How To Plan And Shoot A Long Term Photography Project

Choosing to undertake a long-term photography project is a clear indication of advanced photography skills and passion. This personal photography task not only calls for interest, but dedication as well. Long-term photography projects can take as long as five, fifteen, to even thirty years. Without dedication, such a project is doomed to fail. When considering engaging in a long-term photography project, there are certain important tips to put in place as you start off:

Choose your photography idea(s)

There are infinite ideas of what to focus on for your long-term photography project. Examples include animals, clocks, bridges, and automobiles. The easiest way to go about selecting a subject is to choose one that is of natural interest to you. This way, you will enjoy working on the project throughout its entire period. Avoid topics that other people suggest that are not necessarily your passion, as you may become weary of the subject before the end of the project.

Also, since this is a long-term project that you will constantly be working on, select a photography topic that is found in your location. For example, if you have an eye for religious structures and they are found in your location, you can easily capture them in different seasons, times, activities, and other interesting happening that take place around your subject.

You may also select a topic that is found in different locations. This way, when you travel to other places, you can take photos of your subject, to give you varying angles and views.

Photo by Nickb_Rock

Plan

As simple as this may sound, it is very critical to the success of your long-term photography project. Since you have chosen a photography subject, you need to follow it up with how and when you will work on it. One way to plan is to map out your photography topic. In the case of religious structures, map out their location and come up with different shooting angles and times to work on the project.

However, you still need to remain open-minded in your plan. If you travel and happen to come across your subject, you should be ready to take pictures of it as valuable additions to your collection.

Start off the project

Get your equipment together and start off the project according to your plan. You need to have a special place in which you store your work. Create a folder in your computer with the name of your long-term photography subject. If you have chosen numerous subjects, create a folder for each topic and name them accordingly in order to avoid mixing different subjects together. You can also tag other details to the IPTC data of your photos such as when you took the photo, its climate condition, or how you came about your subject.

Expand your project

There are numerous ideas you can generate just by involving other advanced photographers in your work. You can also share your work with your friends through social media sites, and let them give you ideas of other places where your long-term photography subject is found. By letting your work be recognized by others, you will get fresh ideas and motivation to expand your project.

With all these tips in place, you are ready to begin your long-term photography project. With your advanced photography skills, you can expect to come up with a project that will make a name for yourself and you will be proud of.