Through themed projects, you can capture unique images that follow a
certain framework or style. Your project can last a week, month or
year—depending on how in depth you’d like to go. To offer you
inspiration, we’ve compiled 68 creative photography projects that are
appropriate for all skill levels.
Once you’ve completed your project, be sure to
create a photo book with your images or select your favorite for a
canvas print.
1. Self Portrait
src="https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait.jpg" srcset="https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait.jpg 1480w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait-300x203.jpg 300w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait-768x519.jpg 768w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_self-portrait-800x541.jpg 800w" width="640" />
By switching the focus from other subjects to yourself as the
subject, your photography takes on a whole new perspective. When setting
up your shot, choose a landmark item to use as a stand-in until you’re
ready to jump in the frame.
Play with auto and manual focus with your stand-in until you get the
shot just right. Then, enter the scene using the timer option.
2. Wisdom
For the wisdom project, the goal is to gather photographs of those
who have offered you wisdom or a helpful perspective. You might feature
grandparents or mentors—or be inclined to include young ones who have
provided you a fresh angle on life.
Aim to capture individuals in their natural state, especially if it’s in a location where they shared a special moment with you.
3. Candid
Photographing someone in their natural state allows for their true
personality to shine through. With a candid photography project,
incorporate a range of human subjects for a diverse collection, or
capture the same subject across different settings and days.
Building a portfolio of several candids allows you to paint a vivid persona of your subjects.
4. Street Style
Authentic street style photography allows you to snag shots of the
latest fashion—all without the strut of the runway. Look for colors
first (either eye-catching or stunningly neutral), then watch for the
cut and structure of the clothes.
Aim for overall beauty within the frame, including the street or walkway, so the focus isn’t solely on the clothes.
5. All About The Details
Create a collection of shots with unique subjects that focus on the details. Whether the photos are for an
engagement,
graduation
or everyday occasion, you can take portraits of smaller details, like
wisps of hair, relaxed hands and prominent features. Making your
subjects feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera is the
first priority. Plan a single shoot for various angles to help capture
what looks best on a given day or moment.
6. Natural Element
Plan for your gallery of photos to include candid shots of the
subject in their element. Whether they love the beach or like to craft,
you can capture your subject in their favorite space or place to go.
If a subject feels awkward in front of the camera, have him or her
lean against something vertical, like a fence, wall or car. They’ll feel
more anchored and their body angle will offer the photo some character
without seeming unnatural.
7. Pets
From cats to dogs to horses, the heart and soul of your pets can be
captured with the right technique. Incorporate natural light in your
shoot keep watch of your pet’s eyes. Expressions and personality often
shine through and it’s a great time to capture these moments.
8. Motherhood
Being a mother is one of life’s greatest gifts. When we’re parents,
beautiful moments take place along with messy and chaotic ones.
Encapsulate the full spectrum of motherhood with photos from quiet
moments like snuggling with your child to lively times like cooking
together in the kitchen.
With any photography project, it’s important that your images tell a story.
9. Panoramic
A popular technique for landscapes, panoramic photography enlarges
the viewpoint beyond the normal size of a camera lens. To ensure there
are no gaps in your panoramic shot, overlap your image by 15-30%.
You’ll also want to keep your camera as level as possible to ensure
the photo is even throughout. Don’t forget that panos work well for
vertical shots, too, like waterfalls and deep canyons.
10. Sunsets
Sunsets make for stunning photos—especially when executed well. For
maximum beauty, be sure to slightly underexpose the sunset for rich and
dramatic colors. Use manual mode and a fast shutter speed for
underexposure, or use aperture priority with exposure compensation.
Make your sunset even more magnificent by arranging an object or scene in the foreground of the sunset, like a lake or mountain.
11. Fog
Mist and fog are natural elements that can enhance the beauty of your
photography. Check the weather to determine when fog might pop up.
Oftentimes the best lighting for fog photos occurs in the wee hours of
the morning or late in the evening after sunset. The low lighting causes
a slower shutter speed, which means a shakier camera.
Keep your camera as still as possible or use a tripod. The best
places for foggy photos? Open bodies of water and other sweeping
landscapes like fields and low rolling hills.
12. Cityscapes
Hovering skyscrapers and diverse skylines are part of what makes
cityscapes such attractive photography. For a cityscapes project, try
different vantage points across the city to see what works best (think: a
popular lookout compared with a more secret locale).
Prepare for an after sunset shoot, allowing the city lights to pop
against the dark sky. Remember to use a wide angle lens to cover as much
ground as possible.
13. Water (Rain, Ocean)
Whether you’re hoping to create scenes of smooth, flowing water or
capture dynamic waves crashing against a seawall, it’s critical to have
better than average camera equipment. For nearly every water shot, a
tripod is also essential to keep the frame still for the length of the
exposure (usually two to four seconds).
Pack along a lens-friendly cloth to remove splashes and water marks. Plan to get wet if you’re banking on a stunning water shot.
14. Seasons
Each season offers its own charms—from snowy branches to colored
leaves. Select a location for your seasons project where you’ll snap
photos throughout all four seasons. Once the year is complete, you’ll
have a collection of stunning images that tell the story of your special
place over the course of a year.
15. Star Trails
Spectacular from edge to edge, star trails photography is an
adventure to shoot. The first step is to find a clear sky full of stars,
but free of pollution and other light interference. Anchoring your
camera on a tripod, set your camera to shoot on manual mode. The faster
the lens you have, the better.
Once you have your shot prepared, select drive mode for consecutive
shots rather than a single frame. With your remote, let your camera take
photos for thirty minutes up to a few hours, depending on the length of
star trails you’re creating.
16. Drone
Capturing still images with a remote-controlled drone opens up the
options for angles and perspectives in your photography. Consider
sending a drone above a beach, golf course or mountaintop.
Increase the altitude of your drone for a more impressive viewpoint and try GPS mode for a more stable shot.
17. Food Photography
As a still life technique, food photography requires a few main
ingredients: good lighting, props and style. Place your items near
natural lighting or use a flash to give the photo a balanced look. When
it comes to the arrangement, consider adding in table setting details
like plates and silverware.
Amplify the photo’s texture with decorative pieces like colorful
fruits and sprigs of herbs. For a well-rounded food photography project,
shoot a variety of foods and dishes.
18. Black and White Month
Instead of using the full color spectrum, this project idea prompts
you to capture images in black and white only. Two-toned photography
provides a different perspective or feel to your work, and gives you a
chance to highlight people, places and objects in a novel way.
For instance, a close-up of hands be enticing when displayed in
color, but in black and white, the image paints the story that all
humankind is united.
19. Everyday Moments
Photos that showcase a slice of regular life contain a certain
genuine beauty. When preparing for everyday moment shots, make sure
subjects are comfortable. People should interact as if you aren’t even
present.
The true magic happens when you’re able to capture two people’s true connection.
20. Random Acts of Kindness
The random acts of kindness project prompts you to capture someone
doing something thoughtful or helpful for another person. By
photographing these moments, you’re telling a larger story of humanity.
To be successful in this project, you’ll need to keep a keen eye out
for small acts of generosity, like a young man holding the door or a
little girl smiling at a stranger.
21. Shoes For a Week
Narrow your photography focus for a week by capturing different
styles of footwear. From boots to sandals to athletic shoes, diversify
your image collection. Be sure to utilize a range of angles to create
unique stories for each photo (i.e. a guy lounging with shoes on, two
people talking while standing, a woman running).
22. Comfort Zone Challenge
Pushing the limits of your creativity often leaves you with
impressive and surprising results. With the comfort zone challenge,
throw caution to the wind and experiment without expectations.
Maybe that means you’ll shoot a paragliding experience, a fireworks
explosion or animals in action. When you’re snapping shots, play around
with your shutter speed, aperture, focal length and movement.
23. 30 Strangers
Taking a photo of someone whom you’ve only just met can be thrilling.
It can also be personally and professionally rewarding. Through the 30
strangers project, you’ll capture 30 portraits of people you’ve never
met before. Find people on the street, in a shopping mall or at a park.
Be sure to ask each person’s consent first before posting publicly.
The 30 strangers challenge will certainly stretch you outside of your
artistic comfort zone.
24. Duotone
Duotone photography refers to a multitone production of an image,
usually imposed through photo editing techniques. The superimposition of
a contrasting color halftone (normally black) over another color
halftone enhances the middle tones of an image.
Photographs with one main object, like a flower, seashell or tree, are ideal for creating duotone effects.
25. Perspective
Perspective photography can take many forms: those shot from a low
angle, ones with strong leading lines and those that look straight up
into the sky. Whether your scene is a railroad track or skyscraper, your
image should emphasize the angle and the unique perspective you’re
hoping to give the viewer.
Train your eye to notice patterns, lines and reflections you can capture from different angles.
26. Coffee
Not only is coffee delicious and rejuvenating, it’s also a work of
art. Collaborate with a barista on a latte design or the type of mug to
use. Choose a simple backdrop so the coffee remains the focal point.
A dark backdrop is best if you’re aiming to capture the steam rolling off of a warm drink.
27. Create a Photo Album
Let your memories last forever by creating a photo album
for a recent vacation, an adventurous summer or a year filled with fun.
Design your photo album with a theme in mind to build cohesion. Vary
your layouts from page to page for texture and personality.
28. Traffic Lights
When photographing traffic lights and other light trails, the best
time is during or after twilight on a night when minimal wind is
present. Based on your camera angle and objects, you’ll need to adjust
and experiment with your settings.
Often times, shutter priority mode is ideal along with a shutter
speed of six seconds. Make stability a non-issue with a tripod, and
remember you won’t be using a flash.
29. Happy Days
Allow joy to take the center stage of your photos. Whether they’re
candid shots of family members interacting or a single subject, make
sure the smiles are natural. Enhance the happiness level by highlighting
the subject with ample natural lightening.
30. Photo Scavenger Hunt
Challenge yourself and your fellow photographers by setting up a
photo scavenger hunt.
Rather than choosing objects and locations to capture, create a list of
photography styles to achieve. For instance, your list might include
building a motion blur or catching a clear action shot. At the end of
your hunt, you’ll have a collection of impressive photographs.
31. Night Scenes
Night scenes, also known as low light photography, allow you to make
the most of dark scenes that are hard to capture. When less light is
present, it means you’ll also have slower shutter speeds, which equals
more camera shake. For this reason, landscapes and long exposures at
night time require tripods.
Whether you’re shooting special moments around the campfire or gazing
up at the stars, utilize a wide aperture or a low f-number to let in as
much light as possible.
32. Polaroids
Polaroids offer a timeless feel and give photos a natural frame. When
creating a collection of polaroids, be sure to switch up your angles
and perspectives. Try a few upclose shots of objects along with macro
shots of mountains and lakes.
For polaroids with human subjects, allow for plenty of natural light and aim for candids.
33. Letters/Signs
With any inanimate object, the challenge with photography is to bring
it to life. With letters and signs, try to enrich the shot with the
surrounding scene whether it’s greenery or a neat light fixture. Angle
your lens in a way that makes the lettering most striking.
Build a full photography project with at least five to ten different signs.
34. Action Shots
To nail a clear action shot—for sports, animals or anything else—the
most important aspect is to be prepared. Consider pre-focusing your
shot, so when the subject enters the frame, you’re ready.
Because it may take several shots to capture even one solid photo,
shoot in short bursts for a few seconds at a time. Keep extra space at
either edge of your frame to allow for your subject’s movement.
35. Abstract
Fundamental to abstract photography are lines and curves. The shapes
you highlight will guide the viewer’s eye to a certain engaging element.
To get up close and personal with an object or design, use a macro
lens. With the macro, your photo composition will have clearer
resolution and sharpness. Complete your project by gathering a
collection of abstract photo pieces.
36. New Lens
Your camera equipment plays a large role in your work as a
photographer. Your tools, like your lenses, can fundamentally change the
structure your art.
To sharpen your skills, try using a single lense for an entire month.
Ideally, the lense will be new to you—allowing you to master the new
tool and broaden your photography skills.
37. Architecture
Photographing architecture—whether modern or classic—presents unique
challenges. Consider capturing an array of building styles for your
portfolio and don’t forget to mix up your angles. Vary your shots by
choosing a different weather conditions and times of day.
Through your diversity of shots, you’ll have richer story of the buildings’ relationship with the environment.
38. Thankful
To enhance your gratitude and happiness, consider completing a
thankful project where you take one photo every day of something you’re
grateful for. From flowers to pets to family members, find subjects that
have personal meaning to you.
By capturing what you’re thankful for, you connect deeper with the people, places and things that surround you.
39. Sunday Mornings
Whether you’re enjoying a cup of coffee or a good book, snap a photo
every Sunday morning for one month or a year. Capturing everyday
occurences through photography is a form of artistic journaling, helping
you to document life’s big and small moments.
40. Top View
The angle of your shot makes all the difference in how appealing and
engaging it is. Try a series of photos where your perspective comes from
the top. Amp up the creativity by getting higher for your shoot and
using a wide angle lens.
A busy environment, like a packed street or active household, can
become a striking composition when using a top view perspective because
it offers necessary distance from the cluttered setting.
41. Guilty Pleasures
We all have foods and activities we love despite feeling that they
might not be held in high regard. Perhaps your guilty pleasure is
cream-filled donuts or binge watching reruns of your favorite sitcom.
Collecting images of your guilty pleasures will likely bring you
humor and levity, knowing that these items are a part of you, but they
don’t necessarily define you.
42. Silhouettes
Forming a distinct contrast between light and dark, silhouettes
highlight one or multiple subjects. Ensure your subject is backlit with
the sun behind them. The best times to shoot silhouettes are in the
morning or late evening.
Build a stunning image by setting the scene with open space, like in a
field or along the beach. Set up your camera angle facing the sun, then
ask your subject to stand between the sun and you. Play around with the
exact angle until you have a strong contrast.
43. Prisms
Create a collection of photos shot with prism filters on your lens or
by placing a prism in front of your lens. The light that dances off of
the prism will add creative effects to your photography by dispersing
light before it hits the camera. Secure your camera on a tripod so you
can have your hands free to play with the prism and lighting.
Prism photography can include large subjects like nature scenes and architecture or smaller objects like books and candles.
44. Symmetry
Finding subjects that offer you symmetry is the foundational step for
this photography project idea. Look for symmetry in architecture and
nature, but don’t leave out human and animals subjects. Smaller details,
like hands or feet, often make for the perfect symmetrical photo.
45. Bokeh
Bokeh photography is denoted by one unique characteristic: a blur
produced in the out-of-focus area of an image. The blur, produced by a
lens, helps direct the focus of the photo. A fast lens is necessary to
achieve this technique, with at least an f/2.8 aperture.
With a wide open lens, you can create bokeh with subjects like butterflies, humans and fencing around a baseball field.
46. Action Figures
Due to their size, action figures are easy to rearrange and shoot
from multiple angles. Bring the scene to life by having the figures
interact with each other. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, tell
a story through your action figures, like one you would find in a comic
book. Include action shots against a simple backdrop.
47. Steel Wool
Although it may seem like steel wool photography would require
expensive equipment, it is a surprisingly inexpensive technique. For
this project, you’ll need the following: a camera, lens, tripod, shutter
cable, steel wool, string, stainless steel whisk, lighter and
protective gloves. In a dark location—away from combustible items and
other people—burn steel wool that’s loosely packed in a whisk.
As the steel wool burns, spin the whisk either vertically or
horizontally to create the desired effect. The burning will only last
about ten seconds, so you’ll want to set up for at least five seconds of
exposure time. Steel wool photography creates wild and interesting
images, but be sure to follow safety precautions to avoid hazards.
48. Macro
To enhance your skills and test out a nifty shooting technique, try
macro photography on tiny subjects like insects, match-heads and
flowers. Keeping your budget in mind, choose a magnification lens that
lets you make super small items appear larger than life. For your macro
project, vary your subjects.
Consider nature’s smallest members, miniature household items and up close shots of human elements for your portfolio.
49. Double Exposure
Double exposure, also known as multiple exposure, is a technique that
combines two images in a single image. By using double exposure, you
can create a distinct effect like a mirror image or ghost-like presence.
The layering technique can be done with or without photoshop, depending
on your equipment and skill set.
50. Escapism
Photography, like any type of art, can be a form of escapism. Through
the camera, we can create images that help us step out of reality and
into our daydreams. Prepare for your escapism photography project by
thinking of your ‘happy places’ or locations you go to get away.
After brainstorming, head to one of those locations and shoot scenes
that offer a mystical aura—whether it’s birds fluttering in the forest
or the clouds lifting off of the mountains.
51. Shadow Art
Just as light is a critical element to photography, so is darkness.
With shadow art, the focus is placed on the subject as it blocks light
from reaching a surface, like a sidewalk or table. Experiment with the
angle, distance and size of your light source to alter the intensity and
scale of your shadows.
Consider humans as your subjects, but inanimate objects, too, like musical instruments, buildings and action figures.
52. Texture
From brick walls to tiled roofs to wooden fences, textures are all
around us. Complete a photo challenge where you take one shot of a
textured surface every day. Turn on your auto focus to ensure the object
is in perfect focus. Adjust your distance from the subject based on how
much detail you want in your image. This idea is perfect if you’re also
looking for creative
Instagram photo ideas.
Aim for a ninety degree angle when you shoot the image so your texture is lined up straight with the camera.
53. 365 Wardrobe
On each day of the year, snap photos of your clothes before you begin
the day. Arrange them differently—sometimes orderly, sometimes more
carelessly—to gain a sense of how your mood changed from day to day.
Remember to include accessories like purses, shoes, belts and headbands.
54. Suspend Time
Photography is a powerful art medium: it can even pause time. Whether
you’re suspending an item with a fishing line or taking a shot of
someone jumping, you can create the look of time being stopped. Start
this photography project by choosing three items or people you’d like to
suspend.
55. Balloons
Bursting with color or more neutral tones, balloons make for
versatile props. Let helium balloons off into the sky and capture photos
as they float up. Surround the birthday girl with balloons in an
otherwise empty room. Or tie a balloon to a child’s wrist and photograph
them as they wander through a park.
56. Hotel Carpet
If you travel frequently, the hotel carpet project may be the right
kind of fun for you. Next time you’re walking through a hotel lobby,
glance down at the carpet beneath your feet. All sorts of patterns and
colors are used in hotel carpets across the world. Take a snapshot
(ideally at a 90-degree angle) of each carpet for a collection that will
help you remember all of the places you’ve been.
57. Doors
Across neighborhoods and cities, doors provide insight to each home’s
character. For this photography project, set out on an adventure to
collect as many styles and sizes of doors as possible. Choose a macro
approach, where the whole door makes the shot, or go micro by narrowing
the frame to door handles and styles of wood.
58. Juxtaposition
To build juxtaposition in your photographs, place two opposite
subjects next to one another. Like a blue ocean and a green forest, the
contrast between the two is noticeable yet stunning. Types of
juxtaposition might include a person and their shadow or a thin item
next to a thicker item. For this photography project, try several
contrasting subjects or locations.
59. Irony
Photos full of irony can be humorous or thought-provoking. Maybe you
snap an image of a tow truck hauling another tow truck or you notice a
descriptive sign in a place that doesn’t quite seem to fit. When it
comes to ironic photos, a keen eye is needed along with a quick wit.
60. Fairy Lights
Fairy lights make for beautiful focal points. You can wrap the lights around a tree, weave them between human subjects or fill
mason jars with them. Build a larger scene by ensuring no backdrop distractions are present or capture the fairy lights up close.
Regardless of what subjects and scenes you decide to shoot, proper exposure is crucial.
61. Smoke
For this photography project, choose smoke as your primary accent.
Incense sticks are easy to use and allow you to play with various
colors. Your setup should ensure ample ventilation for the smoke to
escape the room. Some photographers merge two photographs (one of the
smoke and one of the object) to design a special scene, like one of a
toy train blowing smoke or a tea kettle steaming.
62. Vintage Cars
From sporty models to classic town cars, vintage vehicles never go
out of style. Look for vintage makes at car rallies and exhibitions,
although sometimes you’ll come across them in your everyday happenings.
The golden hours, right after sunrise or right before sunset, are ideal
for shooting cars. Highlight specific parts, like bumpers, trunks and
hoods for diverse perspectives.
63. Faces In Things
You’ve probably seen images that double as a face and another object.
In this photography project, you’ll create a similar effect. Take a
close look at nature, food and furniture to locate hidden human faces.
Compile as many faces as you can, and see if your friends can guess
what’s in the images.
64. Frames
Alter your perspective by shooting your subject through a picture
frame. The frame technique works best outdoors where you can place ample
distance between your lens and your subject. Consider creating scenes
with a woman standing on the beach, a tree in an open field or a tall
building at the end of a street.
65. Reflections
Any body of water—like a lake, river, pond or swimming pool—can act
as your reflective tool for this photography project. You’ll want to
avoid direct light on the water to eliminate glare. Practice using
reflections on waterfront cityscapes or mountains overlooking a lake.
66. Take My Hand
When you can represent human connection in photography, the emotion
of the image is strengthened. Head out on a hike or stroll through a
garden to practice photographing two hands linked together.
67. Picception
https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_picception-300x203.jpg 300w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_picception-768x519.jpg 768w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_picception-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_picception-800x541.jpg 800w" />
A relatively new technique, picception images incorporate another
camera or photo into the shot. It can be a picture-in-a-picture style or
something more subtle like a photograph of someone taking a photograph.
While often informal, picception shots can be formal if intentionally
designed.
68. Neon
srcset="https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_neon.jpg 1480w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_neon-300x203.jpg 300w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_neon-768x519.jpg 768w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_neon-1024x692.jpg 1024w, https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/photo-project-ideas_neon-800x541.jpg 800w" />
Often eye-catching, neon photos provide a stunning mix of light,
shape and color. Whether you’re on the Vegas strip or exploring your
hometown at night, take photos of neon signs with your camera’s
evaluative meter exposure setting. Choose a low ISO of 200 or 100 to
avoid noise. Be sure to place your camera on a tripod for stability.
No matter which photography projects you decide to complete, remember
to enjoy the process and save copies of your photos. Design a themed
calendar or
metal print to showcase your results.
I wish the very best.
Drop your comments here please...
