Let me start by telling you some really nice news. I’ve been asked to speak at next year’s DocDay conference in Dublin! This is only the second time in my career I’ve been asked to speak, and I can’t wait. I love DocDay and I love Dublin. My head is already buzzing with ideas for what to talk about! DocDay tickets are currently on special early bird pricing so it’s 30% off. Here’s the ticket link. I’d love to see you there.
As I creep closer to my first wedding of 2023 my head has turned towards planning for the year, artistically.
It’s something I used to do every year, but haven’t done since 2019 for various reasons. So I’m going to let you in on my little artistic planning process.
I’ve always been incredibly analytical with my own work.
Analytical, not critical. That’s an important distinction.
I have my favourite photos, I have photos that maybe didn’t work as well as I’d hoped, and there are things I maybe used to do in my work that I don’t see in there any more.
I’ve done a ‘best of’ blog post since 2012. You can see them all here if you really fancy a deep dive into the evolution of my work. Or you can see my 2022 one here if you fancy a squiz.
No pressure. Look, don’t look, I don’t mind. I do these posts only for myself.
Honestly I used to do these posts for the attention I’d get from my photographer friends and peers – the dreaded ego boost. Nowadays I just do them for me. No SEO, I don’t promote them, they’re just for me.
For me they draw a line under a year and allow me to take stock, analyse and then move forward artistically.
They give me a sort of ‘zoomed in’ view of my year. Just the images I made that I think say something about me as an artist.
It’s a ‘this is my style right now’ portfolio. And I like that.
If you’ve not done it for a while, a full review and refresh of your portfolio can be so good for the soul.
I’ve just done it for the first time in 6 years and it’s given me such a fresh view of my work and style.
First of all, most of the images which made it into my portfolio are my newest work, which feels nice.
But also the ones which keep their place from previous years, it gives you the opportunity to realise why they’re there.
And for me they often stay in because they’re something I once did, which I’ve not done as much since.
One of my big epiphanies personally, and something I’ve harped on about loads since (especially on my podcast) is that you’ll get the greatest inspiration for your future work from your old work.
That’s right. Not from looking at other artists work. By looking back at your favourite work, made by you, from the past.
You know you’ve made some great stuff.
For me, my blog contains all my favourite images from lots of my past weddings. I use it constantly to give myself ideas, to remind myself of work I’ve made in the past, techniques and styles I’ve used, that I can or should bring back.
You can obviously get inspiration by looking at other people’s work too, but I’ll possibly write about that by itself in my next newsletter.
But looking at your own work you know everything about how those images were made. You were there. You remember what you were thinking, maybe how you directed the couple, how you lit it, how you solved a problem. Whatever. You know everything.
So you’ve got your ‘best of’ blog post.
You’ve got your refreshed portfolio.
You’ve pulled out some of your favourite weddings and had a look through.
The first thing you’ll get clarity on is WHO YOU ARE right now as an artist.
The second thing you’ll get clarity on is WHAT’S MISSING from your work, in your own opinion.
It’s important to know who you are, because this is what drives the foundation of your style. It might be glaringly obvious, or it might just be like blades of grass popping through the top layer of snow. But you’ll see it. The more you really look at your work, you’ll see it.
Do more of that. Hone in. Refine. But keep doing it.
It’s important to see what you think is missing, because that’s how you evolve, move forward and stay fresh.
I’ll finish by telling you my own plan for my work. This won’t be your plan, but will hopefully help you see what I mean by artistic planning.
I would describe 2023 as a ‘bumpy’ year for me artistically. But I made a good chunk of work that I really love.
In 2024 I’ll keep allowing my work to be driven by light and colour first.
My composition I think is as strong as it’s ever been but I think composition is the hardest thing to do in photography, especially documentary photography, and I want to continue to work on it.
My moment capture is good. But I want to re-introduce some abstract into that side of my work and make it less literal. There is no single definition of documentary photography, and I’ll keep working towards a style I can feel is truly unique to me.
There are things I used to do with off-beat composition, lighting, and abstraction like dirty framing that I’d like to bring back in to my work in general.
I think my portraits are as ‘nice’ as they’ve ever been but I want to get back to being more artistically playful with my portraits this year – especially with movement and drama.
So if you’ve finally caught up with your editing and have some time before your season starts, spend it panning for gold in your own work. Then use that to create your artistic plan for 2024. What will you keep doing, what will you do more of, and what will you try to add into your work?
Any questions on this, let me know. It’s a hefty topic so I’ll either answer questions over email or in another newsletter.
Thanks for reading, don’t forget to get your DocDay ticket while it’s on special offer!
Adam
