WM-498: Scouting Great New Locations for Photography | Photography Clips Podcast

A large portion of my time is devoted not just to photography itself, but to something just as important: finding new places to create it. Scouting, for me, is part of the adventure. It's a little like being on a treasure hunt with your camera bag in the passenger seat and curiosity behind the wheel. And over the years, I’ve discovered a few ways to make that hunt easier, more enjoyable, and a whole lot more rewarding. Back when I first got serious about photography, I used to just hop in the car and drive with no particular plan. Sometimes, that spontaneous approach works. But more often than not, I’d come home with a few random shots and the nagging feeling that I had missed something better just around the bend. Today, I plan more deliberately—and it’s made a big difference. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way to help you make the most of your own scouting adventures... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/scouting-great-new-locations-photography/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

You know, one of the hardest things about being a creative person—whether you’re into photography or painting or writing—is motivation. Just getting started. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had every excuse in the book. I’m not feeling inspired. I don’t have the right gear. There’s no time. The light’s wrong. You name it. But if I’m being honest, those are just that—excuses. Life’s busy, sure, and things pop up. But most of the time, it’s not that something is actively standing in the way. It’s just that the motivation isn’t there. So let’s talk about how to get motivated. Because over the years, I’ve found a few tricks that really do help me get moving again. And maybe they’ll help you, too... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/motivational-tricks-increase-productivity/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker  https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker   #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

The stereotypical image of the artist is someone who spends a large part of their life not producing anything. Then, when the inspiration strikes, the artist goes to work, spontaneously producing works of art. The artist finally had the exact right sequence of thoughts. Whatever the case is, the work is something that just came to them, spur of the moment. Photographers often have a mental image of the inspired artist. It is sometimes even stronger because people assume that all a photographer must do is keep pushing that shutter button. Eventually, something magical happens. In a fit of inspiration, the photographer figures out the method to create the perfect piece of art. With a few quick snaps, the job is done. Nevertheless, that isn’t how artworks. Any art, not just photography, but painting, writing and so forth. More often than not, the greatest works are those that took the most time. They are the works that the artist spent days, weeks, or even years producing. In photography, a lot of that time is time spent waiting. Thinking, digesting, and letting ideas coalesce and grow. What’s more, there are several points throughout the photographic process where you should find the time to wait. Let the image percolate in your mind. Give yourself the time to forget about it just enough so that you can look at an image more critically. Let me show you the three stages of the photographic process where I find myself simply waiting and thinking... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/spontaneity-doesnt-work/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

Photographers hear it all the time: follow the rule of thirds, shoot during golden hour, use leading lines, frame your subject just so. These formulas are everywhere. They promise guaranteed results, and sometimes, they do deliver something pleasing. But if we rely too heavily on formulas, our photography runs the risk of becoming repetitive and uninspired. That’s why it’s important to understand the difference between a formula and a strategy. One boxes you in; the other sets you free. In a previous post, I explored how photography formulas can become a trap—producing predictable photography techniques that lack depth. Here, I want to dig into the contrast between formulas and photography strategies, and why embracing a strategic mindset can lead to more creative photography... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/formulas-versus-strategies/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

What are the best tools for photography? I spend a lot of time talking about what the reviewers say. If you listen, they will have you believe that the best gear is the gear that has the highest megapixels, the things that will produce the sharpest image quality, the best colors—that sort of thing. I’ve long argued against this, saying that, in most cases, these costly items are overkill. The megapixels and incredibly sharp resolutions are a wasteful investment when you consider that the average photographer will never produce the billboard-sized prints these devices are designed for... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/the-best-tools/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

For most of us photographers, the reality is that we’re not making a living from photography. For many of us, that’s deliberate. Some simply don’t want to turn a favorite hobby into a job. Others of us may have goals and dreams, but perhaps we’re just starting out, or the demand for our particular brand of photography just isn’t that high yet. Whatever the reasons, the point is that most of us have to do something else for a living—and everything else that we have to do, from jobs to family obligations, takes away from the time we have to devote to photography. All of that leads to us seeing all kinds of photographic opportunities as we go about the rest of our lives. But, because we are busy with the rest of our lives, we just don’t stop to take the picture. I’m sure it’s happened to you, and it’s definitely happened to me many times. How many times have you noted that thus and such place looked like a great spot for photography—but you didn’t have time to stop.., Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/taking-notes/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

There are a few things that top the list of struggles for photographers. For instance, portrait subjects who find it hard to be comfortable in front of the lens, or lighting that just won’t cooperate no matter how you try to modify it. But nothing is so ubiquitous as the weather. It causes all kinds of problems, from rained out trips to the high humidity that results in frizzy hair. So how do we photographers deal with the weather? Well, the first step is planning around it. It’s always a good idea to check weather forecasts and plan our photography tripsaccordingly, choosing days when we think the weather will be just what we need to complement our photographs... Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dealing-with-the-weather Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

Today, I find myself thinking of the concept of “the hero’s journey.” If you’re not familiar with this, it’s basically a type of plot that you’ll commonly find in novels. The idea is that while the destination might be the goal, it’s not what makes the bones of the story. Rather, the heart of the story is in the journey—the hero’s journey, in which he or she perhaps literally journeys across the land, faces a whole lot of adversity, and in the process, undergoes an inner journey in which the hero learns, grows, and adapts. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/dont-discount-the-trip/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography

As a photographer, sometimes you get the sense that opportunity isn't finding you. There are no new places around you to take interesting new photographs, and you don't have the time or money to head out on a trip to somewhere exotic. You fall into a kind of doldrums, unable to move forward, and find that it becomes an incredible struggle to get the inspiration you need to create something new. Worse, that attitude often extends into other areas of photography. Your work isn’t being published or displayed because no good opportunities have presented themselves to you, for instance. Once you get into this mode of thinking, it can be tough to break free, to keep going. I’ve been there myself. The thing is, an opportunity is not something that will come to you. Though it is a challenge, an opportunity is something that each photographer creates for themselves. Let me show you some ways to make the opportunity happen. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photographers-make-opportunities/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography      

As a photographer, sometimes you get the sense that opportunity isn't finding you. There are no new places around you to take interesting new photographs, and you don't have the time or money to head out on a trip to somewhere exotic. You fall into a kind of doldrums, unable to move forward, and find that it becomes an incredible struggle to get the inspiration you need to create something new. Worse, that attitude often extends into other areas of photography. Your work isn’t being published or displayed because no good opportunities have presented themselves to you, for instance. Once you get into this mode of thinking, it can be tough to break free, to keep going. I’ve been there myself. The thing is, an opportunity is not something that will come to you. Though it is a challenge, an opportunity is something that each photographer creates for themselves. Let me show you some ways to make the opportunity happen. Podcast Notes: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/photographers-make-opportunities/ Photography Clips Podcast: https://www.moneymakerphotography.com/podcast/ Follow me: https://www.facebook.com/Will.Moneymaker https://www.instagram.com/willmoneymaker https://www.youtube.com/@willmoneymaker https://www.flickr.com/photos/willmoneymaker #PhotographyClips #WillMoneymaker #Photography