All my motivation has gone (again)

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Can't seem to get it back this time. I'm terrible. I want to be able to create great photos, particularly people pictures, however, any motivation to do it has simply left. I've sold up in the past and then bought again, paid models, got reasonable results, know all the basics, just can't bring myself to do it. I have been reading a book recently by Chris Orwig and I absolutely love his style of shooting and the photos he produces, very much the sort of thing i would like to do. I was prepared to work hard for it at one point but to be honest, I think I have just become lazy. I don't want to make money from photography at all, but I do want to produce really good people photos. I read here at times about people losing their 'Mojo' and their motivation. Has anyone else experienced this? I need something to help me get out of this rut, even the smallest of suggestions may help. So, what have you got? Or maybe I should just be an admirer of other peoples photos from now on?
 
Motivation comes from within. Try photographing something else, if you can't motivate yourself to photograph what you think you like, then clearly you don't like the subject as much as you think you do, or you're jaded from over-doing it.
Alternatively, try something like lomography or something that is a new challenge or requires learning something new, or requires looking at the world in a different way.
 
I don't think there's a one size fits all solution. If you're just tired of photography, and lack any interest for the moment, why not give it up for a bit? Don't feel that you have to take photographs, just put the gear away, and don't even think about it. Do something else that you enjoy for a while and see if your motivation come back.

I hope it all comes right for you, and I'm sure it will. Give it a chance.
 
I guess its something like writer's block. How about taking a look at your current equipment you have? Maybe go for better lenses/camera. from my experience , i felt my motivation gets a boost when i buy better lens or even aspire to buy them.
 
Thanks for the replies!! The reason I put it on here is hopefully someone has a similar experience and just one little comment might inspire me or spur me on. Buying newer/better gear is NOT an option unfortunately. Will continue to have a think :bang:

Still welcome all opinions though.
 
Put it all your gear in a box and hide it in the loft or shut it away and tell yourself you're not going to touch it for 6 months. I'd bet within a relatively short time you'll find there's something you think of you suddenly have to shoot...

Not even great photographers always take great photos. We don't see all their duds. Imagine you were someone else asking the same question. What would you advise them to do?
 
I think the basic problem here is you see taking photos as a chore?
Get some fun people, get them laughing, smiling, looking ridiculous and shoot them, then get a bottle of wine for the viewing and have a giggle
For me anyway, photography is fun. I just happen to want to make money from it, a lot of that down to it being, fun
I may not be the most technically brilliant shootist, but I'll get some cracking shots which please me
It may not be what floats your boat, but its working for me
Dont put your gear away, bring out the wee boy in yourself and have fun
 
Totally agree with Bruce. I enjoy photographing. I have been passionately doing this for a year and a half but to be honest i hardly have anything to show off yet. But i am sure i will be a good photographer someday :)

One thing I would say is keep the eagerness to learn continually. That would keep the flame burning. Look to observe and learn from others work and style.
 
I am the same. I have no answers for you, but dream of the day for change. I know photography is fun and I know I enjoy it. Yet there is too much other stuff going on.

Ring a bell?
 
gazmorton2000 said:
I don't want to make money from photography at all, but I do want to produce really good people photos.
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That's OK then if it's just your 'mojo' that's gone.

If it isn't your 'income' then take a deep breath / step back.

I can't speak for everybody but as far as I'm concerend - enthusiasm comes and goes - that's the lovely thing about photography as a passion compared to a job.

You can wait till it comes back in it's own time. No pressure and it will.
 
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Read "the moment it clicks" by Joe McNally.... totally changed my outlook after reading it.
I had also given up, I cancelled all the shoots I had planned and told people I'd had enough, think that I had got to the point where I could take pictures, they were ok/good, people liked them, but for me they weren't as good as I wanted, I started thinking I'd never get to the level I really wanted.

But... after reading the moment it clicks all sorts of things suddenly hit me :) the stuff about his kids, and the story about the pope and the polish amateur tog were just a huge wake up call :)

Buy it and get your mojo back :)
 
BruceMo said:
I think the basic problem here is you see taking photos as a chore?
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Very possibly.

On the Huh said:
. Yet there is too much other stuff going on.

Ring a bell?
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Rings a very clear bell indeed, thank you.

stratocaster72 said:
Read "the moment it clicks" by Joe McNally.... totally changed my outlook after reading it.
I had also given up, I cancelled all the shoots I had planned and told people I'd had enough, think that I had got to the point where I could take pictures, they were ok/good, people liked them, but for me they weren't as good as I wanted, I started thinking I'd never get to the level I really wanted.

But... after reading the moment it clicks all sorts of things suddenly hit me :) the stuff about his kids, and the story about the pope and the polish amateur tog were just a huge wake up call :)

Buy it and get your mojo back :)
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Thank you, I shall try that. I have his other book which I have read a few times. I also felt this way after the first time of reading Chris Orwigs book.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
I don't want to make money from photography at all, but I do want to produce really good people photos.?
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What sort of people photos? Technically good ones of well lit models, or capturing moments? That makes a big difference in your motivation (well it does in mine! I like both but I know which one inspires me more.)
 
ShoeQueen said:
What sort of people photos? Technically good ones of well lit models, or capturing moments? That makes a big difference in your motivation (well it does in mine! I like both but I know which one inspires me more.)
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Good point that. I enjoyed the couple of model shoots that I did so perhaps want to do more, but only with certain ideas that I may have, not just for the sake of shooting. But, I would love to capture real, interesting people, but in an arranged fashion. I love the way Chris Orwig does it and that, ideally, is the sort of photography I would like to do more of.
 
Like anything that requires motivation you need time find the answers to "why you want to produce images and what benefits does it give you?"

If you start to see that you are not getting what you are looking for from photography then it only makes sense to not waste your time.

I'd suggest sitting down and finding the answers ti the above - "because it makes be feel good" isn't going to be enough to drive you, why's and how's are the answers you're looking for.

You should be aware that shooting other things would only be a cover up and won't answer the above :)

Phil.
 
Thanks for your reply Phil. You make some valid points. I'm out now with a couple of friends, just mooching about takin photos and I really enjoy it, but no results to speak of really. I think I need to stop being lazy and man up and go after the photos I really want to get, post them, get feedback, realise why they aren't where I want them to be and improve it from there.
 
Ive been in the same boat recently. At the start of last year I upgraded all my kit to a top camera with pro glass and was loving it.

I went through what I would call a bout of depression about half way through the year and stopped using my camera much. I then quit my job as that was the main problem.

I hoped this would bring me out and it did but I still hardly used my camera.( I think due to having my two kids everywhere I went)
We went on our yearly trip to china and I used my camera more than ever as it was such a fresh place to photgraph with so much going on and so many people.
But again on returning I found myself using my kit less often as I think I now find where I live rather boring and nees real motivation to go out and take pictures.

I think its mainly life taking over here and being in a rutine and not having time to do what I want. Over there I can spend time doing what I want. I just need to find that time here.
 
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keep at it dood and don't make it a chore?
I said in the past you have a talent and a style that I and I'm sure many more like....
don't sell up again like someone else said just leave it till you get the urge again?
 
viewfromthenorth said:
Saw a quote from Jay Maisel in a book today, reminded me of this thread:

"There are two basic ways to find inspiration. One is to go on a trip, and the other is to put the camera down for a while."
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Interesting. Still haven't done much lately. Have a trip planned to New York and Canada in December, however, I am actually not wanting to take many photos when I am there, purely because I know I will be dissapointed with the results.
 
Carlh said:
Id love to see a pro tog's dud photos, that would inspire us lesser mortals. So whos going to go first? :)
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I'm not a full time pro - but as a working photographer this is one of the few outakes I could find ( I'm not saying they are few originally - they are legion, but i usually delete them)

stuffed.jpg


Note the totally bolloxed exposure, the lack of eye contact, the framing which neatly cuts off half their feet , and if you look carefully a tree growing out of the bloke in the middles head.

this is one shot that never got anywhere near the client - though in my defence this is the wedding I shot while suffering from norrovirus - the one where I was running a fever and had to go out four times to be sick, but carefully timed the bulking up to be able to get all the important moments.

On this day i also needlessly shot a whole bunch of group shots on ISO1600 by forgeting to turn it down when I came out of the dark church
 
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