Tips for Shooting One Photo A Day for 365 Days

Having recently completed Project 366 (creating 366 consecutive photographs each day in 2008) inspired by the flickr group, I've felt a great sense of accomplishment, coupled with a huge sigh of relief. I'm now honeymooning over the fact that there is no pressure to shoot every single day. And yet, I'm still shooting every day.

If you've thought about taking this project on, I highly recommend it. Simply put, it changed my life. It taught me to see. To push myself creatively. And it forced the discipline I needed to bring clarity to my future – ultimately giving me the courage I needed to trade a comfortable career to follow my dream of being an artist full time, focusing on photography and digital media productions.

If you decide to start your own Project 365 (and I hope you do), here are a five tips to guide your journey:

1. Take your camera out with you every day. I purchased a small, inexpensive backback big enough to fit my DSLR and turned it into my purse. Sometimes I would stuff an alternative lens in the bag, but more often than not, it was sort of fun to use the lens I had at the time and to find creative ways to make an image work with the lens I had on hand.

2. Shoot at least one shot in the morning. Let's face it, there are days that zoom so fast it's easy to forget essential day-to-day tasks like reminding one's child to brush his teeth, transfering wet clothes into the dryer, meeting an unreasonable client deadline, shuffling papers on your kitchen counter, etc. If you shoot at least one shot in the morning before your day gets out of hand, you're covered.

3. Set up a method to organize and share your series as you progress. When I initially started, I uploaded and titled each of my daily image selections on flickr (i.e., Day 1, Day 2, et.) and contributed the images to the Project 365 flickr group. Being a part of this group kept me inspired and engaged. It felt great to know that so many other folks around the world were traveling on this journey with me. When I first saw someone's image in the group labelled Day 365, I could visualize completion despite the long road ahead. The group also offers weekly challenges to inspire image ideas.

4. Use this opportunity to get comfortable with your camera. If you typically shoot in Auto mode, you might consider learning one new feature of your camera each month. For example, during month one, you could learn to use Aperture Priority mode and experiment using different aperture settings. Month two, you could try different ISO settings – shooting indoor shots with a higher ISO setting instead of using your flash. You could grow to love that grainy texture in certain situations.

5. Never say "I have nothing to shoot." You are likely to think this around Day 62, but don't say it. There is always something to shoot. Walk outside. Lie down on the floor and look up. Turn over onto your belly and rest your camera on the floor. Look in the mirror. Take the long way home. Tell a stranger you are looking for an image of the day and see what comes to his/her mind. Use this opportunity to seek out and celebrate something unique each day.

If you've done Project 365 or if you're in the process of this project, tell us about your experience and share your tips. And if you are leaning on the edge of this amazing journey, will you leap?

Comments

[Shawna]

Yay! I loved your 365 series last year. (hmm that makes it sound so long ago...) I just started with flickr so I can keep motivated.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28479290@N05/sets/72157612036043227/

I can't wait to see how this will challenge me and discipline me to get a well-thought-out shot on my busiest days and a likable shot after dark or during this gray gray winter. January is my busiest month of the year at work, so I'm already making excuses, haha! I'm excited to try out themes and new techniques. Also, I've been having trouble with photo overload and I'm trying to use this as an excuse to save only one or two shots out of my day's series. I know I'll be way more motivated to look back on (and make a coffee table book of) 365 shots than 3,650. Sometimes I get a little carried away saving two (or ten) nearly identical photos because "I like them both in their own way." :O)

Thanks for the tips!

[elizabeth]

I am doing it for 2009. One of my goals for 2008 was to take photos daily - I didn't, so I thought the album would be a good forcing function.

What I am finding is that it is causing me to take photos of things that I would otherwise miss .. the little things in my day .. especially when I realize that the day is almost over and I haven't taken my camera out yet (and there have been a few of those days). :)

I am also finding that it helps if the camera stays out of its box and on my desk.

Great tips, thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24804662@N00/

[Tammy Circeo]

Stephanie--I love your take on this project. Now that you've done it for a year and have reflections, it helps those of us who've not yet committed to a year to foresee what might be ahead for us. Your Five Tips are wonderful. I haven't committed yet, but have to admit to having taken photos each day this year. Why I am not committing is beyond me! Maybe "fear of the unknown" or maybe "fear of vulnerability"! Thanks for this post.

[Charlane]

I admire anyone that does that project as it's a major commitment. I tried it...and I also followed my instructors admonishment to shoot every day...there are just some days I hate every frame I shoot. *sigh*

[Tracey Clark]

I cannot beleive the perfect timing of this post Stephanie! I JUST published a post with my intention to do the 365 project. http://maypapers.blogspot.com/2009/01/oh-possibilities.html
I am so happy to have your tips for guidance and help. Thank you. I am soooo crossing my fingers this is something I can keep up with. I am also excited to get an idea of the other sisters who are diving in too! Yay!

[Lecia]

Yes! I just started this 11 days ago; yesterday on a post I wrote "My timing in joining Flickr last week feels like a little gift. So much of my thought and energy has been focused on embracing and loving things in my life because of some of the Flickr groups I've joined..."

Thanks for the enouragement!

[golightly]

Thanks for the great tips, Stephanie and the encouragement! I've taken the plunge and hope I succeed in this adventure! Here's what I have so far... http://www.flickr.com/photos/16869615@N03/sets/72157612146357562/

[Marcie]

I've been posting a photo-a-day now for over a year and a half (20 months..to be exact). I think the lesson I've most learned is that the possibilities are endless..and it is always possible to create an image out of nothing-at-all. Here's an example of my latest:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=656

[Grey Street Girl]

I love this picture! I've sort of got two going on right now. These are awesome tips!

My regular 365: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greystgirl/sets/72157606858508892/

And, my year of mornings: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greystgirl/sets/72157611951292447/

[Bunny]

I started this January 1st and am so excited to see and watch others who are doing the same. What I've found in only the first 11 days is that it's giving me daily practice with my camera. Every day i take at least a few minutes to try to nail that tricky exposure in my kitchen or get the eyes of my children in crisp focus or to look at a new way to compose a shot of something simple and beautiful. I'd love to see a Shutter Sisters 365 group in Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/motherbunny/sets/72157612144494677/

[Puna]

I admire all of you for your tenacity. I tried doing this in December and I could not so I thought I had "failed". I am finding out that fear of failure stops me from doing a lot of things. However, I do love documenting life with my camera. I will try to follow your examples. I approach life with a sense of humor because I feel that laughter IS the best medicine and a smile is the most powerful pill. I know it always makes me feel better, even when I fail.

I just wrote my 2009 resolution based on a email I received. Once again it's tongue and cheek but I will add one more resolution to it. Be creative, every day.

http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/resolution-for-2009/

[Grey Street Girl]

Ooh, I second that about the Shutter Sisters 365 group!

[sebrina]

I am in the process of doing a year of mornings. I shoot all the time. I also look at tons of pictures on flickr after my kids have gone to bed for the night. This is so inspiring and I find the next morning I wake up full of ideas. You can see my year of mornings here http://myyearofmornings.blogspot.com/

[Carol]

I'm doing 365 as scrapbooking and diarying also. Heck! What a task. On my www.blog pins--needles.blogspot.com and at Designer Digitals in the 365 gallery. Although I am for weekly photographs, not necessarily daily. But boy it's made me look at things differently. I was driving to work today thinking I wish I had my camera with me, just to take pictures of my ride to work. I will tomorrow. It's going to be good as hopefully at the end of this week I will be getting my first DSLR so this project will give it a good workout!

[HSY]

Thanks for the encouragement and ideas. I started 365 in November. It's been a challenge to find material, and I still don't think I've learned to "see"-- that's my biggest hope for this project... to develop eyes that see angles, light, subjects, possibilities where currently I see none! So, today my camera goes in the bag, and off I go to work.... 10 minutes early. Maybe today I'll park at the bridge, get out and shoot some photos!

[canadacole]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and ideas. I'm doing this for 2009 as well and am already amazed by how it makes me see my world. My eyes are always open, looking for something new, something special--or even something ordinary that might one day be gone. With 3 small children, there's lots of that to go around!

[Karen]

I'm signed on as well. I really believe practice will make a difference, and already I am looking more closely as I go through my day. The photography here is so beautiful that sometimes I'm intimidated, but I know that lurking won't make a difference; participating might.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8243804@N08/3191439952/in/set-72157612432843523/

[Monica]

I've decided to play along this year and am committed to capturing all the little things in life that otherwise may be forgotten. http://monicamcneill.typepad.com/life_without_filters_365/

Thanks so much for this post! The timing is perfect.

[margie]

my sister and i have taken to heart the jump start challenge. taking photos and in fact on a complete whim i signed up for an art class at a local gallery. starts tomorrow! i have never drawn anything in my life but what the heck! a challenge is not to be taken lightly.

[Marcene]

I did this for 2008. http://www.flickr.com/photos/21008348@N03/sets/72157603817951459/ (not all of them show up because I don't have a pro account)

The Flickr group helped me a lot to upload almost everyday and get the project done. I too felt a huge amount of relief when it was over. I haven't taken pictures everyday this year, but the times I have gone out to take pictures, I have been able to see the pictures that I want to create and they turn out great (at least to me!) http://www.perryphotography.us/snow/index.html

That's what 2008 did for me in learning how to use the camera effectively, and find my creative side. Good luck to everyone who will be doing the project this year!

[Karyn]

I just started and I am loving this project already. I learn something new with every daily photo I take. I'm doing the selfie version, which is challenging, but I've seen some great inspiration on flickr and I'm even learning new skills. Yesterday I made my first clone!
http://www.mundanedetails.com/?p=1264

[Eren]

I started the 365 project on Jan 1, so glad to know there will be so many SS in the group along for the ride.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintagechica/sets/72157612082644946/

[Lu]

I have started this twice from a portrait standpoint, but not from a general improving my skills perspective. I am always looking to learn something new and I do love the commraderie of the 365 project.

[Joelle]

I wholeheartedly agree that Project 365 is worthwhile and life changing. I wrapped up my Project 365 for 2008 and I'm starting again this year. Stephanie, I agree - it definitely opened my eyes to everything - to nature - to our surroundings - to all the little details that make up our life. Now, I can't imagine not taking a photo everyday! I would *love* a Shuttersisters 365 Flickr pool!

[maz]

A perfectly timed post! SS has an uncanny way of speaking to me at just the right time and saying just the right thing. It's like having my personal big sister, agony aunt and life coach; so thankyou for that! I am celebrating having reached day 12 of my 365 challenge;

http://divingforpearls.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/01/day-twelve-and-love-is-everywhere-you-look-.html

PS I also like the idea of having a Shutter Sisters 365 group...

[robyn]

i'm doing this challenge as well. i'm trying to take an everyday life type of photo all year, however, rather than capturing random things. not that any photo we take doesn't reflect our everyday life, it's just easier for me to focus on it when i look at it that way. i'm expecting much of my photography to consist of "inside my house" shots, since i'm a huge homebody, and also a lot of knitting shots.

there will also be a ton of wedding-related shots as i'm getting married in march.

mostly i'm excited to have an entire year of my life documented!

[Jamie-o-e-o]

I've had a one-a-day photoblog ( http://camerashy.cemestos.com ) for over a year and a half. I try to take and post a new picture every day, but I also allow myself to pull from older stock if I'm low on ideas or time. This month, I'm focusing on taking pictures of my favorite things -- the little things in life that make me feel happy and silly on the inside.

Overall, it's been a truly wonderful experience. I *do* feel burned out sometimes, but the structure of posting one photo every day has provided me the discipline I needed to keep going. And tips like these will help even more!

[mama-pan]

how exciting for all of you undertaking this project!! and all who have completed it, too. These comments have some great resources for when I try my own version--maybe just a month, to start, in Feb.? you all inspire me...

[Helen]

I have been toying with the idea of doing a project like this one and your tips are very inspiring. Thank you for all the wonderful creativity guidance everyday it has helped tremendously with my food photography!

[m]

even if you did photograph exactly the same scene every day the light conditions would be different each time. At least they would be in Scotland !

[Stacy]

I commend all of you that want to take on the 365 project. I feel stress coming on just thinking about doing it, so I will pass on that this year. I am doing another photography project that is helping me grow and be creative, but it is at my leisure, so I don't have the pressure. I usually take so many pictures, that I don't need the urging to do so or learn how to shoot with my camera. My biggest thing right now it being creative with people shots, so that is what I'm planning on doing...with myself. Hey, I have a willing subject! Lord knows my kids are sick of me LOL! I am planning on doing a Blurb book with it, so I'm working on it as I go. It's a bit for my kids and a bit for my portfolio. We'll see if I get it printed or not.

[G. K. Photography]

I've started a 365 project and I've titled it the "Discovery Project":

http://gabriellekaiphotography.com/blog/discovery-project/

Even though I've just begun, I have to say that I love taking a photo a day. It has forced me to stretch my creativity, and I love having a piece of my everyday life with me forever.

Thanks for the tips and encouragement!

[FireMom]

I'm actually doing well this year. In fact, I did great last year but "failed" when I neglected to take a picture on the day of my grandfather's funeral. We're hoping, of course, no one dies this year. Sigh.

Anyway, to really boost my motivation, I created a sub-blog photoblog to our main blog. http://365.stopdropandblog.com is happily sporting pictures for all 11 days thus far. I wonder what I'll photograph today.

[cara]

Great post, I was just thinking today I will never make it 365 days. I love the suggestion of taking a picture in the morning. As soon as I read that I thought of a dozen of things I could capture before I walk out the door.

[Kelly]

I'll start my year on the 12th. I hadn't considered using a photo a day just to learn my equipment. I am having so much FUN taking pictures anymore!

Here is what I saw after I read this post, shooting in the morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8702729@N02/3191771786/in/pool-shuttersisters

[tonya]

I'm on year 2 of this. Finished Year 1 in Nov. 08 and declared publicly that I wouldn't do it again, at least for some time. I think it was only a week later I started the next year. Like you, it felt weird to not shoot everyday so I decided I would start again...for better or worse it has become part of me. (the better part is obvious, but I'm sure there are times my family might think it worse.) tonya

[Loran]

I've been struggling to learn the manual modes on my camera with disappointing shots. The suggestions to try playing with the ISO or the aperture settings for a month are great. Maybe if I try it long enough, I'll get the idea.

[Lucy]

Thinking about leaping over the edge and taking on this wonderful adventure........

[hi kooky]

I think this challenge might be just what I need. I recently added a photo gadget to my blog sidebar titled "Looksee" so I can (hopefully daily) share a photo, old or new. Perhaps if I challenged myself to post NEW photos daily...

[kristin]

i started my very first 365 this past year on nov 1st. being the month of thanksgiving i dedicated my 365 to gratitude. little and big moments of gratitude that make up a beautiful year. today is day 74 for me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/sets/72157608567502330/

[Kyla]

This is such a great and powerful thing! I just started December 1st, after following dr. lyn's blog, for several months. I was so inspired that I've decided to make this an ongoing journey . . . a "scrapbook" of my life via blog. It doesn't matter what date you start, just so long as you jump in somewhere.

http://thekreativelifedailyphoto.blogspot.com/

[Kristin]

I have been coming to Shutter Sisters for many months..but have yet to comment. I couldn't help but comment on this one because after much deliberation I finally did make the jump into a 365 blog. I might have challenged myself a bit much though, in that I am going to try to take a picture of my hand doing any of the million things that a mother's hand does on a daily basis. So far I am having a TON of fun with it....but I'm only on day 14 or something like that. (I started a little early). It's not that I can't find something to take a picture of my hands doing...it has just been a challenge photographically to capture my own hand AND try to make it somewhat interesting! My blog is here... http://mothershand.blogspot.com/
Kristin

[Anita]

I started at Christmas time to give my self a little push but this post was just what I needed now that I am back home and in my regular rut-ine I mean routine :)

I'm blogging my progress http://www.anitaroachphotography.blogspot.com

[Steph Wiese]

I started a 365 set and I am already flipping out. I need all the encouragement and tips from anyone who has ever done this!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephwiese/sets/72157611976933625/

[Sharon]

I have been wanting to do this for a while, and I have to admit I am scared. I don't want it to be a burden, but I think what I need right now is the challenge. My birthday is in March, so maybe that will be a good time to start - 365 of my 33rd year! Thanks for the inspiration.

[Kristin]

I've always wanted to try this. I guess i just need to do it. I almost take a picture a day now, but not quite. It's great how everyone can do this, and come up with completely different images every day.

[Shelby]

Oh how I love you! I've been trying to start a 365 and I keep stopping because of the weather, or I'm sick, or I'm stuck at work, or its dark outside....always coming up with excuses. But you've inspired and motivated me to roll around on the floor and get to know my camera a little better :)

[Glad Doggett]

My birthday is next month. My husband is buying me a camera and I can't wait!! I plan to take photos every day -- beginning the day I get it!

I am so excited. I will be checking in here to get advice and tips from the amazing photographers who come here!!

Smiling already!!!

g

[spoiled mommy]

I JUST started my 365 day challenge yesterday.
Im so glad that I found and read this today, its perfect!
I just got a new camera for Christmas so Im very excited about this challenge.
I will be back-your stuff is beautiful!!

[Kate]

I did 365 self portraits in 2007. This year I am doing project 365. I have added the link t o my flickr account:

http://flickr.com/photos/11844110@N00/

I also try and post them at my blog as well.

Thanks for the tips.