12 ways to get Motivated in Photography | Find your Mojo!

Are you feeling uninspired when it comes to photography?

Do you sometimes feel like you're just going through the motions and not really enjoying your work?

In this article, I'll share twelve different ways that you can find your mojo and get motivated in photography.

A couple of years ago I totally lost my motivation for photography, it's not the first time it's happened and it's completely normal! I surveyed my On3Legs Photography Group on Facebook and asked what their number one challenge was in photography, and the top response was that they were struggling to find the motivation to head out for photography.

That led me to write this article and shoot a video with 12 ideas you could use to get your photography mojo back! 

Join an online photography group

There are plenty of online communities you can join, including mine! Click Here to join the on3legs Photography Group on Facebook. 

These groups are a great way to network with like-minded people and get inspired. I find some groups are run better than others, so you need to find a group that is well managed. The last thing you want is 

Join a local photography club

I have been lucky enough to present at many photography clubs along the East Coast of Australia and I'm always encouraged by how supportive a community they are.
If you are looking for a group of like-minded individuals to network with and hang out with when it comes to photography, it's hard to go past your local photography club.
Photography clubs are great if you are feeling uninspired or lack the motivation, these clubs will usually have events pre-organised every month making it easy for you to grab your camera and get out and take some photos.

If you are in Australia, the clubs of Australia website is a great place to find your local club.

Set yourself a photography challenge

To create accountability and motivate you to get out and shoot more you could set yourself a challenge. This should come with a warning though, if the challenge is too difficult this may demotivate you. I decided to do the 365-day challenge some time ago and about two months into it I just felt like I was taking a picture to tick the box rather than because I wanted to do photography. So make sure the challenge that you choose is suitable for the amount of time and effort you're willing to put in.
Sometimes it's best just to create your own challenge, I use Trello, it's online software that allows me to create lists of places I want to go, and also schedule the shoots that I have planned with the dates and any notes that I take about the destination.
You can also share your Trello board with other photographers so it's a great way for you and a few friends to plan local photography trips.

Shoot with a lens you don't normally use

As a photographer that has suffered from G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome), I have several lenses, a lot of these lenses I hardly use. If you are like me and have collected a lot of different types of lenses over the years then this is a great opportunity to grab something you don't normally use and challenge yourself to take photos with that particular gear for the next 30 days.
Alternatively, if you are lucky enough to have the discipline to avoid collecting lots of different lenses, I bet you have a friend that's not so lucky. Hit them up and borrow a lens!
Finally, if you are in a photography club this is another great opportunity to team up with another like-minded person in your club and swap lenses for a while.

Start a Photography Blog

Many years ago the thing that got me very inspired and motivated to get out and take lots of photos was starting a blog, I stumbled across Trey Ratcliff's blog www.stuckincustoms.com, on this blog Trey shares a photo every day. This gave me the idea of doing the exact same thing and has led to me now having a healthy online social media following, which is a byproduct that I never expected.
If you're looking for a way to motivate yourself, there is nothing more motivating than knowing that a group of people that appreciate your work are waiting for your next upload!
Having your photos on your own blog means that you also have a place to showcase your work and you avoid just taking the images and sticking them on a hard drive never to be seen again.

Teach someone photography

Most photographers have more than one camera, this is a great opportunity for you to find somebody that you know, a friend or family member that would like to learn photography.
I find that teaching is one of the best ways to stay motivated, it keeps you in touch with the basics and reminds you how far you have come.
It is extremely rewarding and motivating when somebody that your teaching is able to master the art for themselves.

Grab a Photography Coffee Table book from your favourite photographers

We spend so much time in front of the computer, sometimes it's good to break that habit and grab a book. A really well-printed photography book from one of your favourite photographers will definitely inspire you to get out and shoot more.
My two favourite photographers with amazing printed books are Ken Duncan and Peter Dombrovskis. 
Both Ken and Peter are what I believe to be pioneers in Australian landscape photography and the preservation of our beautiful country.
Unfortunately, Peter is no longer with us but his work lives on along with the legacy of protecting the Tasmanian wilderness.

Photography something around your home

you would be surprised what is in and around your home that makes interesting photography subjects. During the pandemic, many people put up ideas on how to stay motivated by shooting at home.
I will quite often use the time at home to experiment and try different settings and composition ideas. It really forces you to be creative when you're shooting inside your home or in your backyard.
Of course, you could extend this to your local park or within walking distance of your home, I think this is a great challenge and really gets you thinking outside of the box when it comes to photography.

Try Macro Photography

You don't need a macro lens to do macro photography, in fact, a lot of telephoto lenses have 2:1 ratio magnification. And with large image sensors, it is possible to crop your image and still have a decent enough file.
I use the Laowa 1:2 magnification macro lens. I absolutely love it and if you are looking for an alternative to 1 of the big brand names, that is amazing quality and at a very reasonable price.
However, if you are not ready to invest in a macro lens, then grab yourself some extension tubes. An extension tube goes between your camera body and your lens and reduces the minimum focal distance of your lens allowing you to get closer and take macro images. Macro extension tubes are very affordable and work rate with your 50 mm lens.

Book a weekend photography weekend away

Immersing yourself in a weekend of photography is one sure way to get you inspired. If you feel like you have had a stop-start nature with your photography then taking two or three days to focus on your photography will do you a world of good.
Whether you love camping or five-star accommodation jump online now and book a weekend away with the goal of focusing on grabbing some of your favourite images.
You can also combine this with a weekend away for you and those closest to you but make sure you let them know that this is your weekend for photography.
Find somewhere that you've always wanted to visit and grab your camera now!

Book in for a Photography Workshop

if you find yourself planning to go out and shoot and then cancel at the last minute a great idea is to put some of your cash on the table. Nobody likes to waste money, so this will hold you accountable for making sure you get out and shoot. Buy yourself a ticket to a photography workshop whether it's three hours or three days or even longer, a photography workshop is a great way to get you out and about with your camera.
I have never met anybody that has regretted going on a dedicated photography workshop, it doesn't matter how experienced you are, or whether you're just brand-new to photography, a photography workshop or have you motivated and inspired with your camera.

Enrol in an online photography course

If an in-person workshop is not your thing, then there are a lot of online photography courses that you can do. Some of these courses are really quick to do and others will drip feed you training over a period of several weeks or months. Once again, just like an in-person workshop investing in an online course will hold you accountable for grabbing your camera.
The only downside of the online workshops is the lack of networking would like-minded people, however, there are plenty of upsides to counter that including how easy it is, you can usually do your training when and where you like so it is super flexible.