Practice, practice, practice....

Like so many things, photography requires practice. If God has given you the talent and desire to serve Him with photography, or any blessing that can be used to advance His kingdom, you should strive to refine and use those talents regularly. Since this blog is focused on ministry through photography I would like to make some suggestions on ways to hone your skills when not on a church assignment.

Share with those in need:
Do you know a single parent, young couple, or family struggling through these tough economic times? Paying for portraits is not going to be a priority when the money is tight, but in the years to come, being able to look back and share pictures of those earlier times can be a tremendous blessing for people. If you have the equipment, consider offering someone a photo session for free (but treat the job like you're getting paid). Include a few prints for them - Walmart and others will print a respectable quality 8x10 photo for under a few dollars. Maybe you have an old frame that you can mount one of the pictures in for them.

This will be a blessing for you too! I have found that people that are willing to let you take their photos (without having come to you first), are usually willing to give a little more of their own time to let you try new things, so try some different lighting, or a different pose or composition. Don't abuse their time, but don't be afraid to ask...you both might be rewarded with a unique and special photograph.

Start a Project 365:
Maybe you don't feel comfortable with portrait photography yet, but you still need to get regular practice. You might want to consider starting a "Project 365". It may go by other names, but essentially you set a goal of taking at least one picture everyday for one year (365 days). Many people start these at the beginning of the year, but you can start any time. In fact, I'll be starting one on February 1st of this year. If you are short of ideas, there are plenty of sites that provide weekly ideas/topics to provide inspiration. Here's a link to a weekly idea list (click here). The idea is to share these photos and commit to the daily shot. If posting a daily photo is too much for you to commit to, try a weekly plan (or Project 52).

Join a Camera Club:
Most every town, or county, has at least one camera club. These are an excellent resource for learning and inspiration. They also provide regular opportunities to participate in contests or photo outings. These are great ways to get a lot of practice, with the side benefit of getting quick feedback and support. In Brevard county, we have a fairly large camera club, and I don't believe it is very expensive to join (Brevard Camera Club).

Photo Walks:
Photo Walks are when a group gets together and walks around an interesting part of a town (park, zoo, etc.) and photograph people, architecture, and other items of interest. Usually the group will arrange to review the day's photos together. This provides feedback from fellow photographers, and can spark inspiration as you see how others have photographed the same areas. The group doesn't have to be large or well organized. It can be as simple as a group of two friends going out together for the afternoon. The key is to share with each other, and get/give that feedback that will help you grow as a photographer.



What do you do to keep up your photography skills? Have you done, or are currently doing, a Project 365? How did it go? If you are, share a link to your 365 album!