052 - How to Focus on your Photography (Even when your Life gets Busy)
Photography can be difficult to prioritize, even if it is your main gig. I've been so focused on teaching, building new websites, transferring content and prepping for the new year (along with the regular family blowouts) that I haven't really had time to hit up the mountains yet in the new year. We're three-quarters of the way through January, and I've been in the mountains twice. Once, my trip lasted about 3 km of a 14 km hike because I pulled a muscle going too hard straight out of the gate, and the other was a wonderful sunrise hike with my wife. But that's it. I've managed to get out and explore the city a bit, but really my camera has only been in my hand four or five times in January.
And I know I'm not the only one that has this happen to them. When life gets busy, and there are many things to focus on, crafting images can get pushed to the back burner. For me, photography isn't just about work. It's also a creative release and a way to relax and see the world. And that's what photography is for a lot of people. When it gets pushed to the bottom of the list, it means that I am working too hard and not focusing on my mental health, and I'm sure that goes the same for everyone out there. Relaxation and mental health are integral to getting the most out of life, and if you want to create better photos, you need to be out shooting often. So don't let your photography just sit idle.
With that in mind, today's episode is all about things you can do to get out shooting more often.
1. Keep your Gear Ready to Go
I had a 1-on-1 photo student recently tell me she hadn't practiced at all between sessions because her camera battery was dead and she hadn't found the charger. So, every time she thought about shooting, she would grab her camera and then realize the battery was dead but wouldn't have time to find the charger because she was headed out the door with the kids. So her battery didn't get charged until a few hours before I was showing up for our next lesson. Which meant she hadn't taken a photo on her camera in about 5 weeks.
Little things like dead batteries and full memory cards can really hinder you from heading out to shoot. They seem like small things, but if your camera isn't ready when you need it, you are less likely to head out shooting. Especially when you have a lot on your plate. I had a running buddy who would go to bed dressed in his running clothes, so all he had to do in the morning was grab his water bottle and shoes and head out the door. He was typically off and running 15 minutes after getting up in the mornings. He did this because he discovered that every little barrier to his running stopped him from going. Think about your camera gear the same way. Every little thing that stops you from getting out the door prevents you from shooting. So, after every shoot, charge your batteries, back up your memory cards and clean them off and make sure your kit is ready to go for the next time. I've got a charger right beside the door in my office, so I see it every time I walk in and out, which makes me think about keeping the batteries charged. If you've headed out in the rain or anything where your lens may get dirty, clean it quickly when you get home. This firstly stops things from becoming bonded to the lens. Still, it also removes another barrier to your next shoot (and prevents you from forgetting the lens is dirty and affecting your next round of photos.)
My system is pretty straight forward but a bit time consuming when I get back from shooting. I pop any batteries I have used up into their chargers, deposit the photos into my work drive and the backup system. While those are uploading, I grab my camera and give it a quick once over to look for dirt and imperfections. Do this yourself every time you get back from using your camera, and it will be more at the ready for when you want to shoot again.
2. Keep your Gear Visible
I used to keep my photography equipment in a set of cabinets that looked really nice and contained the disaster that my kit can turn into, but that has changed with our new house because I found I wasn't using the gear nearly as often. After all, it was out of sight. And, as the old adage goes, out of sight out of mind. When I got busy, I wouldn't think about taking photographs nearly as often because I wouldn't just see my camera gear there. I would grab it when I needed to go shooting, but I wouldn't think about it when I was just heading out to go for a walk or explore the city.
I now keep mine in a set of open shelves near the front door so that I see it every time I head out of the house. This often makes me grab the camera in case something comes up while I'm out.
So, keep your camera gear somewhere where you will see it often, which will make you think about it more, and then you should end up using it more often.
3. Get a Photography Accountability Buddy
Any time you are trying to stick to something - like working out, going running or stopping smoking - it helps to have a person on your side who keeps you accountable. This is your photography accountability buddy. They will make sure you pick up and use your camera as often as you have said you would. Beyond that, they can even help make sure your photography is getting better by taking some time to review what you are shooting.
Find someone who understands why photography is important to you and would be willing to hold you accountable. This needs to be someone who won’t give into your excuses and isn’t going to beat around the bush with you. So, look for that friend that is always looking out for your best interests, even if they can be a bit annoying about it.
Ideally, you are also this person's accountability buddy, so you can keep each other on track. Hopefully, this person is also someone you can head out and shoot with, as that takes the accountability up a notch. It's much harder to bail on someone when you are accountable to them.
4. Schedule time to Shoot Each Week
Shooting routinely is crucial, and focus periods can help you get the most out of your time and ensure you stay active in photography.
Focus periods are blocks of time you set aside in your schedule like a meeting, appointment, or social gathering. You block out a time specifically dedicated to using your camera. This helps you focus on your photography and also remind you that using your camera is essential.
Now, a few problems may arise with doing this.
Firstly, other things will seem more important, but you need to treat this time like you would any other requirement, as something you can't miss. Make this a must-do during that time, no exceptions.
Secondly, this may cut into time for other things. This can be a tough one, but you may have to cut back on something else to fit photography in if you have a tight schedule. But, if you really want to become better, you really need to make it a priority. So, maybe cut out watching some TV or get your kids involved by having them come out taking photographs with you. But, something may have to change in your schedule. And that's ok! Make your photography a priority.
Thirdly, get out of your own way and just shoot what is out there. I know it can be hard to look outside and think I've shot all of that, or this is so boring (trust me, been there and done that). But instead, challenge yourself to go somewhere new or look for little details. Basically, don't let this time go away because you don't see perfect conditions. Go out and shoot anyway.
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