6 Tips to Get the Creative Juices Flowing

Do you ever feel like all of your pictures look the same? Feeling like your images lack creativity? I do, quite frequently. Besides being extremely busy with my daytime job, and the kids, I am a huge introvert to boot. I think deep, I feel deep. And I am easily discouraged when working on my art. I take things personally, and to heart to a fault. I had to come up with 6 tips to get the creative juices flowing and find some inspiration when I need to push myself to keep creating.

For even more ideas, check out my course “Diary of a Creative Storyteller”.

1.Take care of yourself

Are you taking care of yourself? Getting enough sleep? Exercising? Eating well? Taking time for yourself?
This step is number one for a reason. It’s hard to enjoy creating, let alone be creative when you’re not taking care of yourself. I find when I am stressed about work, or about my kids, I get frustrated and give up very easily. I have a harder time thinking outside the box. Also, unplugging for a day or two helps. Social media can be a huge distraction from just picking up your camera and practicing your craft. Dabbling in self-portrait photography can also feel therapeutic. The best part about it? It is just for you, and you never have to share it!

2. Classic music/films/books

It seems so strange for me to call movies and music from my childhood “old” or “classic”. Listening to hits from the 70’s and 80’s is very nostalgic for me. Flashbacks of my childhood always come flooding in. I also love watching films and getting inspired by the lighting, and vintage frames. Picking up and reading a good book can also give you the inspiration you need to create.

3. Nature

Something about being in nature always revitalizes the soul. The scenery, the sounds, the smells. You can never be disappointed when taking a nature walk, you will most definitely find something beautiful to photograph. Being connected with nature is also very therapeutic and calming as well.

4. Listening to kids play

Children have the best and wildest imaginations! You can get some pretty creative and incredible ideas from them. Even if you have no kids of your own, they are everywhere! Listen to the little conversations going on around you when you’re at the park, out for coffee etc.. I’m sure you will not only get a few ideas, you will also have a few laughs. (Side note: if you ever happen to overhear my children talking a.) don’t believe everything you hear b.) don’t judge! Ha!) I teach grade one, and have two young children myself. I am lucky I get to have lots of wild and hilarious conversations on the daily.

5. Your weakness

What is it that you are struggling with? What do you find hard or are scared of? Shoot that! Practice makes perfect isn’t an expression for no reason.

6. Try a different genre of photography

Experiment with something different! Try street photography, food photography, landscape photography, nature photography, self-portraits, drone photography. Sometimes saving up for a cool photography gadget, or new gear will help (GoPro, drone, prism,  Lensbaby filters or lens). You don’t even need to spend a lot of money. Grab a piece of your chandelier to help make rainbows. Grab a large plastic ziplock bag to shoot through, hold up your iPhone (turned off, case off) to create a reflection.

Check out my BRAND NEW course, GoPro on the Go, on shooting and editing with the GoPro!

Check out my other great course, Pieces of Me, on Self Portraiture!

Bottom line, keep doing what you’re doing! Shoot what you love, let your personality and voice shine through. We all get discouraged, and feel like we are not very good some days. But pick up that damn camera and keep going! Take it everywhere, even when you feel like you want to smash said camera into a million tiny pieces. You never know when, or where you will see a perfect moment, or perfect pocket of light just waiting to be captured.

Sometimes in our darkest moments we can capture creative, emotive images. Or, it can just be an outlet for us to help get through a rough patch in our lives. That’s how my photography journey started. After losing our home and our memories in a fire, I decided to learn how to capture my children’s everyday moments, and document new memories to be cherished.

For more inspiration, follow Melissa on Instagram!