Are you stuck in a photography rut? You're not alone. Photographer's block is a common hurdle, even for seasoned professionals. The good news? It's not a permanent condition.

Here we are going to give you 52 photography ideas that are designed to conquer that block, one click at a time.

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Why you’re struggling with photography ideas? (And how to find more!)

Before we dive into the challenge, let's understand the root causes of this creative roadblock:

Fear of Failure: Sometimes, we're so afraid of taking a bad photo that we don't take any photos at all.

Lack of Direction: With endless possibilities, it can be overwhelming to decide what to focus on.

Comfort Zone: Sticking to familiar subjects and techniques can lead to stagnation.

Burnout: Overworking or feeling pressured can drain your creative energy.

Remember this – All photographers get like this from time to time, you are certainly not alone. Here are some proven strategies to break free from the shackles of photographer's block:

Go back to basics: Revisiting and perfecting those key basics of photography may help you get back to that creative space. Check out our beginners course here.

Embrace Imperfection: Not every photo needs to be a masterpiece. Allow yourself to experiment and make mistakes.

Seek Inspiration: Explore the work of other photographers, visit art galleries, or immerse yourself in nature. You don’t just have to seek inspiration from photography alone. Reading books, watching TV or Movies can help inspire you too.

Change Your Perspective: Try shooting from different angles, heights, or distances.

Move away from your habits: Experiment with new lenses/cameras or techniques that aren’t part of your usual photography practice.

Get uncomfortable: Try a genre that you usually avoid and see what you can do with it.

Set Limitations: Sometimes, having too many options can be paralyzing. Choose one lens or one theme and focus on that.

Collaborate: Join a photography group or find a buddy to shoot with. Bouncing ideas off others can spark creativity. As a member of The School of Photography, you’ll have access to all of our community spaces and will be able to bounce off all of your ideas with other learning photographers!

The most important thing about breaking through a creative block is to let go of expectations and not worry about if it’s going to work out. Enjoy the excitement of experimentation.

Our solution: A year of photography ideas to get creative with!

Shelf with camera, globe and sign that says remember why you started — Don’t put too much pressure on creating. You take photos because you enjoy it!

The only way to really beat this kind of creative block is to just create. It doesn’t matter if your photographs don’t turn out perfectly, or exactly the way you wanted – sometimes things worth doing, are worth doing badly. Letting go and challenging yourself with your photography will only help you to grow as a photographer and in turn, help you find your creative spark again!

Think of this challenge as a daily dose of creative caffeine for your camera. Each week, you'll have a unique idea tailored to a specific theme, sparking new photography ideas and pushing you to explore different genres and techniques. It's a structured approach to break out of your comfort zone and rediscover the joy of photography.

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52 creative photography ideas to spark your imagination

photography ideas poster — How our prompt calendar looks as a poster.

To help you with kickstarting your creativity, we’ve created a downloadable prompt calendar – it’s packed with weekly photography ideas for you to complete and tick off as tasks. You can use it to track your progress or as a starting point. We’ve broken each month down into a specific theme, so there’s lots of possible ways to challenge your skills.

Download a copy by completing the form above. This copy will contain all 52 weekly ideas that you can print off or keep on your phone.

Below is a glimpse of the exciting photography ideas and challenges that await you. Download our full ‘52 photography ideas - Weekly challanges to keep you creative’ via the form above.

You’ll also be joining our photography learning community where you can share your results.

sunburst through a tree in a snowy scene — Capture snowy scenes with these photography ideas.

Photography ideas for January:

Winter Wonderland – Capture the winter light, play with shadows, and discover the hidden beauty in frosty landscapes.

Learn how to photograph the snow here.

Blonde woman leaning against a blue door — Portrait photography ideas to help you get over the creative block.

Photography ideas for February:

The Art of Portraiture – Master the nuances of capturing emotions, expressions, and personalities. Example: Take a self-portrait in natural light.

Portrait Photography Tips – Settings, Composition, Colour & Lighting

Macro photo of a spider — ©Oliver Wright. Dive in deep into macro photography in our Macro Photography course with Oliver Wright.

Photography ideas for March:

Macro Magic – Dive into the miniature world, revealing intricate details and hidden patterns.

Black and white street photo of a parent and child walking in the fog — Saad Chowdry on Unsplash. Capture the street around you.

Photography ideas for April:

Street Life – Document the vibrant energy of urban life, capture candid moments, and tell stories through your lens.

Want to learn more about street photography? Read our top tips here.

Close up shot of orange tulip petal — Lorna Preda on Unsplash. Find joy in capturing floral photography ideas.

Photography ideas for May:

Floral Fantasy – Celebrate the beauty of blooming flowers and explore the delicate art of floral photography.

Shot of lavenders in a field — Ruslan Sikunov on Unsplash. Capture your adventures with our June photography ideas.

Photography ideas for June:

Travelogue – Document your adventures, capture the essence of new places, and tell visual stories of your travels.

Master landscape photography with our Pro Landscape Photography course with Tom Archer.

Inside a busy museum — Photography ideas to capture movement.

Photography ideas for July:

Action & Motion – Freeze action and show motion, capturing the excitement of sports, dance, and everyday movement.

Tiger looking through branches — © Andy Rouse. Practice your wildlife photography skills with these photography ideas. Image taken from our Wildlife Photography course with Andy Rouse.

Photography ideas for August:

Wild Encounters – Venture into the world of wildlife photography, practice patience and observation, and capture stunning images of animals in their natural habitat.

Want to find out more about Wildlife photography? Check out Andy’s course.

black and white skyscrapers against a cloudy sky — Capture interesting architecture in September

Photography ideas for September:

Architectural Eye – Explore the lines, shapes, and textures of architectural wonders, both old and new.

Autumnal forest scene with river flowing over mossy ricks — © Jack Lodge. Taken from our Forest Photography Course with Jack Lodge

Photography ideas for October:

Autumn Hues – Embrace the warm colours and dramatic light of fall, capturing the beauty of changing leaves.

Learn forest photography here

London city lights at night reflecting in the Thames. — Taken from our Photographing Cities at Night course

Photography ideas for November:

Night Lights – Master the art of low-light photography, capturing cityscapes, stars, and light trails. Example: Capture the light trails of moving cars.

Learn how to photograph your city at night here

Capturing the Christmas decorations in London creatively.

Photography ideas for December:

Festive Cheer – Capture the magic of the holidays, play with creative lighting, and document special moments with family and friends. Example: Photograph holiday decorations or lights.

Learn how to photograph Christmas here

Why these photography ideas are your secret weapon against photographer’s block:

Weekly Dose of Inspiration: A fresh prompt each week ignites your imagination and motivates you to pick up your camera more often, without being as intimidating as trying to shoot daily.

Tangible Growth: By the end of the year, you'll have a stunning portfolio showcasing your progress and a newfound confidence in your abilities.

And don’t forget to add #theschoolofphotography on social media so we can see your results!

Conclusion

We hope that these photography ideas have helped you reignite your love of this beautiful craft! Creative block happens to all artists, the best thing to do is to continue creating and keep in mind why you love taking photos in the first place. Remember, if you’re looking for enough ideas to keep you going for the entire year, complete our form at the top of this page for a full list of prompts!

Happy shooting!

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Thanks for watching and remember – Learn more at The School of Photography.

Photography Ideas: Weekly Challenges to Keep You Creative!

Download Our 52 Photography Ideas To Keep On Your Phone