First and foremost, motivation is in your legs. The movement of your physical body is what will propel you onward to continue practicing street photography. Before I head out the door each morning, I ask myself one simple question…
What will reality manifest be in a photograph?
The goal of a street photographer is to simply remain curious. By making pictures each day, we can create our own world.
Life is outside your window
To be indoors is a bore. When you stay inside, this is where your soul goes to die. But when you stay outside, you exist outside the passage of time. Real life is outside your window, in the unknown. Recognize that when you’re in the great outdoors, there are endless opportunities for you to experience.
How to stay motivated in street photography? Move.
Treat the cameras an excuse
It’s easy for life to seem meaningless at times. I get that, and feel that way sometimes. However, with a camera in hand and the possibility to create something out of nothing at any given moment in time, you will find that photography gives your life deeper meaning.
You can walk the same lane every single day, and always find something to uplift in a photograph.
Follow your intuition
There are a few different traits, that I believe street photographers should possess. Curiosity, courage, and strong intuition. By following your intuition, you’ll be guided through the chaos on a feather bed. Trust your gut reaction or that feeling you get to turn the corner, to press the shutter, and to engage with life. I wonder…
How courageous and curious can one be in a lifetime?
Review your work
One practical suggestion I have is to consistently stay on top of your archive. What this means is, when you come home from a walk, import the photographs right away. Cull through them and back them up to Google Photos and have them readily available on your iPhone. This will allow you access to the pictures no matter where you are in the world, whether you are on walk or in a coffee shop. When you stay on top of the work, each day, you’re fueling your hunger and curiosity. I like to go through my pictures every single day and always stay on top of the archive. It’s a nice feeling to always come home with something new to look at and continue scratching that daily itch.
I hope these tips can help you stay motivated to continuously go out there to explore the world and to forever remain motivated to embrace the mundane.