What to Photograph?

Learning What to Photograph

Have you ever found yourself among the many people “stuck in a rut” when it comes to figuring out what to photograph next? Sometimes we get so used to our normal routines and scenery that we feel like everything is “boring”, losing our inspiration and creativity. Remember, anything can be the subject for photography and what may seem boring to you may be fascinating to someone else. Don’t doubt yourself or your environment, instead challenge yourself to find the creative shots that highlight your skills. Also, don’t stop yourself from taking a picture and going beyond the “safe” photo. If you see something appealing, snap some shots. Take the time to learn the many different photography techniques and add them into your photography practice. Over time, your eye becomes keener to spotting different photographic opportunities. You learn how to see the final picture before you snap it. For example, you can spot an opportunity to capture a black and white shot, use a macro lens, or take an action shot before you even pull out the camera. As you practice and experiment with more techniques, get feedback from a reliable source. Talk to an experienced photographer or someone knowledgeable about the technique you are experimenting. Their experience and advice saves valuable time by not having to figure it out on your own and puts you ahead. Be patient when learning a new style or technique and always shoot a high quantity of photos. Don’t be shy when it comes to the amount of pictures you take because you get a good variety and lots of choices to select the perfect shot. Be very meticulous choosing which pictures to finish and only publish your best work. One way to organize your finished work is to create a photo book. This lets you show all of your best work for each technique right in one place. Above all though, have fun and enjoy yourself with your photography. Let your creativity take control and think “outside the box” to take your viewers on a visual journey through your lenses. As a photographer, you are an artist, the camera is your paintbrush, and the world is your canvas. Get out there, spread your wings, and create your masterpiece!

Ideas of What to Photograph

Here are some common techniques and themed project ideas to spark your muses and get your inspiration back when you are stuck thinking of what to photograph for your next piece. Some are easy at-home-projects while others are more advanced techniques, but they are all inspiring for the photographic eye.

Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is a fun way to get you back on track taking pictures. You can just call some friends, spend the day outside, and get a myriad of photos. However, if no one is available you can always get some great shots of yourself or ask a stranger to pose for you. Portraits are great because you can shoot them anywhere, indoors in a studio setting or outside in nature. You can let your creativity loose by taking portraits with different optical illusion effects, peaking viewers’ interests a little more. Portrait photography is a great method to use when you can’t think of what to photograph. Here are a couple examples of portrait photography:

Self-Portrait Photography

Making yourself the subject for your photography eases the strain of thinking what to photograph. Experiment with different types of shots with your self-portraits like getting shots at different angles or doing a faceless self-portrait project. It is best to have a friend with you during your shoot because they can be your stand in while you setup the camera, but if no one is available to join you on your shoot, you can use a landmark like a boulder or tree as your stand in. Once you have found your setting and done a few test shots, you can set your timer and start capturing some nice self-portraits.

Nick, Pablo & Kyle Founders of SeeDreams Marketing Gorge Bridge Taos, NM

Have a Friend Pose

Friends are one of the easiest resources to use as subjects in your photography, especially if they enjoy it. You can do many different projects with friends. The motherhood themed project, which uses mothers and their children as the subjects, is a fun way to get some intimate pictures of the bond between mothers and their children. Another fun example is the optical illusion challenge, which challenges you to find a shot where your friend appears to be interacting with other objects. For example, your friend standing in the foreground “holding” up a leaning tower in the background. Whatever setting or theme you use, give your friends clear instruction on how you want them to pose so you can get the best angle and lighting. By the end of the day, you will have great memories and photos to share with your friends.

Pablo Sisneros, Co-Founder, Sales & Marketing, SEO Specialist(e)

Nature and Landscapes Photography

Being from Taos, New Mexico, nature and landscapes photography are some of my favorites to do. Getting out and capturing the curiosity and beauty of nature is very fascinating. Shooting awe-inspiring sunsets, mystic rivers, and tremendous mountains is an adventure in itself and intriguing to others. However, do not limit yourself in thinking that nature and landscape photography are only done in rural places. Buildings and cityscapes in urban areas can produce nice pictures, as well and zoos which offer a variety of exotic animals to photograph. Even pets make good subjects to photograph. Nature is all around us, take the time to go out and find it.

Sunset Photography

If you have ever been to a place where the sunsets are just breathtaking, you will understand the value of sunset photography. Sunsets have awesome colors, the lighting conditions are right, and you can incorporate other elements like mountains or a lake to add more value to the photo. Best of all, they are free every day. Take the time to find a good viewpoint and snap these gorgeous moments that nature is offering.

Sunset Shot from Taos Country Club SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Water Themed Photography

Water is a very powerful yet soothing element that makes a great subject in photography. You can show its force by photographing a roaring river or its serenity from a calm peaceful pond. There are also home projects that you can do involving water that create some enticing photos. One project is taking a splash shot. This is taking a picture when an object is dropped into a clear container of water, catching the distortion of the water from the object and the water droplets splashing up from the water surface. The only items you need for this project are a camera, tripod, a clear container filled with water, a darker colored background behind the container, and a small item to drop in to the water. Water photography is unique and connects people with the foundation of life in a special way.

Bubbles at The River, Kyle Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Four Seasons Photography

Taking pictures of the different seasons is obviously a long-term project, but the results are well worth it. All four seasons have very different features that create wonderful pictures, from the subtleness of winter to the lively colors of summers. Think of what reminds you of each season and use those ideas as the focal points in your shots. At the end of the year, your photo collection will have plenty of pictures to choose from to publish your favorites. There is sufficient time in each season to get the pictures you want for this project, so commit yourself to the end and you will have a beautiful collection of nature photos.

Taos Winter Wonderland, Kyle Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Springtime in Taos, Kyle Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Summer on The River, Kyle Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Taos Fall Lilac Bushes, Kyle Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM (2)

Animal Photography

Similar to water, animals also have a duality to them when it comes to photography. You can show them calm and cute in a safe environment or you can show their ferocious side when they are threatened or fighting. More than likely, the photos you are intending to take are more on the peaceful side, but nature does happen and it is a remarkable sight. The only problem is wild animals are quick and timid, making it hard to get a quality photo. An easier alternative is going to the zoo. The zoo has a variety of animals to shoot and the likelihood of getting a nice shot is greater than in the wild. The easiest resource is using your or someone else’s pet. Pets are readily available and comfortable around people, making it easier to take the photo you want. People connect to animals and taking interesting photos of them will help your photography stand out.

Hungry Hummingbird, Nick Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM (a)

Building and Cityscape Photography

Technically, buildings and cityscapes are not nature, but they are the landscapes of urban areas and produce excellent pictures. The city is a living thing and, if you live there, the concrete jungle is your environment. The lights from the buildings and traffic at night make vibrant photos, while different structures make interesting subjects during the day. Businesses can use pictures of their buildings in their websites, advertising, and promotions to give a nice impression of their stores. Even in the metro areas, there are still plenty of photo opportunities to take of your natural environment.

Beginner Photography Projects

These are a few easy project ideas to try when you are stuck figuring out what to photograph next. Even though they are beginner level projects, they still help to get the creative juices flowing in the brain again, plus the pictures and experiences gained from them are always valuable. Try them out and keep them in mind the next time you can’t think of what to photograph.

Black and White Photography

Black and white photography is an easy way to develop your photographic eye. Using only black and white tones allows you to show objects, people, and structures in a different way. It teaches you to see the lighting and shadows and use them to create an impacting image. Test your skills and only take black and white photos for at least a week or, if you want to challenge yourself further, you could do it for a whole month. Take the time to learn how to use this method and you will have another way to diversify your photo collection.

Black & White Sunset, SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Food Photography

Food photography is another easy way to practice and improve your skills. Whether it is homemade food or bought from a restaurant, you always have the opportunity to take some food pictures. You want to keep the food as the focus of the picture, but get creative with other elements in your shots such as fruits, vegetables, or herbs displayed next to the dish. Highlight the delicious looking details to get your viewers wanting more. Food photography is especially valuable to restaurants and chefs because it shows their skills and food presentations to potential customers searching for places to eat. Enjoy your food photography, both the pictures and the meal.

Macro Photography

Macro photography is taking up-close pictures of objects, showing the finer details of these particular objects. The amount of macro shots you can take is endless because almost anything can be your subject. Also, having a macro lens makes it easier to take macro photos but it is not necessary. The woodgrain lines in home furniture, pistils from the inside of a flower, or even paint chips from the outside of an old house are all subjects for good macro photography. It trains you to observe things down to the finest detail and capture the most interesting shots. Make a goal to mix in macro photography with your normal routines and master another powerful technique.

Cherry Blossom Photo-Macro Lens Shot by Nick Mossman SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

Candid Photography

Candid photography is taking photos of people in their natural state without them posing for the camera. It captures the raw, in-the-moment types of photos and shows viewers the emotions of the picture. You can take candid shots with friends or family on certain outings or you can take candid shots of complete strangers, but the main goal is to make your audience feel like they are there among the crowd. Candid photography is a good way to practice shooting among people and timing your shots to get what you want. Mastering this skill is a good foundation for trying a more advanced method of photography, action shots.

Toby, Rose & Abby Depavloff Ceramony Shot SeeDreams Marketing Taos, NM

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration and help you figure out what to photograph when you are struggling to think of a new subject. No matter what kind of pictures you take, just keep taking pictures. You can never take too many, it’s that much more practice andyour point of view expands to sharpen your photography skills. Have fun creating your own personal style but when you can’t think of what to photograph next, think of these ideas and go back to the basics to get back on track.