Shoot, so you may be inspired to shoot again, and again, until the day that you die.

To be a photographer is to make pictures. To make a picture, you gotta click the shutter and shoot.

Why do we lose inspiration or motivation to shoot?

But, why is it that we lose our drive, motivation, and inspiration to shoot?

My theories:

1. We lose the drive to shoot, because we feel negative pressure, trying to keep “improving” our photography, getting more likes, to please our audience more. Too much pressure, and we crack. Solution: don’t use social media for a month, or better yet, delete your Instagram.
2. We get bored making the same type of pictures over and over again. Solution: don’t confine yourself to a single genre of photography. Shoot anything and everything. Don’t define yourself as a photographer— just call yourself an artist.
3. We try to be too “serious” in our photography. We stop shooting like a kid… whatever visually interests us. Solution: seek to be a NOT SERIOUS or a CHILDISH photographer. Shoot whatever excites you or makes you happy. Make snapshot pictures that bring you joy.
4. We think our camera isn’t good enough, and we are always comparing our gear to others, and feel gear acquisition syndrome… and want to buy the newest camera or thing. Solution: install a website blocker and block all camera, gear, or equipment websites from your computer and phone. Solution 2: just shoot with your phone.

Techniques that got me to shoot more

Some things I’ve been doing, to encourage me to shoot more:

1. Only shoot jpeg: less time worrying about post processing. More focus for shooting.
2. Use a small camera, I just use my RICOH GR II and have it around my neck at all times.
3. I shoot all times, whenever and wherever. When we leave the apartment, go down the stairs, when we’re walking the streets, in the supermarket, at the coffee shop, eating dinner, or even taking pictures inside the apartment.
4. No censoring myself. Shooting like a child. Not trying to be serious. Only shoot what I like. Not seeking perfection. Also, shooting more, and shooting more “snapshot” style…or less worrying about composition.
5. Having more fun. Being more silky with the camera. Experimenting with more dynamic angles and compositions by tilting the camera. Or shooting super low.
6. Shooting macro close up pictures of random stuff, textures, and filling the frame.
7. Shooting in color, and trying to shoot nice color combinations.

So friend to conclude, to be happier, to have more joy in your photography and life, NEVER STOP SHOOTING!

BE STRONG AND HAVE FUN,
ERIC