Getting into a flow of taking pictures can be difficult when you never seem to have time for yourself. Here are some tips that I've put together based on my own experience.
1. Carry a compact camera.
When you live a busy lifestyle you can't be carrying around a big heavy SLR wherever you go. You need something you can always have on you and can quickly be accessed to capture that special moment. It might also be a good idea to keep it light so that it's not weighing you down all day. Toy cameras such as a Diana or a Holga are medium format cameras that are very light, although at the cost of image quality. Though many would say that these cameras take images with a lot of artefacts, many would switch out the word 'artefacts' for 'character'.
If you don't want the expense of shooting film then don't be afraid to use your phone. Photography is a process and an important part of that is being able to take what you see and capture it in camera. This is just as relevant when using a phone to take pictures not to mention it being more forgiving, more accessible and cheaper if you don't own a toy camera.
2. Capture your life right now.
Whether you find you're on the road a lot or busy doing DIY in the house, take the opportunity to document that. Documentary photography is not easy so it's also a good challenge to capture the moments that tell the story. If your days feel very repetitive try to find something unique in each day. This could also be a good exercise to bring your awareness to the special moments you'd otherwise miss. I've recently returned to work after a month stretch of paternity leave. Any moment I got to myself that wasn't housework or cooking I was taking pictures of our daughter. Aside from little'n being incredibly photogenic it was a great opportunity to challenge myself to be aware of each moment.
3. Set yourself a goal.
Maybe you want to create a photo series you're proud of or maybe it's as simple as just making sure you capture one image every day. Having something to aim for is a really good way to get into the habit of doing something. Maybe challenge a friend to take a photo a day and share the results with each other.
A bit of friendly competition always gets things going and it's nice to meet up and compare each of your results.
4. Chill man...
Don't expect every image you shoot to be incredible. There are lots of things that go into making a good image and sometimes you're going to be shooting in limited lighting conditions or be limited to the lens on the camera that you decide to use. In the end, as long as you're practicing the craft you'll be improving and there will always be something you love every now and then. When I shoot 35mm film I usually like three to four of the 36 images I captured. That's about a 10% approval rating.
Get busy...
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