The days are shorter which means the sun is out for less time. We deal with more overcast days which in turn can give you the photography blues. You aren’t alone. Use these tips to get over your blues and find some inspiration.

Kick the winter photography blues

1. Go to a museum or art exhibit.
One way to gather inspiration for photography is to put the camera down.  Pack your bags (maybe even pack your camera for all the inspiration you will have after your museum visit) and head to your nearest art exhibit.  There is so much to learn about composition and color (just to name two things) from the art masters.  By studying what makes a painting or a sculpture work you can gain insight into what will make a photograph shine.  Stop at the art pieces that grab you and deliberately look for what it is that is drawing you in.

This can help you look for those qualities in your photography as well.  Pick one piece or one aspect to focus on when you pick up your camera next and see what inspiration comes to you.  If you cannot make it to museum in person then utilize your internet to search out some artists who inspire you (you can put in the type of art like surrealism + images into Google or search by the artist’s name + images).

I pulled some inspiration from the art world for this macro shot by purposefully placing the orange flower against a blue background to utilize the contrasting colors off the color wheel.  This image was taken on a dreary day indoors, but on a day when I really want to shoot something and move past my photography blues!

2. Pick a different location and/or time of day than typical
While we know that the golden hour will help you produce some beautifully lit images, it can be easy to find what lighting or locations work for you and then get stagnate with the photographs you are producing.

Sometimes the challenge of shooting somewhere new or at a different time of day is just enough to bring that excitement back to shooting and get over the photography blues.  If you consistently schedule sessions two hours before sunset then maybe see if you can schedule a session for sunrise.  The early morning light can also give a really nice glow and depending on your location may highlight some new spots for you.

If you are concerned about getting the money shots with a client and don’t want to chance a new time of day, even at a familiar location, then maybe consider asking a friend to pose for you.  This way you can try something new but without the worry that you won’t get those images you need for a paying client.  Try scouting some new locations while taking a photo walk with a few people.  You can enjoy the pleasure of shooting anything you see, check out the light, and maybe find some new spots for upcoming sessions.  I have walked by this wall numerous times and finally shot a series there early in the morning.  I am so glad that I did.

3. Go out and shoot in less than perfect weather
This does not mean to go out and shoot in a blizzard (unless you are really prepared for that kind of shooting) but instead I am only suggesting that you look at the rain or snow as an opportunity rather than a roadblock.

Grab the kids, the rain boots, and umbrellas.

Head out into the misty, yucky drizzle to let them jump through rain puddles while you work on your action shots.  Be sure to use whatever kind of weather proofing you need to protect your gear although I have headed out with an umbrella over my head while my son wanted to dart in and out of the rain.  Since I live in {usually} sunny southern California I don’t have any snow photos to share with you but a quick search on Flickr or another photo sharing site should give you lots of inspiration.

One of my friends asked me to capture her brother’s homecoming after being overseas with the Marines for two years.  The day was full of pouring down rain so we spent most of the time indoors.  After the celebration my friend and her daughter threw on their super cute rain boots and we played a bit outside too.

4. Catch up on all those photography books you bought but never read
We have all done it.  Felt the inspiration come over us as we read the description of an online workbook or read a review on a new book someone has learned from, then bought it and let it sit there on a shelf (or on the hard drive).

Use this down time to catch up and give yourself some assignments.

Did you find a great book on composition?  Find one thing to work on then shoot it for a week straight.  Did you find a great online training that had an editing video?  Pick an old image and re-edit it using some new skills in the video.  Some days I am just looking for a push or an idea and forget about all the great prompts right there in these resources I have purchased.

Using an idea from a book on portraits for something as simple as window light, I shot this image this week after feeling inspired from reading People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs by Chris Orwig.

What do you do to get over your photography blues? Leave your ideas in the comments.

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