Why do I give myself Photo Projects throughout the year? Photographers benefit a lot from doing photo projects outside their normal or paid work—and many of the strongest portfolios and careers grow from this. Client work has rules: timelines, expectations, budgets, and approvals. Personal or “outside” projects remove that pressure, allowing you to: Experiment freely with light, composition, and storytelling. Make mistakes and learn from them.  This kind of creative freedom often leads to breakthroughs you wouldn’t reach otherwise.

It can also prevent burn out. Shooting the same type of sessions repeatedly (weddings, families, portraits, commercial work) can become routine. Personal projects: Reignite passion for photography. Remind you why you picked up a camera in the first place. Provide creative rest, not more “work”. Many photographers who feel stuck creatively rediscover joy through side projects. It also helps us become really creative and learn new skills that we can take into our next photo session. Mostly, it’s just fun!