcome. Cheers.
You did it, you got yourself new subscriber :D Im purely digital shooter but I like your videos as they are more about photography than a gear to use. I´ve started photography during seasonal work on Iceland and Im still here. I like some of these ideas and have one project that can be puted into photobook. Having personal website sounds nice since instagram have shitty format in my eyes. Now Im trying to think of new project to keep me entertained and fullfiled as a hobby photographer. Take care and enjoy what you do!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed this one. :)
Awesome advices Kyle. I’ve been searching for inspiring ideas to shoot and realized that the issue is not the theme, it is more the process, the approach, execution and taking it through until the end. And in that process what is missing specially in my case is feedback from other photographers, just for them to give an opinion and maybe keep me motivated into continuing or suggesting changes that will give the project a new energy. So I’d add a six point to your list, that is to collect opinions from not only photographers but as well as family members friends and see how they react and decide to adjust to that.
That's a great add, Marcel. I agree, feedback from photographers who you trust and respect is definitely important.
Marcel, getting constructive criticism of your work is so crucial in the any creative work. I agree with you 100%. Finding the right people for this task is very challenging especially when my work is not mainstream while I can't afford to pay for professional mentorship.
Haven’t watched it yet but I know this is what I need!
🙌
Hey! Williards Fireworks! That’s not far from my house. Hope you had fun in town Snowbirding :-)
Good tips.
I’m definitely gonna break out my half frame. There’s a roll of portra in there that’s being neglected. But I feel like it will properly challenge me to go out and make some new work. Always inspiring me Kyle. Thanks for sharing!
Cheers, Edward! It's about time that I get back out with mine as well!
Hey Kyle, cool video! Personally, I also feel that having at least one long-term project where one can fall back on when you’re not so inspired is valuable to find/retain direction. Indeed nowadays it’s so easy to fall into the instant gratification trap social media’s facade will sell you. I’m just as guilty at that but I do believe building a bit of a larger, long-term body of work will eventually gratify you with magnitudes much greater than shooting for a “like” or things like that.
Absolutely. A long-term project that you can return to is incredibly beneficial!
Loved seeing Josh's zine here. He does some great work.
Big fan of Josh's work!
Dear Kyle, thank you very much for the video. It´s again pretty inspiring! Actually I startet to fill photobooks with 15x10 prints. I usually order 300 prints and than stick them into an empty book. It is like my jigsaw puzzle. I can touch the images and arrange them in a physical manner.
I love that idea. Just having a collection like that to sort through is great!
This could sound cliché but another take on your #1 suggestion could be to shoot for yourself! Which can count as the 1 person you are shooting for. You can photograph what you like, how you like, and don’t think about the “audience reaction” to it at all. Someone’s style can really come to fruition from this as well, if they are having trouble finding that. I also really like your suggestion too though, about just shooting for one important person. It makes the whole process more intimate regardless. :)
Absolutely. Shooting for yourself is always important. Of course, it's nice to make work that connects with an audience, but focusing on your own interests and preferences and trying to stay true to that is key to making unique and authentic work.
This is great. I need to do my zine... Japan Post being asses about global shipping these two years have completely killed my motivation...
If your struggling for inspiration or just want to get lost in some short documentary films. Yeti presents RUclips channel is great. Some amazing characters on there.
Thanks for the video : great as usual !
I wonder if you're still using your Kiev medium format camera and if you plan to use it in future videos on RUclips ?
Thank you. I haven't used it in a while. But I do still have it. I'm sure I'll shoot with it again in the future for the channel!
Really interesting video with some good points. The beach hut cafe at 8.11, just wondering, is that at Hayling Island near Portsmouth?
You got it. :)
@@KyleMcDougall Ah, that's great. I have just started exploring that little area myself for a project. Early days, but it's such an interesting place. I do wonder how you ended up there though!
Excellent video, Kyle. Quick question. Where do you have your photo zine’s printed? Do you do the setup yourself or do you work with someone for that piece and do you then use a separater printing company or do you print and assemble the zine yourself? Great idea I’d love to give it a try!
I've only done one zine and it was a long time ago and I had someone print it for me. I'm actually working on a video testing a number of different companies. Hoping to have that out soon.
What i’m trying to get together is getting enough kodak ultra max to go through a cinestill c41 chem kit to but only understand but master a film stock in all settings
I wanna make my own Zine even just by printing at home so that I have something to look back on and this video told me that's probably not a bad idea : )
Definitely not a bad idea. Do it!
Wow!! Have you been watching/listening to Dan Milnor? He literally has been echoing these sentiments for years.
I’ve heard of Dan but haven’t watched his stuff. I’ll have to check some out.
❤️
I definitely need to start printing out my photos. I used to do photo books all the time, no idea why I stopped. Can I ask what font you use for your titles? I love it so much.
Thanks Lisa. I think the font is called ‘Libre Bakersville Italic’
Hey! Thank you for sharing this video. I am really glad that you spoke about this struggle!
It is really difficult for me to find out some projects or series.
Especially now, in winter time, here in Denmark where everything is grey, days are shorter. It makes me feel that I am not creative.
What can help to find inspirations for projects or photo series?
Photo books are great. And personally, I find discovering new photographers on IG to be motivating. Especially when it's a style or type of work that I'm not too familiar with.
@@KyleMcDougall Thank you for your answer :)
Time 8:16 a photo taken in Wokingham my home town! When were you there and do you live local?
I live local. :)
My friends & family want a calendar of my photos. My goal is to simply get 12 good images for it.
That's a great goal and would make for a fulfilling project to complete by years end.
Thanks for the inspiration! I always enjoy your content - solid stuff! I just shoot for me mostly so sometimes I just shoot the things that speak to me. These ideas really strike a creative cord and get me to thinking about what goals I want for my shots. I have a daughter and have never considered shooting a body of work for her. Thanks for the motivation!
Cheers, Clint. Glad to hear that this one sparked some ideas!
Great insight in this! Kyle I'd love to send you a copy of my zine if you let me know how
Very kind of you, Dean. You can reach out to me on IG and we can chat.
Well I guess it’s time to take a trip back to my home town! I’ve been wanting to document the people and places that impacted my childhood and make my first zine out of it! Any helpful tips?
Just focus on creating. Give the work time. And don't try to structure it too much right from the start. I find you'll start to figure it out as you create.
@@KyleMcDougall thanks!! That genuinely helps a lot!!
With your website, what resolution do you upload? How do you protect your copyright or you are not worried about it?
Resolution all depends on how your website handles images. I shoot for a final image no bigger than 2000px, but usually would upload larger than that for retina screens. As for copyright, not something I’d ever worried about.
This may sound like an excuse, but i feel that not having a purpose or end goal has pushed me in my development. I can’t figure out a project or something to help me direct my focus and create. I thought I would do that this years and i still have not come up with an idea. Frustrating.
It's not always easy, and not something that can be forced. I find that ideas often pop up while just out creating without a plan.
@KyleMcDougall Would you ever consider helping another photographer put out a photo book of their original work? I've shown my photography in galaries Nationwide, and it has been published in various magazines as well.
Unfortunately my schedule is incredibly busy at the moment with family and work. So not something that I’d be able to do.
@@KyleMcDougall I can certainly relate. Thank you for your reply! 👍
Thank you for your videos! They always inspire and motivate me.
Happy to hear that. Cheers!