Okay, so if you haven’t figured it out yet, you know I think everyone should do a Project 365 or a 52 week or something to continue to challenge your photography skills.
Read how to start a photography blog as a place to document your photography project.
Here are a few tips to help you finish your project 365.
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No.01Link up with other 365'ers.
I would not have finished last year if it weren’t for the fabulous 365’ers who continued to encourage and leave comments on my photos each day. I remember around day 293 I was loosing steam and toyed with the idea of quitting. I received so much encouragement and it helped me to finish the project. You can link up your blog or use popular hashtags to find other photographers working on a Project 365.
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No.02Comment on other 365'ers projects.
If you want to receive encouragement from others you need to encourage others. People love to comment on others who comment on their photos. You will also build some great friendships through commenting. It doesn’t have to be a critique (unless they asked for one) it can be as simple as commenting on something they wrote about. I didn’t also get comments on my photos, sometimes it was to ask me for a recipe I talked about or to say they hoped I felt better if I was sick. Build relationships!
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No.03Take your camera EVERYWHERE!
I know I talked about this in the Goals for 2011 post, but it couldn’t be more true if you are doing a 365. After about 6 months last year, I invested in a nice camera bag that could double as my purse/diaper bag so I no longer had an excuse not to take it with me. I rarely leave home without and when I do I always kick myself.
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No.04Your photos don't have to be perfect.
Somedays you will not have the most beautiful picture in the world. It is bound to happen. In fact, I can think of at least 10 photos from last year that if you saw you may rethink taking photography advice from me. I realize that some days you may get a picture of a plant or my toes. That is life. No one expects all your photos to be perfect. I know mine won’t be.
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No.05Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day.
I was really good at staying on top of my last 365 until I started this blog. I started to feel bad that I forgot to post my photo for that day. I had taken the picture but I didn’t have time to edit and post it. I realized that instead of beating myself up, I should just accept the fact that sometimes I’m busy. I am learning to manage my time better and hope to stay on top of posting everyday but I am realizing life gets in the way and sometimes today’s photo might not get posted until tomorrow. Just don’t quit!!
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No.06Use themes.
You could use a daily theme such as “Monday Me” or “Self Portrait Sunday” where you need to be in the picture. You know you would like to be in more pictures with your kids. “Thankful Thursday”, “Macro Monday” and many many more. You could make up your own as well. Beth at bethadilly has a whole list of daily prompts for you if you need some inspiration. You could also do a theme for a month like “Things I love” February or “Things I’m Thankful for” November. Can you think of any others??? The possibilities are endless!!
Does anyone else who has done a 365 have any more tips??? I just want to help y’all succeed if you want to take on this challenge.
365 Project Tips
I think these are all great tips. Thanks for including me. I can’t think of anything else right now, but if I do I will let you know. :)
These are great tips and thanks for featuring my blog!
Hi Courtney!
I love all your tips! I’m starting to experiment more with manual mode and NO flash. This kind of terrifies me. Since you have little ones that, I’m sure, don’t sit still, how is it you’re able to get such great pics (ie. no blur) without the flash? What’s the secret?
Can you a help a girl out?
Carrie
Yay for shooting in manual mode!! The best thing to help get a sharp photo is to keep your shutter speed at least at 1/125 some people say 1/250 with kids. I can’t always get the right lighting for 1/250 so I am happy keeping it above 1/125. Also, make sure your aperture number is not too low (don’t shoot wide open). That narrows down the amount that is focus in your photo. If you have a question about a certain photo feel free to email it to me with your settings and I can see if I can help you :O)
Thanks so much for the reply! I will definitely take you up on that offer :)
I just want to thank you for all the great tips you have posted. I finally started shooting manual because of your great post! thanks!
That is wonderful! I promise you won’t regret shooting in manual mode! Thanks for your kind words!
Thanks for sharing your tips for success. I’ve been trying to decide to commit to a 365 project or not and I think your post will push me over the edge to do it.
Thanks for the inspiration. Love the blog.
Whoo hoo! Come join the fun!! If you do decide to do it be sure to link up on my 365 tab so we can support and encourage you :O)
Thanks for sharing. Here is a great site!
Great post. I think the thing I struggled most when deciding on doing this project was the posting every day. I will be on several trips this year so I told myself as long as I took the picture it’s okay to post late. I like to hear that others think the exact way. Love your site, I need to go update my blog list with the new blogs that have linked up! :)
love this post, courtney! i want to start a project but i’m not quite sure what to commit to for now. i was so inspired by those pregnancy once-a-week projects i think i’ll start there until the little one comes.
Good thinking! I would love to see them!
I’m in! I saw one of my facebook friends doing this a few months ago and was inspired to give it a try…and nervous too. I have no idea what I’m doing. Manual Mode? Acck! LOL. But I am committed to it because I would LOVE to get better with a camera. And I made a deal with myself: if I can stick out the 365 days, I will treat myself to a DSLR at the end. :)
Your blog is wonderful, thank you so much for the inspiration!
I think that sounds like a great deal to yourself! I promise you will learn so much through this project!
I am LOVING this site. Thank you so much. I do have a quick comment about Project 365. I linked to this a little prematurely. I tried to delete it, my name is Daniele. This is my family blog, and I am making a new blog now, and will be up by this weekend. I will re-link up when it is up. My blog is getting too full of collage and learning photography, so I thought I’d dedicate one to this side of my life! So, my name is still on that link list, if you want to try to get rid of it.
Thanks so much, and your site is set up really well! So easy to follow, and great information, and easy to understand!
Well, thanks!! I will look forward to your new photography blog :O)
A great list! If it’s helpful to anyone, I posted a list of my own to my blog:
http://mcdougallphotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-365-tips-and-tricks.html
Good luck everyone!
Great tips. I’m only on day 24 so I’m gonna need these words of advice.
I would love to join in! I need to get out of my blogging rut and become better friends with my camera again.
You totally should! We are starting a new one on Friday if you want to join in :) http://clickitupanotch.com/project-365-and-project-52-link-up/
Hi guys, adding a little international flavor here :)
I’m a photog, just launching my own photo studio.
I’ve always wanted to do a 365 project, but I can’t carry my DSLR everyday, or get to a computer (I have a no-work policy at home, so no computer there!). So I’ll be doing the 365 project mostly with my camera phone, a Sony Xperia U, which has a great Sony compact camera. And posting it to Tumblr at bibianasilveira.tumblr.com (it’s easier to share via instagram). I’ll also add the #365 marker. Follow me @bibiana_silveira, and I’ll follow you as well.
I already post a lot on instagram, but not every day. Hopefully this project will help.
My studio site is mostly a blog still, am working on business info as I can. And it’s in PT-BR. But there are nice photos there ;)
TTYS
Awesome! Glad you are linking up. Be sure to link up here so everyone can find you – http://clickitupanotch.com/project-365-and-project-52-link-up/
Hi guys, adding a little international flavor here :)
I’m a photog, just launching my own photo studio in Southern Brazil.
I’ve always wanted to do a 365 project, but I can’t carry my DSLR everyday, or get to a computer (I have a no-work policy at home, so no computer there!). So I’ll be doing the 365 project mostly with my camera phone, a Sony Xperia U, which has a great Sony compact camera. And posting it to Tumblr at bibianasilveira.tumblr.com (it’s easier to share via instagram). I’ll also add the #365 marker. Follow me @bibiana_silveira, and I’ll follow you as well.
I already post a lot on instagram, but not every day. Hopefully this project will help.
My studio site is mostly a blog still, am working on business info as I can. And it’s in PT-BR. But there are nice photos there ;)
TTYS
Hi I am learning so much about photography from you. Thank you for this site. The project 365 and 52 are be ideas to me. I hav not heard of them before. I realize you ar haring a pic once a day or once a week but are you following a theme or what. Where do I get my idea for the pictures to take every day? Or week. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated
We aren’t doing theme or prompts. There are plenty out there if you google it. I just find I like to work without a theme or prompt :)
Thanks Courney for the great tips!! They were really helpful. I started this year the 365 days project and it’s been quite demanding. I love to take photos and I push myself a lot to have good ones, but of course not all of them are good which made me feel a bit down. Your article encouraged me to know that there are a lot of people feeling like me and that gives me the strength to keep going! :D
Thanks again!!!
Not all of mine are good either. That is the reality of shooting everyday but just keep going. You will have more that rock by the end of the year :)
Getting started to start this in January! Not even knowing it, but during the first year my daughter was born I started a 365 project. The hard part now for me is organizing a my photos and getting them printed into a book! This project is going to be so much different from my previous one and I couldn’t be more excited!
How exciting! It is so fun to capture those childhood moments. This post may help you in organizing your photos – http://clickitupanotch.com/2013/01/organize-photos/
Hey Courtney! Love your website and all the tips you post. Any suggestions on how to organize or tag 365 pics in Lightroom? I doubt I will post everyday but I want to stay organized and keep all the pictures together but I’m not sure how to do that. Thanks! – Natalie
Hey Natalie,
I’m tagging mine with a keyword and then putting them in a smart collection so they are all in the same place. http://clickitupanotch.com/2011/08/organizing-photos-in-lightroom-using-stars-colors-and-smart-collections/