It Should Feel Natural
Let's quickly reflect on part 1 and then continue on your path to becoming a photo rockstar.
Part 1: Pick and Stick to Your Topic
We previously discussed that right at the start, from the get go, forget about photography. The most important thing is stop taking photos and define exactly want you want to photograph. Try narrow down a theme that you enjoy photographing and each snap will bring your mind closer to that theme. Photography with a purpose is the reason your photos will beam with passion. Ultimately leading to you becoming a great photographer. Why? Because it will feel natural.
Once you know what you like taking photos of you're 30% complete on your journey to being a great photographer.
If you still don't know what you like to photography, probably best stop reading this and go write down the things that you like to do in your life on a piece of paper. Stare at that for awhile. What general theme springs out? Nature? food? cats? Have a real think and come back for more reading.
Be Consistent - Part 2
Upload at least one new photo of the same theme every single day. Forever.
I'm serious. Regardless of how good the photo is, just get it online for people to see.
You're better off posting average content for an entire year than only being awesome for one month out of a year.
A great place to start uploading your constant content is Instagram.
For three reasons.
- It's very easy to start. Most of your friends and network are probably already on it.
- Interaction levels are huge, meaning you can get near instant feedback.
- By looking over your gallery (anyones gallery) you can see your theme. This will help you adhere to it. You're basically building a blueprint of your theme.
Why this Constancy Thing Works.
Do you have a photographer or artist that you aspire to? By saying his or her name do you know what the theme of their photography or art is?
- Salvador Dali - crazy abstract mind bending artwork
- Steve McCurry - famous for the Nat Geo 'Afghan Girl', he constantly takes insteresting portaits
- Banksy - satire political activist graffiti artist
That's all they do, and that's all they'll ever do.
Imagine Banksy started doing food and cooking? Weird.
Do you see the consistency?
It's pretty quick to figure out what these people do.
The kicker is, they stuck to that theme for their entire career. They became great at that one topic, didn't go off the tracks and will continue to upload photos of that theme. You become associated with what you do. Your art and photography defines who you are and what you stand for.
Not Being Consistent is Complete Confusion.
Let's say you've been uploading photos on some platform for a long time now. Have a scroll through your gallery and tell me what you see as a whole. Is it packed with photos of food or nature? Or, is it really just a random assortment of your life?
Instagram is a great example of this, your gallery as a whole shows want you stand for.
Pick the gallery that confuses you.
That mix of what you ate today, inspirational quotes, relationship selfies, your office desk and gym progress won't make you an aspiring photographer. Of course each individual photo can be great, but the randomness of themes confuse viewers.