Growth as an artist is a constant struggle. Trying to improve yourself is a good and necessary reflex. But it’s easier said than done, especially if you don’t know where to start.
Sometimes we feel stuck in the process of growing. Or you haven’t even started yet, but you don’t even know how to get that process started.
Have no fear, self-improvement man is here!
Print your work and see how far you’ve come.
You can go for cheap prints or more fine-art ones, but the point is to get physical copies of your own photos. Once you hold them, you will probably feel the relationship with the photo improve.
Holding your own work can help you feel proud of it. It can help you see how good your work is and how far you’ve come.
Print your work to see the issues better.
After printing, you notice the colors aren’t exactly how you wanted them. Or your composition isn’t as interesting as it seemed on your computer screen. These can all be triggers to help you improve yourself.
Ofcourse, it can be minimal things too. You may find your prints work better with certain kinds of papers.
Follow a workshop with another photographer.
A solo or small group workshop would be fine. This way, you get direct access not only to hear but also to see how another photographer works. You get to pick their brain, observe them work, and ask them for direct advice.
You can pick a photographer whose style matches what you like. Or you can go the exact opposite and learn from someone whose style isn’t really comparable to yours, which can also be very inspiring.
Lots of Street Photo festivals organize workshops and photowalks; find a list of the biggest festivals worldwide.
Join a photowalk and watch the others.
Often, cheap or even free photowalks are a great source of growth and inspiration for photographers. A lot of clubs, communities, or just individuals organize these walks. Or you can manage one yourself. Just invite some local photographers and get shooting!
Have a conversation with other street photographers.
Go for a coffee, for example. I’ve been on coffee dates with other photographers a lot, just talking about the city we’re in and photography in general. It can be inspiring to hear their struggles and solutions.
If you don’t have many photographers nearby, maybe a video call can work. Or listening in on conversations on podcasts.
Like my podcast Slices of Time: Street Photography Podcast.
Read a book about photography or photographers.
Reading can work wonders, too. Read the stories from masters like Henri Cartier Bresson or Steve McCurry in their biographies. Or find books with photographers explaining how they work.
I find that the more niche a book is, the more inspiring and full of growth opportunities it is.
Practise your photography regularly to grow
The more you do it, the better you get at it. You can join 365 challenges, or take a photo as often as possible. Even if it’s not your best work, it can usually still provide you with some kind of insight and growth.
Take a break from photography
You can also go the other way around: take a break. Stop taking photos for a set period. Just enjoy the world as it is. You may start spotting photo opportunities again as you walk around the city.
The idea is to reenergize, spark the fun of grabbing your camera again. Absence cbeork very inspiring.
Try a different camera
Regarding the camera, you can also try a different one once. Ask a friend to borrow theirs. Or rent from your local shop. A different camera handles differently (no shit, Sherlock). This can push you in different directions, or help you appreciate your own camera more.
It can also let you try other types of cameras, such as a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Full-frame or APS-C. Or you can go analog!
Try a different lens in your street photography
Similarly, changing the lens you use can also learn you a lot. Try a prime instead of a zoom, or the other way around. Maybe a different focal length than you’re used to.
This will force you to try new things and look at the world around you differently. It might not work for you, but that’s also a great lesson learned.
I wrote an article if you are interested to learn more about the different types of lenses.
Try a different photography technique
Using the same camera and lens as usual, you can also try new techniques. Go for something totally different. Try out full manual, or use auto ISO instead, try zone focusing, or try manual focus.
You can also experiment with more creative techniques, such as double exposures, long exposures, flash photography, and HDR.
How to grow as a photographer
I’ve given several routes you can take to stimulate your growth as a (starting) street photographer. These ideas can get you started and inspire you. But there’s a more profound philosophy behind them.
They are all about trying things and exploring the possibilities out there for you. See what works. And equally as interesting, what doesn’t work for you.
Growth is in trying new things and refining what you’re good at. So get out there and start shooting those frames!
Nice breakdown, most of what you list here applies to any genre of photography, I’m not much of a street photographer, but the things on your list I’ve found particularly helpful for me:
Print – at the very least a few per year (big!), it really makes progress obvious both in photography and in processing
Use different lenses – it forces you to change your “eye”
Try different techniques – if nothing else, they open up possibilities and add to your “toolbox”
Practice – I’ve watched people get started in photography that shot and shot and shot some more, and the progress they’ve made is incredible…and I’ve noticed it in my own work
Workshops – I’m a fan of doing workshops in my genre but with leaders that have styles unlike my own, I find I learn far more that way, otherwise I end up thinking “well I do it this way…” or “why don’t you do it this way?” In fact on that particular issue, I tend to follow photographers on social media with styles vastly different than my own or are in genres different than my own (it’s one reason I follow you on bluesky)
Hey Jeff! No it’s true, these ideas can definitely be applied to more genres than just street photography.
Your input here is great! I love you took the time to share this with me. Thank you so much.