Navigating Change in Your Photography

Jan 24

I found these crocus growing wild in an open area near our library.

I moved from Michigan to Maryland about 6 months ago. I was let go from my job and was transitioning to another. The move definitely changed my photography rhythms. As you probably have observed, I enjoy nature photography. I lived in Michigan for almost a decade, so I knew quite a bit about the state and photographing it. In fact, I was a Michigan State Park Ambassador for a little while. When I moved to Baltimore, Maryland, I knew nothing about Maryland, so it was time to pivot. Here are two thoughts that help me find new photography rhythms.

Embrace Where You Are

This is helpful for more than just photography. It can apply to a lot of areas in life. When I moved to Michigan, I wasn’t a winter fan. (To be honest, I’m still not a winter fan. 😄🥶) We moved from Florida to Michigan, from hot to cold, from vacation spot to the Midwest. I hadn’t been shooting long then, but I thought that was the end of my new found hobby. The truth is though that I loved Michigan. Michigan is where I picked up my love for macro photography. I took the lessons that I was learning from macro photography and began photographing snowflakes and frozen bubbles. When you embrace where you are, you can start the process of thinking creatively.

Explore Where You Are

It’s always interesting to explore a new destination. This is why people love to travel. They want to experience something fresh. Have you taken the opportunity to explore what’s around you? I may think through my routines and share them later, but here are a few simple ideas.

Open a maps app and look for points of interest near you.
Drive a different way to work or when running errands.
Join a photography group near you (in real life or online)
Tag locations on social media and visit them during golden hour

While I lived in Michigan, I lived in a pretty ordinary place, but I was amazed at how many messages that I received from people who visited the area because of my photos. Since we moved to Baltimore, I’ve found a few places to photograph while out exploring. Michigan had a few more opportunities for winter photography because of the snow and ice, but I’m still actively looking for subjects to photograph during this dormant season.

What do you do to stay inspired? How have you managed to maintain your photography rhythms during transitions of life or seasons?