#15. How to Stay Motivated

Taking a class, traveling, using a new piece of equipment, and starting a blog are some different ideas on how to stay motivated and find new ways to shoot

It's easy to lose interest in photography and that's okay. I get it that everyone is not as fanatical as I when it comes to shooting.
But when I ask some people why they don't shoot more they say they just don't have the time. Then I ask them if I were to give them $500 every time they went out and shot, would they shoot more. Most people grin and affirm.  That's a motivation issue not a time management problem. And no, I'm not sending you 500 bucks. If you want to stay interested and motivated, here are some ideas.

Set a schedule to go out and shoot. Is there a day of the week or a time every month that you would be willing to dedicate to shooting food? Put it on your calendar now. If it's not written down it doesn't exist. If you have trouble staying committed to things like this, find some photography friends who will go with you. Many people are more dedicated to executing their ideas when they have committed to someone else.
Figure out a theme. What's your favorite type of food? Thai (for example)? Every month you could go to a new Thai restaurant. You could refine this further by only going places that serve pad Thai and shoot those.
​Or, you could go to the many farmers markets in the area and shoot selected dishes with the theme of farmers market food.
​I love shrimp and grits. And, it has become a popular menu item. So, guess what I did? Yup, found them, shot them, and rated and ate them! Perfect!
Join a challenge online. ​Do a search for daily or weekly photo challenges. You not only get an idea of what to shoot, you get to see how others do the same assignment. It's a good way to learn and meet other photographers.

Take a class. Learning a new skill or hearing a different perspective can give you a push in a new direction. There are classes locally, regionally and nationally offering instruction for all skill levels and any different genres of photography. A Google search can tell you all about it.
Forget what you read here. These tips are just that, tips. They are rules of thumb. If you look around the web you will see thousands of opinions, tutorials, and food sites. Make your shots your own. Learn the rules and then BREAK them. They are your images! Develop a style and your own voice in how your photos look!
Experiment. Borrow a different lens or camera and see what happens. Take a "What's the worst that can happen" attitude. If you are shooting with a digital camera, the delete button is your friend. Even if you are shooting analog, experimentation is the way to a different way of doing things.
Start a blog! Okay, I acknowledge that food blogs may have become passé (so has the word passé) . But, still! Here we are hanging out on mine. Start your own. It's not just blogging for blogging's sake. It lets you share your thoughts and images with the world and motivates you to move ahead. If blogging isn't your thing, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Yelp are always image hungry. Feed them!
​ As I shoot I learn. As I learn I teach. As I teach I get inspired to shoot more. ​Why are you still here and not out shooting?