photography assignments for college students

10 Photo Assignments to Inspire and Challenge Your Skills

Liz Masoner is a professional photographer and she shares her tips and techniques on photo editing and how to photograph nature, portraits, and events with film and digital cameras. Liz has over 30 years of experience and she is the author of three books on photography.

The best way to learn photography is to practice, though sometimes you can get stuck in a rut and not know what to shoot. That is why photographers love assignments; they give us a purpose and an idea of what to photograph. 

Why Are Assignments Important?

Self-assignments are key to any photographer's growth. Even professionals with decades of experience will work on personal assignments that they may never get paid for. The goal of any self-assignment is to spur creativity, solve problems, learn new techniques, and challenge yourself.

As you start out in photography, you're probably filled with excitement and ready to shoot anything you can. That being said, sometimes a little direction and guidance are necessary.

Below, you will find ten photography assignments. Each covers a new topic, skill, or concept and they were chosen to help you learn how to see as a photographer. They are meant to be a personal challenge that you can complete at your own pace and with no outside judgment, simply as a means to practice and improve your photography. Hopefully, you will learn something new with each assignment and be able to use that in every photograph you take in the future.

Remember when composing your images to keep in mind the basics: the rule of thirds,  shutter speed , aperture,  depth of field , and  exposure .

Assignment #1: Up Close

This assignment encourages you to get close and personal with your subject. It is an exercise in viewing a common object in a new way and examining its finer details.

• Choose an object that you see or interact with every day.
• Focus on a small part of it, get as close as your camera will allow you to focus, and shoot away.
• Try to capture different angles and unusual lighting to add to the mystery of this tiny world.

From the whiskers of your cat to a fragile Christmas ornament, and even common soap bubbles, there is an entire world that we often overlook because we don't get close enough.

Assignment #2: Motion

Photography is a static medium which means that it doesn't move. Conveying a sense of motion is often crucial to capturing a scene or emotion and it is an essential skill for photographers to practice.

The goal of this exercise is to understand how shutter speeds can be used to convey motion.

• Choose a subject or series of subjects that will allow you to convey motion in your images.
• It can be slow motions, like that of a turtle, or fast motion, like a speeding train.
• Blur it, stop it, or simply suggest that there is motion in the photograph.

Challenge yourself to capture the same motion in different ways. For instance, you might go to a race track and stop the movement of the cars completely in one image, then leave the shutter open and allow them to blur out of the frame in the next. 

Assignment #3: Shadows

Shadows are everywhere and they are vital to photography because this is the art of capturing light. With light comes shadows and when you begin to look at shadows as a photographer, your world will open up.

• Take a look around for shadows and record them with your camera.
• You could show the shadow as the total focus of the image. Perhaps the shadow is incidental to the subject.
• Is the shadow natural or created by flash?

Shadows are integral to creating depth in a two-dimensional medium such as photography. Take some time to seriously explore the "dark side" of the light.

Assignment #4: Water

Water is everywhere in photography and it presents many challenges. There are reflections and movements to work with and in this exercise, you will take a deeper look at water.

• Find water anywhere: lakes, streams, puddles, even the glass on your kitchen table.
• Pay attention to reflections and use them to your advantage in the photographs. Use this opportunity to get familiar with a polarizing filter (a very useful tool in your camera kit) so you can accentuate or eliminate reflections.
• Play with the motion of a stream or the crashing waves. Notice the difference between stopping the flow of water and allowing it to blur to create a real sense of movement.

Be sure to make water the subject and not an accent to the image. Water alone is beautiful and mysterious and your challenge is to explore all of its potential as a subject.

Assignment #5: Leading Lines

A classic assignment in photography schools, 'leading lines ' is a popular and fun subject. The goal of this assignment is to learn how to direct the viewer to your subject using lines.

• Choose a subject then look around for lines in the scene that you can use to 'lead' the viewer to the subject. 
• Find an interesting line then determine what the subject of your photograph is.
• Remember that lines can be man-made or natural. For instance, the yellow line down the middle of the road or a tree branch. Even a person's arm can be a leading line of their face.

Use this assignment as an excuse to take an afternoon photo excursion. Walk downtown or in the woods and look around you for interesting lines that lead the eye to a subject. There is an amazing assortment of lines out there in the world and once you begin to see them, you won't be able to stop. 

Assignment #6: Perspective

How do you normally stand when you shoot? If your answer is straight up like a 5-foot-something human being then this assignment is for you. The perspective assignment challenges you to view the world from an entirely new perspective, which in turn gives the viewer a new look at the ordinary.

• Take another afternoon or evening for a photo excursion wherever you like.
• This time, every time you find something to photograph, stop!
• Ask yourself: How would a squirrel see that tree? How would a robin view that birdbath? How would a snake view that log?
• Take your photographs from very high or very low angles. Get on your belly or stand on a chair, whatever you have to (safely) do to get the 'right' angle on your subject.

If you pay attention to professional photographs, many of the images that have the WOW factor are photographed from extreme angles. People enjoy these photos because they've never seen an object from that viewpoint. It is new and unique, and you can train yourself to shoot with this in mind.

Assignment #7: Texture

You may have captured a few textural details in the 'Up Close' assignment, but this assignment takes that to the next level. The goal in this one is to study textures and forget about the object itself: the texture becomes the subject. You will also begin to realize how light affects the appearance of texture.

• Find a few objects that have very detailed textures like trees or rocks, even knit sweaters or woven rugs.
• Photograph them as close as your lens will allow.
• Use different angles and capture the same texture as the light changes. Notice how the different lighting directions and camera angles can change how much texture appears.

Textures are all around us and many of the best photographs in the world play up the textural element. This assignment should teach you how to recognize and accentuate those elements in your photos.

Assignment #8: Color Harmony

Color is important to photography because the world is full of color. This exercise requires a bit of study in color theory, which you will then put into practice in your photographs.

Do you remember art class in elementary school? You may have learned that yellow and blue make green, but color theory goes beyond that. There are cool and warm colors, complementary and contrasting colors, neutral colors, and bold colors.

It can get quite complicated, and photographers should have a basic understanding of color so you can use that when composing photographs. You don't have to study color like a painter would but can use tricks used by interior designers to influence your color decisions.

• Once you have an idea of color theory, take another photo excursion and put what you've learned into practice.
• Capture photographs with the primary or tertiary colors.
• Look for complementary colors then contrasting colors to photograph.
• Try finding a scene to photograph that is filled with neutral colors, then one that uses a bold color to 'pop' from the scene.

This is an advanced lesson, but one that any photographer working with color images will find useful. As you practice working with colors, it will become second nature and you will know how to work with color to change the feel of your images.

Assignment #9: Emotions

Take a photo of a person smiling or scowling, right? Not so. The intent of this assignment is to convey emotion in photographs  without  a face.

• Take photographs that express each of the basic emotions: happy, sad, and mad.
• How would you express the feeling of anger with no person? What about happiness? Sadness?

This is a purely conceptual assignment, but it is important to be able to relay emotion in your photographs and you might not always have a person available to do that with. Challenge yourself to think deeper about this one.

Assignment #10: Don't Look!

Are you ready to put your photography skills to the test? In today's world of digital cameras and the ability to see image captures right there on the LCD screen, photographers are losing some of the skills needed to visualize a photograph.

In this assignment, your challenge is to shoot as if you were using a film camera. That means that you will not look at the photographs you've taken until they are downloaded on your computer. Instead of relying on the camera's screen to see if you 'got the shot' you will rely on your instinct and knowledge, just like photographers did before digital photography. Can you do it?

• Plan a photo excursion to a particular location and permit yourself to photograph only 36 images (a roll of 35mm film).
• Turn off your camera's LCD screen so it does not show you the image after you have taken it.
• If you cannot turn off the camera's screen, cut a piece of thick paper and tape it over the screen. Use masking or painter's tape so you don't leave a residue on the back of your camera.
• Go out and shoot your 36 frames, thinking carefully about each image because you don't have an endless number of shots. Bonus points if you turn your camera to completely manual settings for focus and exposure.
• Don't peek at your photos until you get home and download them.

How did you do? Were you able to get good exposures on your own? How did it feel to be 'blind' and not know how your image turned out right away? 

This is similar to what it is like to shoot with film and it does require you to think harder about every image you take. Next time you shoot, slow down and pay attention, pretend that the screen is not there and rely on your own skills to create a great image. You will be a better photographer in the end.

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12 Exciting Photography Assignments to Challenge and Inspire

You can also select your interests for free access to our premium training:

Everyone likes a good photo challenge. But photography assignments can also be very discouraging if they’re approached the wrong way. A good photography challenge will strengthen your photo skills and inspire you in multiple ways. A bad one will leave you wondering why you even tried photography in the first place.

12 Exciting Photography Assignments

Here are 12 exciting photography assignments to help you find the right one.

1. Shoot With a Limited Amount of Equipment

2. Take a Photo Every Day for a Year

3. Limit Yourself to X Photos a Day

4. Take Photos With Your Smartphone Camera Only

5. Experiment With a Completely Different Genre

There’s a wide variety of photography genres out there. There’s underwater, glamour , smartphone , landscape , and portrait , to name a few. Trying something new can help you fall in love with photography all over again. So take a temporary break from your main photo genre. If you’re a portrait photographer , take panoramic photos of your neighborhood. If you spend lots of time photographing animals, improve your self-portrait photography skills. When you expose yourself to different genres, you’ll learn many valuable lessons. And they will be useful long after the photography assignments end.

6. Photograph the Same Person or Object Every Day

7. Quit Social Media Temporarily

8. Create a Stop-Motion Video Using Photos

9. Take Creative Self-Portraits With a Friend

10. Crop or Rotate All Your Photos in a Specific Way

11. Include the Same Object in Every Photo

12. Invest in a Photo Book and Complete Every Assignment in It

Conclusion: Exciting Photography Assignments

You don’t need to travel the world or break the bank to improve as a photographer. A single assignment that lasts at least a week can teach you many lessons. And it’ll help you become a better photographer. All you have to do is find photography assignments that work for you. Then, dedicate some time to it, and watch your photo skills strengthen!

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The Best Photography Portfolio Ideas for Students

You may have the perfect SAT score and impeccable recommendations, but your enrollment in a photography college depends on this single document. Your portfolio. You need to pay extra attention to creating one to make sure you do get into your dream college.

Here’s where you start.

Study the requirements

The digital portfolio you create can be beautiful in all kinds of ways, but if it doesn’t meet the college requirements, it’s going to end up in the rejects folder. That’s something you want to avoid at all costs, so your first step should be to go to your college website and study the requirements.

Don’t worry, most portfolio requirements are quite simple. Here’s what the  School of Visual Arts requirements  look like.

Go to your college or university website, find the requirements, read them, and reread them. If you can’t quite get what the college wants from you, it’s okay to contact them and ask for clarification – otherwise you can address  essay writing service  for help. It may feel frustrating, but your future relies on it, so you have to do as your  future career  could rely on it.

Showcase your best work

This is a no-brainer, but it never hurts to remind the basics. You need to include a couple of your best works to the portfolio. Choose the photos you love or the ones that highlight what’s your specialty. For example, check out this post on  Lonely Hunter explaining different wedding photography styles and why you should keep the best photos in your portfolio.

If you’re aiming to become a professional  product photographer , showcase a product pic that you’re proud of.

Trying to get into fashion photography? Include a behind the scenes shot from a show you managed to sneak into. If you can do that, it’s going to make a good story to tell in the interview.

The most important advice here is to only show your best work. Leave the unfinished or mediocre photos for Instagram. A portfolio maker is a thing that has to impress the reviewers, so it should be on the edge of your comfort zone.

Also Read:  6 Tips to make sharper photos

Diversify with lighthearted photos

While it’s good to showcases professional photoshoots, you can throw in a couple of photos that aren’t made on a set but still look good. Take a look at this student’s work. It’s not your typical professional photo, but it’s a great shot.

A photo like this would show you’re always looking for a shot, not just when you’re on a job.

Bold set for the portfolio

A student portfolio should be on the edge of your abilities. If you haven’t pushed yourself to the limit just yet, it may be the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Come up with a bold idea for a photoshoot especially for the portfolio. Give it your best, and even if you’re not entirely happy with the result, you can show your creativity in the portfolio.

Also Check:  Flower Umbrella Portrait Session

The student who took this photo was very critical of her work, but it does show good skills of working with outfits and generally indicates to the reviewers that the student is willing to do something unexpected.

This student’s work took a lot of waiting for the perfect shot, but the result is totally portfolio-worthy.

Here’s another photo that shows a photographer is ready to get out of their comfort zone and do something more creative than taking your regular wedding photography.

You may feel like the ideas you have are weird or stupid, but you shouldn’t worry about this that much. As long as your photos are well-made from the technical point of view, you’re good.

Also Check Out: Gallery Portraits — Knoxville Film Wedding Photographer

Story-driven photos

As much as showing your skills is an important part of a portfolio, you also need to include a couple of photos that tell a story. What’s a story-driven photo, you ask? It’s a photo that spurs your imagination.

It’s a photo that makes anyone who sees it go “I wonder what’s happening here.” It’s a photo that makes the audience think about the context and try to imagine what happened before the photo was taken or after it.

The best match for this is a photo taken in action. Take a look at this one, both the lighting and the color make you focus on the person doing the catwalk together with the audience. Check out these fantastic examples of engagement photos from My Engaged Life .

This photo looks like it was taken straight from a pop music video.

This student’s work doesn’t only tell a story by following the model’s line of view POV-style, but also shows good lighting and space skills. Exactly what a portfolio reviewer at your dream university would want to see.

Now, this photo certainly intrigues. It has everything, the emotion, the outfit, the backdrop.

Doing storytelling photography can be tricky, but it’s great practice and will look amazing on your portfolio. Try to create a story behind your photo and find a spot in the story that would showcase it in the best way. That’s your start shot.

Can’t seem to create a story that would seem good on a photo? You can adopt a popular story or browse writer portfolios at ProEssayWriter to find a story you can depict or you can get help from essay writer online .

Show editing skills

Creativity is always awesome, but the commission at your university is going to look for skills as well. One of the most important skills you can show them is post-production. It’s something many students shun away from, so when a reviewer sees you’re good at it, you’re almost guaranteed a spot.

One way post-production can enhance your work is by making a good photo even better. This student’s photo is good enough on its own, but the cloud of vapor added in post-production makes it much more interesting.

Another thing you can do in post-prod is to create a collage with your photo.

Here’s another example of a collage, this time not a digital one. If you decide to make a collage like this, you can present it in digital form as meta-photography or attach it to your physical portfolio the way it is.

Here’s a simple post-prod trick that can look fantastic on your portfolio. Multiple exposure photos are easy to edit if you use a tripod to shoot. You can also check out the article from Red Curl Creative for more ideas on the senior portrait.

Don’t use two portraits or a portrait and trees or skylines. It was done thousands of times, and stock photography websites are full of these kinds of pictures. It’ll only look trite.

Also, you can make your photos look more snappy with  lightroom presets . It looks just as good as spending hours on fine-tuning your photos but saves a lot of time.

Location scouting

Not all great photos are done in a studio. Some of the best shots in the history of photography were taken randomly on the street. Most portfolio reviewers know that, so they’ll enjoy seeing some great location scouting shots like this.

The one piece of advice you need on making location photos is to avoid popular areas like the plague. What you need to be looking for are the backdoor alleys that are great enough to shoot a Joker scene. Find a couple of unique and cinematic places and a great photo of them to your portfolio.

Include camera settings

Here’s another idea that can make your portfolio look a bit better in the reviewers’ eyes. Consider adding the camera settings underneath the photos. Showing the aperture, the ISO, and the shutter you used to make a photo will let them know you’re not just taking random shots, you know what you’re doing.

However, it doesn’t have to be all done  by the book . Rules are great unless you decide to follow them without any consideration and don’t give yourself a chance to experiment.

Also Read: 12 Different Types Of Camera

Show the portfolio the right way

When presenting your work, you should keep it within the guidelines your college imposes on you. This doesn’t mean you should go with the easiest way of presenting photos, just send them via business email .

Working on the presentation a bit can earn you some extra points during the review. One way of improving portfolio presentation is to include a collage of your photo like the one mentioned in the part about post-editing skills.

If you have had the chance to get your work exhibited, don’t forget to take a pic of it hanging in a gallery. Even if it’s a small venue, this will show the reviewers you’re already accepted as a photographer.

Does your university accept website portfolios? Great! This is one of the best ways to make a lasting impression. A website is an interactive medium, so you can shape the way the reviewers see your portfolio. Take a look at these two Pixpa websites for a general idea of how this kind of presentation can look like.

Ask for opinion

As artists, we’re often guilty of growing too fond of our work. This is why you should ask teachers, friends, and family to review your work. Don’t think your mom’s opinion is judging enough? Check if the  National Portfolio Day  has any events near you. You’re sure to get an expert opinion there, and the entry is free.

If there are no events near you, try getting your work on websites like 500px, Behance, Bawabba , or find a photography group on Facebook or Reddit and ask the visitors to give an honest opinion.

If you’ve made it to the end of this long read, it already shows you have the dedication it takes to craft a great student portfolio . Take any or all of these suggestions and include them in your portfolio.

Make sure you are working within the university guidelines and prepare well for an interview. Also, make sure to store your photos somewhere safe before and after editing them. With that done, you’re almost guaranteed a spot in the college you’ve been dreaming about.

Also Read – 10 Interviews Of photographers for professional portrait

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DIGITAL PHOTO MENTOR

Photography tips, tutorials and guides for Beginner and Intermediate Photographers.

10 Creative Photography Assignments to Inspire You Into Action

by Andrew S Gibson | Last Updated: November 8, 2022

Finding interesting things to photograph can be one of the most difficult things for a photographer to do.

You’re surrounded by potentially interesting subjects, but you might not realize it if you’re stuck for inspiration. I have been stuck, so I know what that feels like.

The good news is that the world is full of interesting ideas and subjects. All you have to do is find the good ones and develop them into personal photography projects that work for you.

Of course, wouldn’t be easier if you could find lots of ideas in one place?

That’s why I wrote an ebook called 100 Creative Photography Assignments . It gives you lots of ideas for projects that you can do close to home, without traveling to exotic locations.

The book is structured into 20 broad themes, with five assignments for each theme.

To give you a taste of what’s in the book, and to help you get inspired into action here are 10 of my favorite assignments. (The theme for each is shown in brackets after the assignment number and name)

Assignment 3: Urban trees (trees)

Humans have planted trees in formal gardens for centuries to bring nature into towns and cities. Photographing trees in urban environments gives you something that is different than traditional landscapes.

How can you explore the juxtaposition of man-made and natural items?

In the photo below, the tree, which is obviously well-cared for fits in perfectly with the historic home. The two go together, as intended.

But in other situations, you might find a jarring contrast between the natural and urban environments. That is called juxtaposition and it can make for some really striking images.

Assignment 8: People and the sea (or a lake)

How do people interact with the sea?

The sea has strong links to leisure, sport, and industry, all of which have plenty of potential photographically. Think beyond simple photos of people on summer holidays. How can you explore the relationship between people and water in more depth?

Another approach is to show scale and photograph people in a way that shows the vast size and scope of the ocean. Yet another is to show people battling the weather, perhaps fishermen at sea.

Assignment 20: Framed by color (frames)

Some frames are visual rather than literal. One way to make a visual frame is to look for compositions where the main subject is surrounded by a solid block of color, as in the photo below.

This is another assignment that tests your observational skills. It also has the potential to make an interesting series. What happens when you group a set of photos that use color as a frame together?

Assignment 24: Weathered surfaces (texture)

Old buildings of all descriptions are made of materials with interesting textures. The definition of old is relative, your chosen building might be hundreds of years old or just a few.

The important thing is that it looks old. That means visible signs of weathering, like the metal wall and wooden door frame in the photo below. Some texture surfaces, like rust, also have interesting colors that you can use to your advantage.

Assignment 31: On the outside (buildings)

One approach to photographing buildings is to include as much of the building as possible in the frame. But what happens if you take another approach?

Have you ever stopped to notice the interesting things that people put outside buildings?

In Italy, I found a shrine on the outside of a colorful red building in Venice (below). In the United States window boxes and mailboxes are commonplace. Nearly everywhere you go you’ll see plants in pots outside people’s homes.

All these items make potentially interesting subjects and have the potential to be turned into an interesting series.

This assignment gets more interesting when you do it in different places, and compare the things you find outside buildings in one place with those in another location.

Assignment 39: Urban decay (your local neighborhood)

Some buildings can look good for centuries if they’re well maintained. But others soon fall into decay, especially if they’re not kept up. Look for the beauty in decayed or run-down buildings.

You expect older buildings to be in a state of disrepair, especially if you live in a country that has plenty of ruins. But more modern, urban decay can be just as interesting.

Why do modern buildings fall into disrepair? What stories do they tell about their neighborhoods, towns, and cities?

Another approach to this idea is to photograph urban decay in other countries, and then compare the results with what you capture in your local area.

Assignment 54: Capture the character of a place (b/w)

The absence of color gives you another way of capturing the character of a place. Yes, it’s true that in some areas color is an essential part of the essence of the place. But in others, it’s less important.

Working in black and white gives you a chance to see through the colors and get to the essence of a place. Visually speaking that’s texture, contrast, and tone.

But in another way, black and white images seem to help you see further and deeper. They’re moody, atmospheric, and timeless. Use these characteristics to create a set of photos that capture the character of a place.

It’s also an assignment you can do when you travel. It’s easier because you get to see everything with fresh eyes. But for a real challenge try it in your local neighborhood, where familiarity can prevent you from seeing things that might be obvious to newcomers.

Assignment 62: Embrace hard light (light and shadow)

In this assignment, your brief is to photograph a scene on a sunny day when shadows are falling across the subject in an interesting way.

Look at the way the sun casts shadows across the scene during the day. How do the shadows move as the sun moves across the sky? Do the shadows make interesting shapes?

For example, in the photo below the shadow falling across the building comes from a neighboring house and you can clearly see the chimney.

Assignment 71: Signs (everyday objects)

We’re surrounded by signs – signs that tell us which way to go, what to do, that advertise to us, state the name of a business, or tell us about roadworks.

Signs are designed to be informative, but they can also tell a story. Signs in the American mid-west look different from signs in New York City. Signs here in the UK look different from the ones in rural France. Old signs have character and tell you something about the place.

What interesting photos can you make using signs?

Assignment 94: People in the landscape (landscape)

Some landscapes are empty or void of visitors. But others are closer to large population centers and therefore you’re more likely to see other people there in the scene. The idea of a pristine landscape untouched by man is appealing, but it’s also interesting to see how people interact with the scene.

One way to approach this assignment is to use people for scale. A human figure can anchor a composition and show the width and breadth of the landscape. A small figure in the frame emphasizes the size of the landscape, and the idea of people being small compared to the beauty of nature.

The photo below juxtaposes two elements of human interaction. The stone pillar is part of a Neolithic settlement, and the people on the right are modern visitors who came to see it.

Taking it further – traveling and exploring your archives

You’ll get the most from these assignments if you make new photos for them. They’ll get you thinking about your local neighborhood – and areas a little further afield – in a new way.

The beauty of these assignments is that most of them are repeatable. You can select your favorites and use them as themes to follow when you’re traveling away from home.

You might also find that you can go through your archives and find photos that match a particular assignment. It’s an interesting exercise because you’ll start to see themes and connections that you didn’t realize were there.

For example, I have photos that fit Assignment 39: Urban decay from Alaska, Chile, and my hometown (see above). And I can continue to explore this theme when I travel to new places as well.

These ideas are explored further in Creative Photography Assignments: Themes & Projects, a bonus ebook that comes with 100 Creative Photography Assignments.

100 Creative Photography Assignments

Buy 100 Creative Photography Assignments now for just $14 USD.

Buy it now and get out there taking photos!

Note from Darlene: This is perfect if you want to get out there doing some photography. But maybe due to covid, finances, or other circumstances you can’t currently travel. Look no further than your front door to get started! To really challenge yourself do the 100 assignments one a day for the next 100 days!

About Andrew S Gibson

Andrew S. Gibson is a writer based in England’s southwest. His interest in photography began when his parents bought him a Ricoh KR-10m camera more than 20 years ago. Since then, he’s taken photos in over 60 countries, studied for a degree in photography, and worked as Technical Editor for EOS magazine. Today, he makes a living helping people make better photos through ebooks and photography courses.

Learn Photography Basics

Yes, you can learn to take better photos! It’s my passion to help you learn the photography basics and take better pictures. It’s also the same reason I teach workshops, do photo travel tours, and have online photography courses available.

Enroll in our free photography basics for beginners course, or 12-part portrait photography course , also free.

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Lesson Plan

Five Photography Assignments That Invite You to Look Closely at the World

Students, try one of these exercises inspired by the visual series The Take. What can you learn about the world by looking at it through a particular lens?

By Natalie Proulx

How often do you look — really look — at the world around you? Below, we offer five photography assignments that challenge students to do just that, all inspired by The New York Times visual series The Take .

In this series, The Times asks photographers to explore different cultural themes through images — for example, to document what they see when they look up, to capture the sounds they hear in New York City or to find dance in everyday movements.

What can you learn about the world by looking at it through a particular lens? Choose one (or more) of the five assignments below to try out. For each, we’ll guide you through a warm-up activity, a reading of the Take article that inspired the exercise and your own photo shoot. When you’re done, you can create your own visual article by putting together a gallery of your images and writing a short commentary on what they mean to you.

These exercises are meant to be accessible to anyone with a camera or smartphone, whether you’re an experienced photographer or you’re just looking for a fun visual challenge. If you’d like to experiment with some composition and editing techniques, see our related photography lesson plan .

And if none of these projects inspires you, look through The Take’s archives for more ideas.

Assignment No. 1

Most of us spend our days looking down: at our phones, computers, homework, meals. What would you see if you looked up instead? For this assignment, we invite you to photograph what you see when you turn your gaze to the sky.

Warm-up: Wherever you are right now, look up. What do you see?

Spend some time studying the images, shapes, patterns, colors, lines, light, shadows, angles or movements above you. What catches your attention? What have you never noticed before? How is this angle different from looking at something straight on, straight down or from the side? Is there anything you see that strikes you as artistic, that might make for an interesting photograph?

How often do you look up? What does this quick exercise tell you about what might happen when you do?

Read “ When 4 Photographers Looked Up, This Is What They Saw .”

For this assignment, The Take simply asked photographers to look up. View the photos they made and their commentary on them. Then choose one that stands out to you. What did the photographer want to capture in it? Was the photo successful in your opinion? What does the image say to you? What does it show us about looking up?

Your turn: Photograph what you see when you look up.

You might approach this assignment in two ways: 1) You can carry your camera around with you for a day or several days and photograph anything interesting you see when you look up, as the photographer Ali Cherkis did venturing around New York City. 2) Or you might start with a specific place and idea in mind that you want to photograph, as Stella Blackmon did when she wanted to capture the “sense of wonder” she felt from seeing children climbing in the trees at her great-aunt’s home in Ozark, Mo.

Assignment No. 2

Capture the Sounds of a Place

Photography might seem like it’s all about sight, but it can evoke other senses, too. The Take challenged four photographers to try to capture the sounds of New York City in images. How can you show what the place you live sounds like?

Warm-up: What sounds can you hear in this photograph?

Study the photograph above closely. What might you hear if you were in the scene? Which elements of the image help convey those sounds? What senses or emotions does the photograph evoke in you? What story does it tell about New York City?

Read “ Sounds of the City .”

For this assignment, The Take sent four photographers to capture New York’s soundscape in images. Spend some time with the photos and the photographers’ commentary on them. Which images most strongly and clearly imply sound to you? Which ones surprise you or perhaps challenge an assumption you have about life in New York City? Choose one of these photos and repeat the exercise you did in the warm-up.

Your turn: Photograph the sounds of a place.

For this assignment, you might travel around your city or town and photograph the sounds you find. Or you might focus on a more contained space, such as your school, the skate park, your neighborhood or any other place where you spend time. You might try to capture many disparate sounds — quiet ones, loud ones, harsh ones, pleasant ones — as Daniel Arnold did in his photos of various corners of New York City. Or you can try to capture a particular type of sound, as Ike Edeani did in his photos of the subway stations’ “mini concerts.”

Assignment No. 3

Find Art Wherever You Go

Four photographers went in search of candid moments and images that struck them — impressionistically, conceptually or naturally — as art. Where can you spot art in the world around you?

Warm-up: What does art look like?

How do you know when you see something that is art? What elements make it so? What does it do to you, the viewer?

Look around the space you are in right now. Is there anything that strikes you as art? Perhaps it’s the way your jacket is draped over a chair, how light is coming in through a window, the interesting pattens created by a shadow on your desk or the shape someone’s face makes when they smile or frown. What about this thing makes it seem artistic to you?

Read “ Art Is Everywhere. Just Look to the Streets. ”

The Take invited four photographers to look for art in the streets of New York. Spend some time looking at all of the photographs and reading the commentary. Then, focus on one photographer’s images. How does this photographer conceptualize art? How does that idea come through in one of his or her photos? What do you think makes this photo artistic — impressionistically, conceptually or naturally?

Your turn: Photograph candid moments and images that look like art to you.

Where can you find art in the world around you? You might take your camera out for a day and start shooting anything that strikes you as art. Or you might shoot with a particular vision in mind, such as Sabrina Santiago who was “interested in what people are saying from the back,” or Trevor Wisecup who looked for “abnormalities in our day-to-day life, glitches in the matrix if you will.” Challenge yourself to capture candid moments, rather than trying to stage images.

Assignment No. 4

Explore the Ways We Move

The Take asked four photographers to find dance in our everyday gestures, whether reaching for a jug of milk, hugging a loved one or scaling a rock wall. How can you find beauty in how we physically navigate the world?

Warm-up: Can you see beauty in the ways that people move, even when there is no music?

Can you find dance in people’s everyday rituals and routines? To answer this question you might go somewhere crowded — your school’s hallway, a park, a basketball game — and spend a few minutes just observing people. Do any gestures look like dance to you? What is it about these movements that resemble those that dancers might make?

Read “ There’s Dance All Over, No Matter Where You Look .”

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, The Take asked photographers to show how people were physically navigating a world in which awareness of our bodies — how much space we took up, whether we were six feet from our neighbor — had become the norm. What they found was a kind of dance in these everyday movements.

Spend some time with the images and photographers’ commentary. Then choose one photograph to look at more closely. Why does this image speak to you? How does it represent dance? What emotion, experience or idea do you think the photographer wanted to capture in it?

Your turn: Photograph how people move through the world.

For this assignment, you can take your camera around with you for a day or two and snap a photo anytime you see a movement, posture or gesture that looks like dance to you. Or, you can go to a specific place. For example, the photographer Camilo Fuentealba went to Costco to document “the daily rituals we must partake in just to survive,” while Noah Sahady went to the San Bernardino National Forest to capture “the harmony of rock climbers and nature.” You might play with taking both candid and staged shots, or, like Jillian Freyer, shooting the “fragments in between.”

Assignment No. 5

Show Us What Fun Looks Like

Three artists photographed the many forms fun can take. An end-of-day ice cream ritual. Caring for rescued chickens. A bubble bath for an inanimate friend. What does a good time look like to you?

Warm-up: What do you do for fun?

Brainstorm a big list of everything you’re doing for fun these days. Do you play video games? Hang out with friends? Play sports? Make things? Write down everything you can think of, whether it’s an everyday ritual or a special event.

Then go through your list. Which of these activities feels most compelling or unique to you and your friends? Which might make interesting photographs?

Read “ Making Your Own Fun .”

The Take asked three photographers to document how they were having fun during the lockdown period of the coronavirus pandemic. Spend a few minutes looking at the photos and reading the commentary. Then choose one photographer’s images to focus on. What do you notice about their artistic choices — about their composition, the photographic style, how they were made? What do you wonder? What can we learn about fun from these photos?

Your turn: Photograph your fun.

Return to the list you made in the warm-up and choose one or several things from it to photograph. You might consider how you can get creative with your photographic style and composition, as the photographers in the article did. You can stage photos, as Sheida Soleimani did, or you can try to capture more candid moments.

Going Further

Make a Visual Article

Put together your photos with a written reflection to create your own The Take-inspired piece.

Related Article

Once you have completed one of the exercises above, choose three to six photos from your shoot and create a gallery of images that speaks to the theme of the assignment. Then, write a short commentary reflecting on the assignment and what you learned from it, just as the photographers and Times editors do in The Take.

Here are some questions that can help guide your reflection:

Who or what inspired you? Did you stage your photos or seek out candid moments? What composition and editing techniques did you use, and why?

Is there a thread — some theme, emotion or experience — that connects your images? Was it something you set out to capture? Or something you discovered during the shoot or after seeing your finished photos? Taken together, what do your photos reveal about the subject of the assignment?

What is something new you discovered or learned through this exercise? How, if at all, did it make you look at the world or the people around you differently?

How challenging did you find this assignment? Why?

You can put your images and commentary together using a digital program like Google Slides or Canva . Teachers might invite students to share their work via a gallery walk , whether in the classroom or online.

Find more lesson plans and teaching ideas here.

Natalie Proulx joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2017 after working as an English language arts teacher and curriculum writer. More about Natalie Proulx

Icon Photography School

10 exciting photography assignments for students to master the art of visual storytelling.

Ignite students' passion for photography with these 10 engaging assignments designed to teach them the art of visual storytelling. From capturing vibrant nature scenes to freezing moments of motion, these detailed assignments will help young photographers develop their skills in composition, lighting, and creativity. Whether it's exploring patterns in architecture, diving into the world of macro photography, or capturing the emotions of a portrait, each assignment offers a unique opportunity for students to express their creativity and unleash their imaginations. Click here to discover these exciting photography assignments and watch students' photography skills soar!

"Exploring Textures"

"colorful world", "candid moments", "macro magic", "light and shadows", "silhouettes", "street photography", "reflections", "motion blur", "self-portraits".

15 Project Ideas to Spark Your Creativity

A Post By: Nancy Young

Photography has never been as popular as it is today. People of all ages learn photography in various schools and online universities, and lots of talented photographers have a wonderful opportunity to reveal themselves not only as artists, but also as teachers.

By Alex Eylar

Like all creatives, photographers can sometimes experience creative block or a lack of interesting ideas, no matter what side of the school desk they are sitting on. One way for photography mentors and teachers to fight this problem is through the use of creative assignments.

In this article I’ve put together 15 creative project ideas to use in your photography class (if you are a teacher) or for yourself. When completed properly, a student assignment is a great teaching tool. If it’s well-designed and structured, it enables students to develop their technical skills and artistic vision, as well as improve their general thinking abilities and subject knowledge. So whether you’re a photography teacher looking for effective assignment ideas or a self-taught photography student focused on training your eye and critical vision, this roundup will surely come in handy.

1. 365 Project

No matter what you call it, the 365 Project or Photo a Day project, the result is the same – a photo for every day of the year. These kinds of long-term projects give you an opportunity not only to explore and learn photography, but also develop creative seeing and improve your post-production skills. 365 Projects have changed the lives of a lot of photographers, and who knows, maybe you’re next?

Further Reading : 11 Tips for a Successful 365 Project

By Olli Henze

By Dennis Skley

2. 100 Strangers

The 100 Strangers project enables you to interact with 100 strangers and take a photo of each of them. It can be quite scary to start shooting people in the street, or local cafe, if you’re an introvert. But being a photographer is not as easy as it may seem at first. Photography is all about overcoming your fears. This project will help you do that.

By Louisa Billeter

3. 52 Weeks

The 52 Weeks project is similar to 365, but this time you’re supposed to come up with a new photo each week, not each day. The difference between these two projects is that you can choose a theme for every week. For instance, you may shoot particular subjects, places, or even do some photowalks. A photowalk is an awesome way to find inspiration, discover new locations, and come up with really valuable, interesting ideas in the end.

By shutterbugamar

4. Social Awareness Project

Capturing dramatic moments that will influence the minds of their viewers is a mission that many iconic photographers are dedicated to. Spend a weekend shooting the faces on your local streets, or collaborating with a non-profit can help you develop your skills as a documentarist and photojournalist. Such photo projects are definitely not easy to work on, both emotionally and technically, but the reward of being an activist is obvious – every time you click the shutter button you create a photo that could change the world.

World of Coal by Ouie Sanchez on 500px

5. Self-Portrait

Of course, you may have taken a self-portrait many times with your smartphone. Instagram has turned self-portraits into something usual and mundane.

However, self-portraits can be quite helpful in opening up, and exploring parts of photography in which you don’t normally find yourself involved. Mix it up and stay creative with your surroundings and emotions. For example, look at the work of Kyle Thompson , who has really succeeded in self-photography.

Check out these Self Portrait Photography Tips for some hints on where to start.

By Özgün ERDEM

6. New Lens Type

You may pick one lens and use it exclusively during this project. A 50mm is a good starting point , as it forces you to move around and stay selective. A fisheye lens could also make an interesting theme.

Moreover, you may experiment with freelensing which is an inexpensive way to get a similar photo effect as from an expensive tilt-shift lens. The idea behind a tilt-shift lens is tilting the lens at an angle to the sensor to change the orientation of the plane of focus (PoF). The technique of freelensing, not only gives you the ability to change the PoF, but it also gives you some pretty cool light leaks from not having the lens actually attached to the camera.

By Nuwandalice

By David Hepworth

7. Monochrome

Try to shoot all your photos in monochrome, or convert them to black and white in post-processing . The beauty of black and white photography is that it focuses more on visual elements such as tone, texture and shapes. By starting this project for yourself, you’ll see the objects in a different light, and rather than just color, your eyes will be better trained to recognize various forms and shapes.

8. Panoramas

Panoramas are one more way to develop your creative vision. Panoramas usually give the viewer a much wider viewing angle than normal. You can create some small panoramas by merging three photos in one, or go full 360 and make tiny globes like the ones in the picture below. It’s all up to you!

Further Reading: 8 Guidelines To Taking Panoramic Photos With Any Camera

By Johanna Herbst

Promised Land by Beno Saradzic on 500px

The Birds and the Barn by Bruce Hood on 500px

In today’s world of foodie-Instagram, everyone could be a food photographer. Especially if you’re fond of cooking, then food photography is right for you. It’s a myth that you need a super-wow camera to capture food. Food photography is all about styling and beautiful background. No matter what kind of photographer you call yourself, it’s advantageous to have some food photography skills under your belt.

Further Reading : How to Take Mouth watering photos of food

By Christopher Chan

10. Sunset and Sunrise

As dawn breaks and the sun comes up, you get to see the creeping rays of sunlight bathe everything in their shining glow. Such scenes are the perfect environment for memorable photos that you can’t pass up. Sunrises and sunsets happen every day. It may sound quite obvious and ordinary, but these times of the day are a golden opportunity to capture breathtaking images.

Read more about how to photograph sunsets and sunrises .

By Mike Behnken

By Linda O’Dell

Paradise Pier Sunset by William McIntosh on 500px

11. Single Theme

Pick an object and try to get a collection of snapshots representing it. For example, try to shoot only circular objects everywhere you go. Or pick a color, for instance blue, and try to go all day long photographing only blue things. The aim of this assignment is to learn to see the ordinary object in a different way.

La bicicleta by Adrian Hernandez Binz on 500px

12. Phone Camera

The main advantage of your phone camera is that it’s with you everywhere you go. Moreover, these days smartphones’ camera quality is much better than years ago and you may come up with images that look almost as good as if they were taken with an expensive DSLR. Using your phone allows you to put exposure on the back burner, and lets you focus more on composition instead. You may also use various photo-editing apps to add various photo effects.

By Takeshi Garcia

13. Urban Exploration

Urban exploration photography is the art of finding abandoned places, houses, locations; explore them and shoot in a unique way. It’s potentially dangerous, exciting, and a lot of fun. In order not to get scared, you should take your friends with you. Even if they’re not interested in photography, exploring abandoned places is really breathtaking.

Editor’s note: always follow the laws when doing urban exploration. Do not enter where prohibited and always stay safe. Abondoned buildings can be dangerous or illegal to enter. Be careful.

Read more about urban exploration photography .

By Michal Jan?ek

14. Perspectives

Shoot a whole set of images from one perspective, such as from a child’s the point of view. Or try to capture all photos from up high. We are used to seeing the majority of shots at eye level, why not to try something different? It’s a great way to learn how to deviate from the normal .

Fishing by Minhajul Haque on 500px

By Ken Owen

15. Film Photography

Film photography is something every photographer should practice for a few reasons.

First of all, unlike digital photography, you don’t get to see the image you took for a while. It may seem annoying, but you’ll get used to it.

Second of all, you will begin to think more carefully before pressing the shutter button. While shooting digital photography, you may take 10 photos of the same thing to choose the best shot in the end. But with film photography you will not have that chance.

Read this helpful post with suggestions on getting started with shooting with film .

By Gioia De Antoniis

Bonus Assignment

Once you accomplish your creative assignment, create a dedicated photography portfolio ( Defrozo and Koken provide website building tools for free) or write a guest post for some photography blog to describe your journey and share your experience with fellow enthusiasts. Developing your marketing and blogging skills increases the likelihood of building a prospering and successful photography business.

Resources for Inspiration

The web has so many opportunities to get fresh ideas for your next photography project. I’d like to share some resources you may get inspiration from.

Ted is aimed to amplify the ideas of students and teachers from all over the globe. Their mission is to spread great ideas and inspire students of any specialization. You may browse 1800+ TED talks on photography available on their site to spark your curiosity.

OKDOTHIS App

This smartphone app was made by a celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart. OKDOTHIS is a photography community that inspires people to do more. It’s based on DOs which are creative tasks made by other members of the community. You may upload a photo in someone’s DO or create your own one. The app has also a built-in photo editor.

Behance is a leading online platform to showcase and discover creative work. All the creatives starting from web designers to photographers share their best artwork here. You may browse the Behance gallery in Photography to find new projects from other photographers.

Weekly Assignments in the dPS Forum

Check out the weekly assignments in the dPS forum for more inspiration. DPS nominates a topic for each week. It could be a lot of fun and a great way to improve your photography skills in various areas.

Make it Happen

What homework do you prefer to give to your students? What assignments appeal to you most? What project interests you and gets you thinking creatively? Share your experience and suggestions in the comments.

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

is a passionate writer and blogger. She writes tons of inspirational articles on photography and web design, despite the fact that she is an economist by education. Nancy believes in the magic of written words to inspire and motivate. She is a part of the Onedesblog Team .

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How to Make a Photography Portfolio for College and University in 2023

If you need a photography portfolio for college, university, or getting a job post-grad, here are some of the best photography portfolio ideas for students.

To attend college or university for photography, or to get a job working in photography, at some point, you will need a student photography portfolio.

You may have hundreds or thousands of photos under your belt, but have you actually gone through and identified which ones would make the most powerful photography portfolio to apply for a university photography or art program ?

We’re going to break down everything you need to know about how to present your photography portfolio, what to include, and even show you some awesome photography portfolio examples for university.

Get ready to get inspired!

Is A Photography Degree Worth It?

A common question we’ve encountered when it comes to planning out creative career paths is: “can you go to college for photography?” and the follow-up question is always: “is it worth it?”

While you don’t necessarily need a college degree in photography to build a wildly successful career in photography, studying photography can be a rewarding life experience. Not to mention the technical experience, networking, and mentorship you’ll gain from university-level photography programs can bring a lot of value to your background as a professional photographer.

Best of all, attending a university photography program can encourage you to explore different avenues of photography and experiment with a wide range of styles and techniques that you wouldn’t necessarily have access to when learning it on your own.

If you’re already convinced that applying to a college or university program for a photography degree is worth it for you, let’s jump straight into applications.

How to Make a Photography Portfolio for College

Putting together a student portfolio of your work can feel daunting at first. Sometimes, it’s a matter of not knowing where to start.

Putting together a college photography portfolio doesn’t have to be overly complicated or expensive. Thankfully, website builders like Format handle most of the legwork of design and functionality for you, so you can spend more time establishing your brand identity and curating your portfolio pieces.

We’re here to help break the process down into digestible pieces so that no matter what program you’re applying to, these photography portfolio ideas can help your application stand out from the crowd.

Start Your Portfolio Early

If you really want your photography portfolio for university to succeed, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can throw it all together the night before it’s due and still come out on top.

Procrastination could be your biggest enemy here, but breaking down the steps in creating your portfolio into smaller actionable items could be the remedy you need.

There are a lot of elements that go into making a high-quality photography portfolio for college, but one of the most important is that you take the necessary time to carefully consider every single detail about your application, from the photos you choose to the way you present them.

It’s a good idea to be able to speak in-depth about your reasons for selecting each photo in your photography portfolio, as well as your influences and overarching themes.

You need to be able to demonstrate that you can articulate an abstract thought through your photography, so your future school or employer will know that you can respond to any photography prompt effectively.

You simply will not be able to put the care necessary for a successful photography portfolio for university if you are rushing last minute to get your application submitted, so apply early and give yourself plenty of time to work out the details and make sure that you feel extremely confident with the work you are presenting. That confidence will come across through the presentation of your photography portfolio for college and is sure to impress school admissions and employers alike.

Pay Attention to the Details

Have you ever submitted a project you thought you rocked, but gotten a much lower mark than expected because you forgot to read the rubric?

When submitting your photography portfolio for university, make sure to read through every single word carefully to avoid making that same potentially disastrous mistake.

Chances are that you’re applying to multiple schools or jobs at once, and each of those submissions will be looking for specific requirements in your portfolio. Make sure you understand exactly what each college, university, or job application is asking for in their portfolio submissions, including details like the format of your images and the number of images you need to submit.

Should your photography portfolio for college be a physical portfolio delivered in person, a zip file of images only, or a website portfolio? Are you expected to include an artist’s statement, a pricing guide , or any other information along with your photographs?

These details can vary greatly between applications, so make sure that you’re fully aware of the specific requirements for each portfolio submission.

We find it helpful to create checklists for each of your application requirements to use as a guide when compiling your portfolios. This way, you check off your items one at a time to ensure that you’re not missing any details.

By following submission directions to the letter, you’ll demonstrate to potential schools or employers that not only do you have an eye for photography, but you can also follow directions and provide exactly what they ask for without skipping over details in haste or carelessness.

First impressions are key, and you don’t want people to think that you will only pay attention to the big picture rather than actually incorporating design briefs and feedback into your work.

Admissions offices and employers need to have confidence that you will be able to work independently without the need to be constantly micromanaged, and you can show this ability through responding to direct instructions with great care in your photography portfolio for university.

Present Your Work Thoughtfully

While you may think that the photos you present in your photography portfolio for college are the most important thing to consider, the way that you showcase your work can also have a big influence on the success (or lack thereof) of your college, university, or job application.

In fact, a study found that the quality of your online portfolio can have a huge impact on your job prospects.

With that in mind, it’s extremely important that you put a lot of thought and effort into the way you present your photography portfolio for university: you need to show that you are professional and that you put great care into your work. In order to do so, there are certain design tips that you can follow to help you create a photography portfolio for college that stands out.

In a physical photography portfolio for college, applying this can be as simple as ensuring that your photos are printed in a high quality, professional manner, that they are firmly secured and centered in your portfolio pages, and that your artist statement or other information is neatly typed up and affixed to the page.

There are many different styles for physical art portfolios, so choose one that represents your photography aesthetic while making sure to keep it simple in order not to take away attention from your photos.

On the other hand, if you are creating an online portfolio, choose a website builder that enables you to insert your own personal design aesthetic and brand identity through themes that truly represent you and your work in the best light. Using a portfolio builder that specializes in photography portfolios will make your experience even simpler, especially if you’re new to creating an online portfolio.

You don’t have to spend a huge amount of money to build your photography portfolio for university in order to show that you are confident in your work and that you take your career or studies as a photographer seriously.

If you need help creating your online photography portfolio for college, there are plenty of resources online to avoid or fix common portfolio mistakes as well as tools to improve your portfolio.

Make Your Portfolio User-Friendly

Create a positive and memorable experience for admissions or potential employers viewing your photography portfolio for university by employing design fundamentals throughout your portfolio submission. This can apply to both physical and online portfolios and includes details such as ensuring that you are using the same fonts throughout and emphasizing clarity and readability over bright flashy design.

While you want your photography portfolio for college to stand out, your graphic design choices should above all be easily readable and should bring the viewer’s focus to your images, rather than distracting or pulling focus away.

If the photos in your photography portfolio for university tell a story, make sure you display them in the necessary order to make sense to the viewer.

If each photo stands alone, however, it may make more sense to group them by portrait and landscape orientation so as not to distract by switching back and forth, and ensure that the viewer isn’t required to physically turn the portfolio to see a new orientation of the photo.

You can also include a contact sheet of all of the photos in your photography portfolio for college at the beginning of your portfolio so that an employer or admissions officer can quickly and easily glance back at your portfolio and remember exactly what you and your work are all about.

What to Include in Your Photography Portfolio for University

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to creating a photography portfolio for college can be the questions of how to choose the images to include in your portfolio.

It can be tempting to choose photos for your portfolio based on your personal preference, but this isn’t the only thing to consider when building your photography portfolio for university. Below, we’ll focus on how to effectively curate your photography portfolio for college and what to include alongside your photographs.

Create Your Portfolio Based On Application Requirements

You’ll likely be applying to multiple schools, universities, or employment opportunities at once, and each of these portfolio submissions will have unique requirements.

Start by creating a document in which you lay out the requirements for each submission alongside the school or company and due dates. Once you’ve done this, look through all of the requirements to identify commonalities between applications, like how many photos each submission requires.

From there, curate a selection of your work to fit the highest number of photos required, and then narrow down your selection for portfolio submissions asking for fewer examples of your work.

This way, the same main themes will be present throughout your applications, making it much easier to remember your talking points, rather than having to come up with a new angle for each individual photography portfolio for university.

Some portfolio requirements may leave the themes up to you and dictate only the technical requirements, while others may ask you to respond to a thematic prompt in your submission. While you should always respond directly to the specific prompt and follow every direction closely, you can save yourself some time and anxiety by finding a way to link the same main group of photos to different portfolio requirements.

Remember: you should be able to talk about each of the photos in your photography portfolio for college in great detail, including your highly considered reasons for selecting each photo. Never include a photo in your photography portfolio for university simply because you like it.

Include Relevant Additional Information

In order to show you seriously you take your photography practice, you may choose to include additional information in your photography portfolio for college with each photo, like the camera settings you used, the location of the shoot, the concept behind the photo, and why you used the techniques you did to emphasize the concept.

In both school and professional environments, you will find yourself having to explain exactly how your artistic choices work to flesh out your concept, so in providing this information right off the bat, you show that you understand not only how to take good photos, but also why you would use different settings to evoke certain concepts or moods in your work.

Additional information you can include in your photography portfolio for the university includes an artist statement or a about me page , which help to clarify your intentions, influences, and expectations for your future career.

Showcase Your Adaptability

Here’s the truth: freelance photographers must target specific niches to find ideal clients. However, when creating a portfolio for college, university, or a job, you should demonstrate your flexibility in creating a wide variety of types of photographic content.

With this in mind, include photos that showcase many sides of of your work in your university portfolio. If you love shooting still lifes in a studio environment, by all means, include examples of that, because the work you are most passionate about will likely be the easiest and most enjoyable for you to talk about.

However, this should not be your only showcase of photography for college. Instead, include some wildlife photography, or go to an event where you can present different kinds of photography.

This is your opportunity to show a wide range of abilities and photographic skills, and prove that you can deliver high-quality content, no matter the brief you’re given.

When applying for a job in which you will be working with clients, emphasize your ability and willingness to bring the client’s vision to life. For your application, you’ll be letting your future school or employer know that you can be adaptable and provide high-quality photography in any situation.

Showing that you are conscious of theme and meaning is also highly recommended. Include various techniques and approaches, including technical skill, in your university portfolio to show off your aptitude for learning new techniques and developing new skills quickly.

Look into including samples of nighttime photography and long exposure to show that you’ve taken the time and effort to educate yourself proactively. You can use both indoor and outdoor photography and a mix of color and black and white to show your comprehension of different types of photography and equipment.

Choose Your Best Work

Sometimes it can be challenging to separate your best work from photos that you have a personal attachment to, or that bring up positive memories. Curate your photography portfolio for college by taking an objective approach, stressing the technical elements that make a good photograph. Even if you love a photo, it doesn’t necessarily belong in your university portfolio.

Don’t include things that you like if they’re not an example of your most high-quality work. Choose which photos to include carefully , as you shouldn’t be including photos in your portfolio for college that are just there to pad the overall application.

If you’re missing the required number of photos in your portfolio, you will most likely be disqualified regardless of the quality of the work you’ve included. So, if you can’t find enough relevant photos to include in your portfolio, it’s time to snap a picture and get shots that represents your progress in your photography journey.

Demonstrate Your Growth

If you choose to talk about your growth as a photographer over time, select one or two older photographs in order to visually demonstrate how far you’ve come and all of the work you’ve put into your practice up until this point. You can talk about how the older work differs from what you’re doing now, and how you learned from it to become a better photographer.

Nevertheless, don’t include low-quality images in your portfolio because you’re here to focus on the work you’re doing today and how that can benefit your college or career aspirations. In college or university, where admissions officers want to see what self-taught skills you have and how you have developed, this information is more important. Workplaces, on the other hand, care more about what you’re producing now and what you can contribute to them if they hire you.

Showcase Post Production Skills

Do you have photos that you’ve edited into panoramas or gifs?

Maybe you’ve recolored a photograph in Photoshop or a similar program to emphasize certain elements? Feel free to include some entries in your photography portfolio for a university that represent a variety of skills, including those that happen after the pictures have been taken. You can learn a lot of helpful Photoshop skills really quickly using online tutorials.

Push Yourself Creatively

If you’re feeling like the photos in your photography portfolio for college aren’t quite measuring up in the creativity department, assign yourself a photo prompt that forces you to get outside of your comfort zone. Not only will this open you up to new experiences and possibilities, but it will also show your willingness to try new things and take chances.

Admissions and potential employers will see that you can learn a new skill quickly and can effectively accomplish any assignment, even when it’s something not currently in your skillset.

Do Your Research

If you can cite your influences and talk about how your work fits into the grander scheme of photography, it will show that you really put in the time and effort to gain a full understanding of your craft and the ability to demonstrate that through your work.

Browse some photography portfolios of successful contemporary photographers like Mark Clennon and Michelle Watt , as well as well-known historical photographers to draw on inspiration.

When you find a few whose work resonates with you, dive a little deeper into your research by reading up about their concepts and practices. You should be able to talk about why you respect their work (beyond just liking the appearance) and how you plan to use this inspiration to further your own photography process. This will show that you have plans to continue to grow artistically and professionally in the future and that you’re not complacent.

Try to link some of what you glean from these influences to the work in your photography portfolio for university, or even create and include a photo that directly references a famous, recognizable photograph in order to instantly relate your work to the history of photography.

Stick to the Rules, or Break them Intentionally

In photography, there are certain guidelines when it comes to creating a visually appealing photo, including rules surrounding light, texture, form, and composition.

Get familiar with what these terms mean in relation to photography and select photos for your photography portfolio for college that demonstrate a thorough understanding of these core procedures. If you don’t know what the terms in your portfolio brief mean, look them up along with examples of photographs that emphasize those characteristics so that you can understand how they function in a variety of circumstances.

However, you may also choose to break these rules. If you do, it should be with clear intention.

For example, if you decide to make use of an unusual or off-putting style of composition, that choice should reflect your overall subject matter and thesis, and you should be able to back up why you made that particular choice in relation to the project in question.

Get a Second Opinion

When you’ve spent hours thinking about your photography portfolio for university, it might be hard to take a step back and try to be objective about selecting the best examples of your photography work.

Call in your friends and family to provide constructive criticism: you don’t have to take all of their advice, but it can be helpful to see how people respond to your photos and what they read into them without knowing the story behind their creation.

If you know anyone who has been accepted into college or university for photography or works as a professional photographer, they can be a great resource on how to create a successful photography portfolio for college .

Prepare for the Interview

Your work should stand alone, since, for most submissions, you’ll probably be submitting your photography portfolio for college online for consideration to determine whether or not to offer you an interview.

However, at some stage, there may be an interview process, especially when you apply for photography jobs. You should be ready to conduct yourself professionally and with confidence and speak knowledgeably about all aspects of your portfolio.

Prepare yourself for common interview questions like identifying your weaknesses, discussing where you get your inspiration from, or where you see yourself in 5 years.

Even if the exact questions don’t come up in your interview, the preparation will enhance your confidence, and you’ll be able to work those answers into other parts of your interview.

Photography Portfolio Examples for Students

Now that you know how to make a photography portfolio for college applications with the outlined tips, it’s time to drum up some inspiration.

These photography portfolio examples for university provide the inspiration you need to create a unique and memorable photography portfolio for college applications.

Lauren Holmquist

Eamon MacMahon

Fred Tougas

Now get started on that photography portfolio for college! We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

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15 Photography Assignments to Challenge and Inspire

By Tata Rossi 23 days ago, Amateur Photography

Photography assignments allow you to experiment with something you have never tried before and play around with different photographic approaches. With such an assignment, you will challenge yourself and develop your skills.

15 Ways to Make Photography Assignments

This list of photo assignments consists of 15 points, so I am sure that you will find the idea to your liking.

1. Self Portraits

The first task is a no-brainer: just take a self-portrait picture each day. Don’t forget to use a tripod and shutter release aside from regular shooting with your arm extended and holding a camera.

Since you will be the model, feel free to unleash your creativity with all sorts of make-up, outfits, poses until you figure out a proper look. Remember to use props as well. Then share your shots with the world via social networks or the dedicated Flickr and Twitter groups.

2. Color Challenge

Here is one of the greatest color photography assignments for the urban environment photos . Bring the camera with you and take pictures for several hours. Pick a color (or ask a friend to choose it for you to complicate the task) and photograph subjects of the chosen color only.

Once you are done, you will find yourself seeing this color everywhere! Then pick the best shots and merge them into a collage or mosaic in Photoshop .

3. After Dark

Practice with night photography and try taking pictures after dark. In case you are outside the city, you may shoot moonlight or star trails. While being in the city, capture light trails of vehicles or buildings with the light-up windows. Regardless of the location, experiment with light-painting by means of long exposure photography and moving a flashlight across areas of the scene.

4. Crop or Rotate All your Photos a Specific Way

One of the best photography practice assignments is to neglect your comfort zone and try something new for a change. For instance, if you have a tendency to snap the same kinds of photos, you should modify their perspective.

Try an approach to cropping or rotating your next 50-100 shots that differs from your regular one. Play around with square photos, 180° rotation or whatever else you can come up with. Once you get out of the familiar artistic routine, you will be able to perceive the world from another angle and get creative.

5. Quit Social Media Temporarily

Social networks can serve as an excellent source of photography inspiration or lead to a complete lack of it. If you use social networks without critical thinking, you may start comparing yourself to other photographers, which will be a total waste of time and effort.

While it may be one of the hardest photography assignments these days, taking a hiatus from social networks is highly important. Log off your Instagram account for some time or uninstall apps that leave you in a bad mood.

In case your job requires staying online on a daily basis, devote some of your time to non-Internet tasks, like taking pictures or gaining knowledge on photography. I suggest taking some online photography courses .

6. Shoot Every Day for a Month

If you wish to become a better photographer , you shouldn’t stop shooting. By taking pictures constantly, you will receive more feedback and will be interacting more actively with the world.

One of the most widespread photography class assignments is to take one picture each day for a month. Do it with the help of the smartphone, DSLR camera or any device that can photograph. But don’t take meaningless pictures just because you have to. The shots you take should resonate with you in one way or another and be valuable to you.

The Zen masters suggest that you have a “daily practice.” When we repeat something, we become closer to recognizing the “truth”. You may read a great number of photo theory books , but you won’t be able to shoot properly. Only through practice, repetition, feedback and constructive criticism, you can grow as a photographer. Remember that this assignment is about forming a habit, not about taking a perfect picture each day.

7. Experiment with a Completely Different Genre

The array of photography genres is truly vast. Underwater photography , glamour, smartphone, landscape photography , portrait photography – that’s only a beginning. If you feel like you are losing interest in photography, switch to another genre.

Try staying away from your primary photography genre for a while. In case you shoot portraits, go outside and capture the area where you live in. If you are involved in photographing pets , play around with self-portraiture. By getting familiar with various photography genres, you are widening your photography horizons and gaining new knowledge that may come in useful one day.

8. Put Together a Photo Album

We live in a digital world, and even nowadays’ photography comes mostly in a digital form. We constantly find ourselves sharing our photos online. It is a rare thing to print photographs, even touch them, let alone create something physical out of them.

That’s why one of the greatest photography tasks is to compile a photo album. You can buy one at a store or online. Print the desired shots in the small 4×6 size. I suggest collaborating on this task with your friend, child or partner. Think of the main idea, theme or story of the album. Put all the printed shots on a surface and consider how you will lay them out in an album, how you will pair them and in what sequence.

No wonder that our parents and elderly relatives used to create a photo book together. It is a nice way to preserve precious memories in a physical form and bring back the moments that we sometimes tend to forget over time.

9. Take Creative Self-Portraits with a Friend

While you may enjoy your own company while taking self-portraits, you may feel bored or lonely after some time. In this case, you can implement one of the most entertaining photography assignment ideas and take self-portraits with a friend (pets are welcome as well!).

Don’t forget to think through the poses, set up the tripod and find the perfect photography light. As you will be engaged in all these activities, you will be able to get a hang of a photographer’s workflow. Then, when it comes to a real photo shoot with the clients, you will be more skilled at dealing with the camera and lights.

10. Attend a Photography Workshop

Photography workshops is an excellent investment in your education as a photographer and one of the most helpful beginner photography assignments.

Pick a workshop that is dedicated to the topic relevant for you. Thanks to workshops, you will get not only theoretical but also practical information. Also, you will have your questions answered by real professionals.

11. Photograph the Same Person or Object Every Day

In case you aren’t as excited about photography as before, try capturing one and the same person or object each day for a week or month. Similar to the smartphone photography challenge, as a result, you will realize the importance of having the freedom to photograph anything you wish.

While snapping pictures of the same object, you will boost your lighting skills. To make the shots differ from each other, don’t hesitate to play around with various types of lighting and photo editing apps .

12. Go a Month Without Using Social Media

Being the photographer of the 21st century, you may find yourself in the never-ending trap of feeling the need to post photos on social networks each day. It all turns into some sort of addiction – all you crave is likes, comments and new followers. If you don’t receive the online praise you need, your photography stops making sense.

In fact, photography is something you should pursue on your own. What truly matters here is your personal thoughts on your shots, not the opinion of users online. Simply uninstall all the social network applications from the smartphone (you can bring them back once the assignment is over). Posting photos and looking through photos of others is prohibited.

If you manage to stay away from social networks for a month, you will acquire a clearer purpose of your photography work. Besides, you won’t be so obsessed with the imaginary social network competition that everyone seems to be involved in.

13. Shoot with a Limited Amount of Equipment

Regardless of whether you are an experienced, amateur or a beginner photographer , you are likely to be after all sorts of photography gear to enhance your results.

How about photography assignments where you have to use a restricted amount of shooting equipment? You can photograph strictly with one camera body or camera lens . There is no need to do it for an entire month.

For this assignment, I suggest coming up with a plan, and do it, for instance, only once a week. Working with the same gear every day will give you more flexibility in both the creative and physical aspects of the process.

So, in case you deal only with a zoom lens, you will have to experiment whenever you shoot indoors . With a wide-angle lens only, you will need to work on cropping and correcting distortions.

14. Limit Yourself to X Photos a Day

Similar to the previous assignment, limiting yourself to 10, 20, 30 or more shots per day, week or month will help you realize what your true creative needs are. Besides, with a photo limit, you will understand what subjects or scenes you are more inclined to photograph.

Another benefit of a photo limit is that it will bring more patience and creativity into the process. You won’t be able to take numerous pictures of one place, so you will be forced to risk and play around with various perspectives.

15. Take Photos with Your Smartphone Camera Only

Take pictures only with a smartphone camera for a week. For better results, download a top-notch camera app and try to figure out all of its settings. A modern smartphone will help beginning photographers get acquainted with the technical side of the shooting process.

To complicate the task, I suggest recreating some of your portfolio photos with the smartphone camera. With this assignment, you will learn all the intricacies of shooting with a smartphone and may even start taking shots not only with a standard camera but with a smartphone one as well on a regular basis!

Freebies for Photography Assignments

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100+ Creative Photography Ideas: Techniques, Compositions & Mixed Media Approaches

Last Updated on April 2, 2023

Note: The creative photography ideas listed in this article should not be explored haphazardly within a photography course, but rather selected purposefully, if appropriate for your topic or theme. These approaches may or may not be relevant for your own photography project and should be chosen only in conjunction with advice from your teacher. The techniques listed here are created using a range of different cameras and devices, such as a digital SLR/DSLR camera, traditional camera, pinhole camera and/or camera phone. 

Stain, smudge and erode photographs using water , like  Matthew Brandt :  

READ NEXT: How to make an artist website (and why you need one)

Sew or embroider photos , as in the stitched vintage photography of  Maurizio Anzeri : 

Stitch photographs together , like  Lisa Kokin : 

Wrap torn plastic or other materials around the edge of your camera to create hazy edges , as in the photographs of Jesse David McGrady  (via  PetaPixel ): 

Use a hand-held glass lens or prism, to create blurred, abstract forms , like this photograph by Sam Hurd :

Deliberately unfocus lights to create ‘bokeh’ , as in this beautiful landscape by Takashi Kitajima :

Photograph scenes through visible hand-held lenses , as in this A Level Photography work by Freya Dumasia :

Abstract an image completely through three mirrors, creating a vortograph , like Alvin Langdon Coburn :

Fold a photograph and make a installation, still life or sculpture , as in this example by Joseph Parra :

Collage mixed media materials onto images , as in Vasilisa Forbes’ photography :

Splash, smear or throw mixed media upon photographs , as in this A Level Photography sketchbook example by  Jemma Kelly :

Simulate the effect of the wet collodion process used by Sally Mann  via Edwynn Houk Gallery :

Paint developer sporadically onto photo paper to expose only parts of the work , as in these portraits by Timothy Pakron :

Paint directly onto photographs , as in these works by Gerhard Richter :

Combine paint and photographs digitally , like Fabienne Rivory ‘s LaBokoff project:

Redraw part of a scene with paint , as in these works by Aliza Razell :

Paint onto objects and then photograph them , as in this IGCSE Photography piece by Rachel Ecclestone :

Mark or scratch negatives or photos , as in this 100 year old vintage print by Frank Eugene :

Use a CNC or Laser Engraving Machine to etch a photographic image onto glass, wood, aluminium or another similar material :

As technology progresses, it is possible for digital images to be engraved upon various surfaces (such as stone, timber, fabric or leather); on or within glass, as in a 3D crystal engraving; or around cylindrical items, such as a rotating bottle. A laser is used like a pencil, with a controlled beam moving in different directions, intensities and speeds, delivering energy to the surface, heating up and vaporises areas or causing small pieces to fracture and flake away. Although the majority of laser photo engraving examples online seem to be uninspiring commercial shots, laser engraving offers new possibilities for high school Photography students – not just in terms of printing images onto exciting materials, but as a way of creating a textured plate which can then be printed from. It should be noted that although most high school Art Departments are not in a position to purchase a 3D laser engraving machine to experiment with (although this may change in the future) some Design and Technology Departments are beginning to. Many companies also offer a custom laser engraving service that students may make use of. Remember that those who must post work away for assessment are not able to submit heavy, bulky or fragile pieces (such as laser wood engraving or laser engraving on glass).

Use an ink transfer method to print photograph images onto other materials , as in this video by Crystal Hethcote:

This video shows a simple image transfer technique using gel medium, which could be useful for applying a digital image to any number of creative surfaces.

Add sculptural elements that protrude from the photograph , as in this example by Carmen Freudenthal & Elle Verhagen :

Take photos using a scanner , like Evilsabeth Schmitz-Garcia :

Place objects on top of a photograph and scan it , like this example by Rosanna Jones :

Put objects on top of photographs and rephotograph them , like these images by Arnaud Jarsaillon and Remy Poncet of Brest Brest :

Project images onto textured surfaces and rephotograph them , as in these experimental images by Pete Ashton :

Project images onto people or scenes , as in these examples by freelance photographer Lee Kirby :

Create a photogram , as in this example by Joanne Keen :

Create pinhole photography , making your own pinhole camera from scratch like Matt Bigwood  (via The Phoblographer ):

Note: some teachers purchase a make-at-home pinhole camera set for their students, such as this one from  Amazon US  or  Amazon UK  (affiliate links).   Matt Bigwood ‘s DIY pinhole cameras are made from ordinary aluminium drink cans:

Deliberately overexpose a shot, creating ‘high-key’ photography , like this portrait by Gabi Lukacs :

Experiment with underwater photography like Elena Kalis :

Use a homemade light box to create uncluttered backdrops for photography , as in this YouTube video by Auctiva:

Art teachers and students frequently take photographs upon cluttered classroom tabletops, often with less than optimal lighting conditions. Light box photography can be especially useful in this situation, helping those who wish to create professional product shots (Graphic Design students creating promotional material, for instance) or those who want to photograph sculptural or design pieces, create composite works from several elements or just to have a simple backdrop for their images. Tabletop photography becomes infinitely easier when you can light a subject well, and capture true colour and details, in a reliable, uniform way. If you are looking for other less time-intensive tabletop photography ideas or backdrop ideas, it is possible to purchase inexpensive light box kits and light tents from Amazon.com and Amazon UK  (affiliate links).

Experiment with camera filters , like the neutral density filter that was used to photograph this beautiful seascape by Salim Al-Harthy :

Use specialised photography lighting to achieve dramatic contrasts , as in this portrait of two brothers by dankos-unlmtd :

Use a transportable photography reflector  (i.e. this one from  Amazon.com  or  Amazom UK  – affiliate links) to create better lighting within your shots, such as in this outdoor portrait by  Toni Lynn :

Take unfocused shots and create semi-abstract photographs , like those by  Bill Armstrong :

Create 360 degree 3D panoramic photography , as in this image by Nemo Nikt :

Use kites to create aerial photography , as in this image by Pierre Lesage :

Produce High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDR Photography) , as in this example by Karim Nafatni :

Use tilt-shift photography to make real things look miniature , as in this example by  Nicolas :

Use a tilt-shift effect to make paintings or drawings appear real , as in these photographs of Vincent van Gogh artworks by Serena Malyon :

Photograph things with extreme macro lenses , like these photos of water drops by Andrew Osokin :

Photograph things without contextual information, so objects become almost unrecognisable , as in this example by Peter Lik :

Take photos from uncommon or unexpected viewpoints , like these birds eye view photographs commissioned by the human rights organization Society for Community Organization :

Use frames within frames to create intriguing compositions , such as these photographs by Chen Po-I :

Emphasise reflections, rather than the objects themselves , as in the urban landscape photography of Yafiq Yusman :

Play with shadows , like Russ and Reyn Photography :

Create illusions using forced perspective , like these photographs by Laurent Laveder :

Arrange compositions as if they were a beautiful still life painting , such as these food photographs styled by Maggie Ruggiero  and photographed by Martyn Thompson (left) and Marcus Nilsson (right):

Create candid documentary photography , like these emotion-filled black and white football fan shots by  Christopher Klettermayer :

Capture the same scene at different times , as in this photography series by Clarisse d’Arcimoles :

Use mirrors to create illusions , as in this self-portrait by 18 year old photographer Laura Williams :

Create a complex ‘unrealistic’ setting and photograph it , as in this composition by Cerise Doucède :

Collect many similar items and produce typology photography , like  Sam Oster ’s apparatus series:

Organise subject matter into patterns , like Jim Golden :

Digitally create patterns , as in this artwork by  Misha Gordin :

Overlay multiple photos from slightly different angles , like these experimental photographs by Stephanie Jung :

Digitally erase parts of objects , as in this A Level Photography work by  Leigh Drinkwater :

Colour select areas , as in this example by  Locopelli :

Apply a digital filter to create an illustrative effect , as shown in this Adobe Photoshop tutorial :

Digitally overlay textures onto photos , as illustrated in this tutorial by PhotoshopStar :

Digitally draw over photographs , as in these portraits by May Xiong :

Digitally superimpose photographs onto other products , as in these watches by John Rankin Waddell :

Digitally merge images to play with scale and create fantasy scenes  like Lorna Freytag :

Combine objects in unexpected ways, to create something new , as in Carl Warner’s foodscapes :

Photograph objects through mottled or translucent screens , like this work by  Matthew Tischler : 

Overlay tracing paper, obscuring parts of an image , like this photograph by Gemma Schiebe :

Cut through photographs to expose other layers of photographs below , as in these images by Lucas Simões :

Note: If you are interested in laser cut work, you may wish to see the excellent  A Level Art project by Lucy Feng , which has been featured on the Student Art Guide.

Create layered handmade collages , like these works by Damien Blottière :

Cut out shapes and insert coloured paper , as in these photographs by Micah Danges :

Collage photographs and found materials together , creating mixed media art like Jelle Martens :

Make a photomontage , as in these examples by  David Hockney :

Make a photographic assemblage combining foreground, middleground and background , as in this example by Matthew Chase-Daniel :

Photograph a single scene over time and join the pieces in sequence , like these composite photographs by Fong Qi Wei :

Cut and Overlap a sequence of photos to create a sense of movement , as in this A Level Photography project by Harriet James-Weed :

Combine multiple exposures to create the illusion of repeated objects , like these creative compositions by Lera :

Superimpose two different but related scenes over the top of each other , like in this photograph by Adam Goldberg :

Photograph an artwork within a scene to create illusions , as in these images by Gregory Scott via Catherine Edelman Gallery :

Add photography cuttings to real life situations , like the surrealist scenes created by Yorch Miranda :

Inset scenes within other scenes , as in these photographs by Richard Koenig :

Poke or cut holes in photos and shine light through , like Amy Friend :

Photograph scenes through small gaps or holes , as in these photographs by Reina Takahashi :

Experiment with night photography and create a light painting or drawing , as in A Level Photography example by Georgia Shattky:

Note: If you are interested in light painting you may also wish to view this high school  NCEA Photography project by Jessica Louise . Jessica uses a range of night photography techniques, including using a laser to paint with light.  

Use a fast shutter speed to freeze motion , like the action photography of Justin Grant :

Move the camera horizontally, so a moving subject is in focus but the background is blurred , as in the panning photography of Mr Bones (via My Modern Met ):

Use slow shutter speeds to create blurred movement , as in this beautiful water photo by Antti Viitala :

Zoom in while shooting with a slow shutter speed , like A Level Photography student Freya Dumasia :

Experiment with slow shutter speeds at night, blurring lights , as in the abstract ‘Sightseeing Tunnel’ series by Jakob Wagner :

Photograph slow moving objects over a long period of time , as in this photograph by Paul Schneggenburger :

Swing the camera while taking photos to achieve a swirling effect , as in this photo by  Lucasbenc :

Shake or jiggle the camera to create an impressionist effect , like these examples by Gerald Sanders (via Apogee Photo Magazine ):  

Photograph moving subjects to create blurred, painterly forms , as in these examples by Mirjam Appelhof :

Create abstract photography from blurred motion , as in the ‘Revolution’ series by Yvette Meltzer :

Digitally add abstract elements to an image , such as these architectural photographs by Nick Frank :

Take close-up, tightly cropped scenes, creating abstract photography from surfaces and pattern , like these works by Frank Hallam Day :

Finally, forget all fancy techniques. Open your eyes. Produce an unflinching record of what you see , as in this example by Gianfranco Meloni :  

This collection is a work in progress. It is continually updated with creative photography ideas and examples. If you are looking instead for photography theme ideas or project ideas for your entire high school or college photography course, please read our article about how to select a great subject or theme for your Art project .

You may also wish to view our collection of Featured Photography Projects by high school students from around the world.

Amiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and assessment of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.

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Wedding invitations, 65+ photography project ideas you can start today.

Written by  Shutterfly Community Last Updated: Dec 8, 2020

Do you want to sharpen your skills, learn fresh techniques or just have fun with your camera? Photography projects help you accomplish all three.

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Through themed projects, you can capture unique images that follow a certain framework or style. Your project can last a week, month or year—depending on how in depth you’d like to go. To offer you inspiration, we’ve compiled 68 creative photography projects that are appropriate for all skill levels.

Once you’ve completed your project, be sure to create a photo book with your images or select your favorite for a canvas print .

1. Self Portrait

By switching the focus from other subjects to yourself as the subject, your photography takes on a whole new perspective. When setting up your shot, choose a landmark item to use as a stand-in until you’re ready to jump in the frame.

Play with auto and manual focus with your stand-in until you get the shot just right. Then, enter the scene using the timer option.

For the wisdom project, the goal is to gather photographs of those who have offered you wisdom or a helpful perspective. You might feature grandparents or mentors—or be inclined to include young ones who have provided you a fresh angle on life.

Aim to capture individuals in their natural state, especially if it’s in a location where they shared a special moment with you.

3. Candid Photo

Photographing someone in their natural state allows for their true personality to shine through. With a candid photography project, incorporate a range of human subjects for a diverse collection, or capture the same subject across different settings and days.

Building a portfolio of several candids allows you to paint a vivid persona of your subjects.

4. Street Style Photography

Authentic street style photography allows you to snag shots of the latest fashion—all without the strut of the runway. Look for colors first (either eye-catching or stunningly neutral), then watch for the cut and structure of the clothes.

Aim for overall beauty within the frame, including the street or walkway, so the focus isn’t solely on the clothes.

5. All About The Details

Create a collection of shots with unique subjects that focus on the details. Whether the photos are for an engagement , graduation or everyday occasion, you can take portraits of smaller details, like wisps of hair, relaxed hands and prominent features. Making your subjects feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera is the first priority. Plan a single shoot for various angles to help capture what looks best on a given day or moment.

6. Natural Element

Plan for your gallery of photos to include candid shots of the subject in their element. Whether they love the beach or like to craft, you can capture your subject in their favorite space or place to go.

If a subject feels awkward in front of the camera, have him or her lean against something vertical, like a fence, wall or car. They’ll feel more anchored and their body angle will offer the photo some character without seeming unnatural.

7. Pet Photography

From cats to dogs to horses, the heart and soul of your pets can be captured with the right technique. Incorporate natural light in your shoot keep watch of your pet’s eyes. Expressions and personality often shine through and it’s a great time to capture these moments.

8. Motherhood

Being a mother is one of life’s greatest gifts. When we’re parents, beautiful moments take place along with messy and chaotic ones. Encapsulate the full spectrum of motherhood with photos from quiet moments like snuggling with your child to lively times like cooking together in the kitchen.

With any photography project, it’s important that your images tell a story.

9. Panoramic Pictures

A popular technique for landscapes, panoramic photography enlarges the viewpoint beyond the normal size of a camera lens. To ensure there are no gaps in your panoramic shot, overlap your image by 15-30%.

You’ll also want to keep your camera as level as possible to ensure the photo is even throughout. Don’t forget that panos work well for vertical shots, too, like waterfalls and deep canyons.

10. Sunsets Photos

Sunsets make for stunning photos—especially when executed well. For maximum beauty, be sure to slightly underexpose the sunset for rich and dramatic colors. Use manual mode and a fast shutter speed for underexposure, or use aperture priority with exposure compensation.

Make your sunset even more magnificent by arranging an object or scene in the foreground of the sunset, like a lake or mountain.

Mist and fog are natural elements that can enhance the beauty of your photography. Check the weather to determine when fog might pop up. Oftentimes the best lighting for fog photos occurs in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening after sunset. The low lighting causes a slower shutter speed, which means a shakier camera.

Keep your camera as still as possible or use a tripod. The best places for foggy photos? Open bodies of water and other sweeping landscapes like fields and low rolling hills.

12. Cityscapes

Hovering skyscrapers and diverse skylines are part of what makes cityscapes such attractive photography. For a cityscapes project, try different vantage points across the city to see what works best (think: a popular lookout compared with a more secret locale).

Prepare for an after sunset shoot, allowing the city lights to pop against the dark sky. Remember to use a wide angle lens to cover as much ground as possible.

13. Water (Rain, Ocean)

Whether you’re hoping to create scenes of smooth, flowing water or capture dynamic waves crashing against a seawall, it’s critical to have better than average camera equipment. For nearly every water shot, a tripod is also essential to keep the frame still for the length of the exposure (usually two to four seconds).

Pack along a lens-friendly cloth to remove splashes and water marks. Plan to get wet if you’re banking on a stunning water shot.

14. Seasons

Each season offers its own charms—from snowy branches to colored leaves. Select a location for your seasons project where you’ll snap photos throughout all four seasons. Once the year is complete, you’ll have a collection of stunning images that tell the story of your special place over the course of a year.

15. Star Trails

Spectacular from edge to edge, star trails photography is an adventure to shoot. The first step is to find a clear sky full of stars, but free of pollution and other light interference. Anchoring your camera on a tripod, set your camera to shoot on manual mode. The faster the lens you have, the better.

Once you have your shot prepared, select drive mode for consecutive shots rather than a single frame. With your remote, let your camera take photos for thirty minutes up to a few hours, depending on the length of star trails you’re creating.

Capturing still images with a remote-controlled drone opens up the options for angles and perspectives in your photography. Consider sending a drone above a beach, golf course or mountaintop.

Increase the altitude of your drone for a more impressive viewpoint and try GPS mode for a more stable shot.

17. Food Photography

As a still life technique, food photography requires a few main ingredients: good lighting, props and style. Place your items near natural lighting or use a flash to give the photo a balanced look. When it comes to the arrangement, consider adding in table setting details like plates and silverware.

Amplify the photo’s texture with decorative pieces like colorful fruits and sprigs of herbs. For a well-rounded food photography project, shoot a variety of foods and dishes.

18. Black and White Month

Instead of using the full color spectrum, this project idea prompts you to capture images in black and white only. Two-toned photography provides a different perspective or feel to your work, and gives you a chance to highlight people, places and objects in a novel way.

For instance, a close-up of hands be enticing when displayed in color, but in black and white, the image paints the story that all humankind is united.

19. Everyday Moments

Photos that showcase a slice of regular life contain a certain genuine beauty. When preparing for everyday moment shots, make sure subjects are comfortable. People should interact as if you aren’t even present.

The true magic happens when you’re able to capture two people’s true connection.

20. Random Acts of Kindness

The random acts of kindness project prompts you to capture someone doing something thoughtful or helpful for another person. By photographing these moments, you’re telling a larger story of humanity.

To be successful in this project, you’ll need to keep a keen eye out for small acts of generosity, like a young man holding the door or a little girl smiling at a stranger.

21. Shoes For a Week

Narrow your photography focus for a week by capturing different styles of footwear. From boots to sandals to athletic shoes, diversify your image collection. Be sure to utilize a range of angles to create unique stories for each photo (i.e. a guy lounging with shoes on, two people talking while standing, a woman running).

22. Comfort Zone Challenge

Pushing the limits of your creativity often leaves you with impressive and surprising results. With the comfort zone challenge, throw caution to the wind and experiment without expectations.

Maybe that means you’ll shoot a paragliding experience, a fireworks explosion or animals in action. When you’re snapping shots, play around with your shutter speed, aperture, focal length and movement.

23. 30 Strangers

Taking a photo of someone whom you’ve only just met can be thrilling. It can also be personally and professionally rewarding. Through the 30 strangers project, you’ll capture 30 portraits of people you’ve never met before. Find people on the street, in a shopping mall or at a park.

Be sure to ask each person’s consent first before posting publicly. The 30 strangers challenge will certainly stretch you outside of your artistic comfort zone.

24. Duotone

Duotone photography refers to a multitone production of an image, usually imposed through photo editing techniques. The superimposition of a contrasting color halftone (normally black) over another color halftone enhances the middle tones of an image.

Photographs with one main object, like a flower, seashell or tree, are ideal for creating duotone effects.

25. Perspective

Perspective photography can take many forms: those shot from a low angle, ones with strong leading lines and those that look straight up into the sky. Whether your scene is a railroad track or skyscraper, your image should emphasize the angle and the unique perspective you’re hoping to give the viewer.

Train your eye to notice patterns, lines and reflections you can capture from different angles.

Not only is coffee delicious and rejuvenating, it’s also a work of art. Collaborate with a barista on a latte design or the type of mug to use. Choose a simple backdrop so the coffee remains the focal point.

A dark backdrop is best if you’re aiming to capture the steam rolling off of a warm drink.

27. Create a Photo Album

Let your memories last forever by creating a photo album for a recent vacation, an adventurous summer or a year filled with fun. Design your photo album with a theme in mind to build cohesion. Vary your layouts from page to page for texture and personality.

28. Traffic Lights

When photographing traffic lights and other light trails, the best time is during or after twilight on a night when minimal wind is present. Based on your camera angle and objects, you’ll need to adjust and experiment with your settings.

Often times, shutter priority mode is ideal along with a shutter speed of six seconds. Make stability a non-issue with a tripod, and remember you won’t be using a flash.

29. Happy Days

Allow joy to take the center stage of your photos. Whether they’re candid shots of family members interacting or a single subject, make sure the smiles are natural. Enhance the happiness level by highlighting the subject with ample natural lightening.

30. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Challenge yourself and your fellow photographers by setting up a photo scavenger hunt . Rather than choosing objects and locations to capture, create a list of photography styles to achieve. For instance, your list might include building a motion blur or catching a clear action shot. At the end of your hunt, you’ll have a collection of impressive photographs.

31. Night Scenes

Night scenes, also known as low light photography, allow you to make the most of dark scenes that are hard to capture. When less light is present, it means you’ll also have slower shutter speeds, which equals more camera shake. For this reason, landscapes and long exposures at night time require tripods.

Whether you’re shooting special moments around the campfire or gazing up at the stars, utilize a wide aperture or a low f-number to let in as much light as possible.

32. Polaroids

Polaroids offer a timeless feel and give photos a natural frame. When creating a collection of polaroids, be sure to switch up your angles and perspectives. Try a few upclose shots of objects along with macro shots of mountains and lakes.

For polaroids with human subjects, allow for plenty of natural light and aim for candids.

33. Letters/Signs

With any inanimate object, the challenge with photography is to bring it to life. With letters and signs, try to enrich the shot with the surrounding scene whether it’s greenery or a neat light fixture. Angle your lens in a way that makes the lettering most striking.

Build a full photography project with at least five to ten different signs.

34. Action Shots

To nail a clear action shot—for sports, animals or anything else—the most important aspect is to be prepared. Consider pre-focusing your shot, so when the subject enters the frame, you’re ready.

Because it may take several shots to capture even one solid photo, shoot in short bursts for a few seconds at a time. Keep extra space at either edge of your frame to allow for your subject’s movement.

35. Abstract

Fundamental to abstract photography are lines and curves. The shapes you highlight will guide the viewer’s eye to a certain engaging element. To get up close and personal with an object or design, use a macro lens. With the macro, your photo composition will have clearer resolution and sharpness. Complete your project by gathering a collection of abstract photo pieces.

36. New Lens

Your camera equipment plays a large role in your work as a photographer. Your tools, like your lenses, can fundamentally change the structure your art.

To sharpen your skills, try using a single lense for an entire month. Ideally, the lense will be new to you—allowing you to master the new tool and broaden your photography skills.

37. Architecture

Photographing architecture—whether modern or classic—presents unique challenges. Consider capturing an array of building styles for your portfolio and don’t forget to mix up your angles. Vary your shots by choosing a different weather conditions and times of day.

Through your diversity of shots, you’ll have richer story of the buildings’ relationship with the environment.

38. Thankful

To enhance your gratitude and happiness, consider completing a thankful project where you take one photo every day of something you’re grateful for. From flowers to pets to family members, find subjects that have personal meaning to you.

By capturing what you’re thankful for, you connect deeper with the people, places and things that surround you.

39. Sunday Mornings

Whether you’re enjoying a cup of coffee or a good book, snap a photo every Sunday morning for one month or a year. Capturing everyday occurrences through photography is a form of artistic journaling, helping you to document life’s big and small moments.

40. Top View

The angle of your shot makes all the difference in how appealing and engaging it is. Try a series of photos where your perspective comes from the top. Amp up the creativity by getting higher for your shoot and using a wide angle lens.

A busy environment, like a packed street or active household, can become a striking composition when using a top view perspective because it offers necessary distance from the cluttered setting.

41. Guilty Pleasures

We all have foods and activities we love despite feeling that they might not be held in high regard. Perhaps your guilty pleasure is cream-filled donuts or binge watching reruns of your favorite sitcom.

Collecting images of your guilty pleasures will likely bring you humor and levity, knowing that these items are a part of you, but they don’t necessarily define you.

42. Silhouettes

Forming a distinct contrast between light and dark, silhouettes highlight one or multiple subjects. Ensure your subject is backlit with the sun behind them. The best times to shoot silhouettes are in the morning or late evening.

Build a stunning image by setting the scene with open space, like in a field or along the beach. Set up your camera angle facing the sun, then ask your subject to stand between the sun and you. Play around with the exact angle until you have a strong contrast.

Create a collection of photos shot with prism filters on your lens or by placing a prism in front of your lens. The light that dances off of the prism will add creative effects to your photography by dispersing light before it hits the camera. Secure your camera on a tripod so you can have your hands free to play with the prism and lighting.

Prism photography can include large subjects like nature scenes and architecture or smaller objects like books and candles.

44. Symmetry

Finding subjects that offer you symmetry is the foundational step for this photography project idea. Look for symmetry in architecture and nature, but don’t leave out human and animals subjects. Smaller details, like hands or feet, often make for the perfect symmetrical photo.

Bokeh photography is denoted by one unique characteristic: a blur produced in the out-of-focus area of an image. The blur, produced by a lens, helps direct the focus of the photo. A fast lens is necessary to achieve this technique, with at least an f/2.8 aperture.

With a wide open lens, you can create bokeh with subjects like butterflies, humans and fencing around a baseball field. These photos are perfect for framing around your home .

46. Action Figures

Due to their size, action figures are easy to rearrange and shoot from multiple angles. Bring the scene to life by having the figures interact with each other. If you’re looking for an extra challenge, tell a story through your action figures, like one you would find in a comic book. Include action shots against a simple backdrop.

47. Steel Wool

Although it may seem like steel wool photography would require expensive equipment, it is a surprisingly inexpensive technique. For this project, you’ll need the following: a camera, lens, tripod, shutter cable, steel wool, string, stainless steel whisk, lighter and protective gloves. In a dark location—away from combustible items and other people—burn steel wool that’s loosely packed in a whisk.

As the steel wool burns, spin the whisk either vertically or horizontally to create the desired effect. The burning will only last about ten seconds, so you’ll want to set up for at least five seconds of exposure time. Steel wool photography creates wild and interesting images, but be sure to follow safety precautions to avoid hazards.

To enhance your skills and test out a nifty shooting technique, try macro photography on tiny subjects like insects, match-heads and flowers. Keeping your budget in mind, choose a magnification lens that lets you make super small items appear larger than life. For your macro project, vary your subjects.

Consider nature’s smallest members, miniature household items and up close shots of human elements for your portfolio.

49. Double Exposure

Double exposure, also known as multiple exposure, is a technique that combines two images in a single image. By using double exposure, you can create a distinct effect like a mirror image or ghost-like presence. The layering technique can be done with or without photoshop, depending on your equipment and skill set.

50. Escapism

Photography, like any type of art, can be a form of escapism. Through the camera, we can create images that help us step out of reality and into our daydreams. Prepare for your escapism photography project by thinking of your ‘happy places’ or locations you go to get away.

After brainstorming, head to one of those locations and shoot scenes that offer a mystical aura—whether it’s birds fluttering in the forest or the clouds lifting off of the mountains.

51. Shadow Art

Just as light is a critical element to photography, so is darkness. With shadow art, the focus is placed on the subject as it blocks light from reaching a surface, like a sidewalk or table. Experiment with the angle, distance and size of your light source to alter the intensity and scale of your shadows.

Consider humans as your subjects, but inanimate objects, too, like musical instruments, buildings and action figures.

52. Texture

From brick walls to tiled roofs to wooden fences, textures are all around us. Complete a photo challenge where you take one shot of a textured surface every day. Turn on your auto focus to ensure the object is in perfect focus. Adjust your distance from the subject based on how much detail you want in your image. This idea is perfect if you’re also looking for creative Instagram photo ideas .

Aim for a ninety degree angle when you shoot the image so your texture is lined up straight with the camera.

53. 365 Wardrobe

On each day of the year, snap photos of your clothes before you begin the day. Arrange them differently—sometimes orderly, sometimes more carelessly—to gain a sense of how your mood changed from day to day. Remember to include accessories like purses, shoes, belts and headbands.

54. Suspend Time

Photography is a powerful art medium: it can even pause time. Whether you’re suspending an item with a fishing line or taking a shot of someone jumping, you can create the look of time being stopped. Start this photography project by choosing three items or people you’d like to suspend.

55. Balloons

Bursting with color or more neutral tones, balloons make for versatile props. Let helium balloons off into the sky and capture photos as they float up. Surround the birthday girl with balloons in an otherwise empty room. Or tie a balloon to a child’s wrist and photograph them as they wander through a park.

56. Hotel Carpet

If you travel frequently, the hotel carpet project may be the right kind of fun for you. Next time you’re walking through a hotel lobby, glance down at the carpet beneath your feet. All sorts of patterns and colors are used in hotel carpets across the world. Take a snapshot (ideally at a 90-degree angle) of each carpet for a collection that will help you remember all of the places you’ve been.

Across neighborhoods and cities, doors provide insight to each home’s character. For this photography project, set out on an adventure to collect as many styles and sizes of doors as possible. Choose a macro approach, where the whole door makes the shot, or go micro by narrowing the frame to door handles and styles of wood.

58. Juxtaposition

To build juxtaposition in your photographs, place two opposite subjects next to one another. Like a blue ocean and a green forest, the contrast between the two is noticeable yet stunning. Types of juxtaposition might include a person and their shadow or a thin item next to a thicker item. For this photography project, try several contrasting subjects or locations.

Photos full of irony can be humorous or thought-provoking. Maybe you snap an image of a tow truck hauling another tow truck or you notice a descriptive sign in a place that doesn’t quite seem to fit. When it comes to ironic photos, a keen eye is needed along with a quick wit.

60. Fairy Lights

Fairy lights make for beautiful focal points. You can wrap the lights around a tree, weave them between human subjects or fill mason jars with them. Build a larger scene by ensuring no backdrop distractions are present or capture the fairy lights up close.

Regardless of what subjects and scenes you decide to shoot, proper exposure is crucial.

For this photography project, choose smoke as your primary accent. Incense sticks are easy to use and allow you to play with various colors. Your setup should ensure ample ventilation for the smoke to escape the room. Some photographers merge two photographs (one of the smoke and one of the object) to design a special scene, like one of a toy train blowing smoke or a tea kettle steaming.

62. Vintage Cars

From sporty models to classic town cars, vintage vehicles never go out of style. Look for vintage makes at car rallies and exhibitions, although sometimes you’ll come across them in your everyday happenings. The golden hours, right after sunrise or right before sunset, are ideal for shooting cars. Highlight specific parts, like bumpers, trunks and hoods for diverse perspectives.

63. Faces In Things

You’ve probably seen images that double as a face and another object. In this photography project, you’ll create a similar effect. Take a close look at nature, food and furniture to locate hidden human faces. Compile as many faces as you can, and see if your friends can guess what’s in the images.

Alter your perspective by shooting your subject through a picture frame. The frame technique works best outdoors where you can place ample distance between your lens and your subject. Consider creating scenes with a woman standing on the beach, a tree in an open field or a tall building at the end of a street.

65. Reflections

Any body of water—like a lake, river, pond or swimming pool—can act as your reflective tool for this photography project. You’ll want to avoid direct light on the water to eliminate glare. Practice using reflections on waterfront cityscapes or mountains overlooking a lake.

66. Take My Hand

When you can represent human connection in photography, the emotion of the image is strengthened. Head out on a hike or stroll through a garden to practice photographing two hands linked together.

67. Picception

A relatively new technique, picception images incorporate another camera or photo into the shot. It can be a picture-in-a-picture style or something more subtle like a photograph of someone taking a photograph. While often informal, picception shots can be formal if intentionally designed.

Often eye-catching, neon photos provide a stunning mix of light, shape and color. Whether you’re on the Vegas strip or exploring your hometown at night, take photos of neon signs with your camera’s evaluative meter exposure setting. Choose a low ISO of 200 or 100 to avoid noise. Be sure to place your camera on a tripod for stability.

No matter which photography projects you decide to complete, remember to enjoy the process and save copies of your photos. Design a themed calendar or metal print to showcase your results.

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10 Photography Assignments To Improve Your Photography

• January 31, 2018
• 4 minute read

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Photography assignments to improve your photography.

“A picture is worth a thousand words.’’ Yes, the phrase is true as it reminds of the well spent times of the past. The essence of the pictures in your album has a spectacular charm that’s truly second to none. Though photography appears a breeze, it is hard. Photography is not a new thing. It’s a skill that inspires learners of all generations. Taking great photos let you click memories for your lifetime. Photography differs from all other hobbies as it gives wings to your artistic vision. It lets you showcase your creativity and expands your boundaries of career.

Whether you are an amateur who want to brush up your photography skills or a master in the art, it’s always good to try new things. The theory of lights and shadows, technical aspects of a camera as well as the actual composition of a photo, learning the different aspects can add refinement to your skills. Do you want to improve your skills? If that sounds too brave and audacious for a beginner like you, then here are some Amazing Underwater Photography Ideas and Tips you can try out.

Then, here are the photography assignments to improve your photography:

While this photography assignment is often avoided, yet it adds a beautiful touch of flare to the all-embracing composition. By light hitting the lens, it creates a sunburst. Let your subject stand with back facing the sun and shoot directly into the sun. This will enable you to create a beautiful lens flare. Try to shoot in the manual mode as it lets you adjust the exposure.

Light Painting

Essentially, it’s an art that embraces your carefree and artistic skills. By using long exposure and lights, you create a light painting effect. You would require an external light source and dark location to let your subject illuminate.  Here are some  Cute Newborn Baby Photography Ideas and Tips  for you to dope on

Black And White

It’s truly an excellent creative exercise. Black and white is a compositional element that challenges you to view the world differently. Appropriate black and white involve right settings and perfect lighting tocreatea right composition. It gives you a timeless feel and invokes a deep emotional response.

Silhouette Photography

It revolves around lighting, composition, and exposure. In order to create perfect silhouette photography, select a strong subject and let it position with its back facing the setting sun. Thereafter, pay immense attention to settings and play with the shutter speed to come up with excellent results.  Do remember the saying that you explore and let the camera do the rest and this can be the beautiful rain photography ideas and tips that you are looking for.

Motion Blur

It’s an ultimate way to give your photography an artistic feel. With the help of fast moving objects, it lets you create visually interesting compositions. Play with your shutter speed, hold the camera still when the subject moves. Make use of long exposure to blur the subject which further results in a wonderful haze of colors. With the subject in focus and a blurred background, you can master this photography assignment to improve your photography.

Great Portraits

Capturing great portraits is not everyone’s cup of tea. Paying close attention to the direction of light allows you to make the subject look best. Practice the art of bouncing the light back onto the face of the subject. This assists you make your subject stand out from the background.

Night Photography

Night photography is a challenge; however, if you conquer the art, you can capture sharp night time photography. This artistic skill offers a whole new realm to your photographic aspect. Make use of slow shutter speed and use a tripod to make your camera still.  Here you also check these tips that will surely help you to Improve your Night Photography. 

Flash Photography

Learning how to use your on-camera flash can truly add to your photography. It works best during day time where additional light is a requirement. Diffuse the flash to ensure that the images do not wash out terribly. Flash come up to be handy when additional light source is pivotal.

It’s a great visual element for your photography. Most importantly, the out-of-the-focus of light often results in a blurred, soft foreground. Open the aperture as wide as possible and use a wide lens to draw the subject into focus while making background blur out.

Street Photography

This photography assignment works well to improve your photography. Though it is quite challenging, however, an immense practice can let you capture the strangers on the street beautifully. Take photos of the storefronts, architecture, and everything on the street to make it stand out. Also you can sharpen your photography skills with our list of popular travel photography tips for beginners.

Here are some amazing Full Moon Photography Tips and Ideas that will come handy if you are keen on taking creative moon pictures. So, shutterbugs!! Practice, practice, and practice the aforesaid photography assignments and let your pictures scream loud your creative skills.

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Get Inspired With These Black & White Photography Assignments

A few weeks ago I wrote about what to do when you find yourself in a photography rut . One of the ideas is giving yourself creative photography assignments or briefs. 

This idea is so powerful that I wrote an ebook about it, The Magic of Black & White: 50 Assignments . Today I’d like to share some of my favorite assignments from the book with you.

It’s important to let you know that I’m not going to give you an assignment list that reads like this:

• Take a landscape photo
• Make a street photo
• Take a photo of somebody’s pet

These assignments go deeper than that. Some of them are easy. Most of them are challenging. All of them are designed to get you to see the creative potential in everyday subjects. 

To help you find the right assignment for you I’ve divided them into four categories: Composition, Subject, Technique and Creativity.

To give you a taste of what’s in the book here’s an assignment from each of these categories. Whether you buy the book or not, I hope you’ll find these ideas useful. Feel free to print them out and keep them. And if you do the assignments, send me the results. I’d love to see them.

Photography assignment 5: A bird’s eye view (Composition)

Knowing where to put the camera and which direction to point the lens in is as important as deciding what to include in the composition. 

Most people instinctively take a photo from eye level. Good photographers explore different points of view. They might kneel or lay on the ground for a worm’s eye view. Or they might use a drone to look down on the world from above.

This assignment is about looking down. It doesn’t matter how high the camera is, just the direction it’s pointing in. There are lots of possibilities. A simple example you’ll see on Instagram is somebody making a photo of  their bare feet in the sand at the beach, or their shoes while standing in a drift of autumn leaves. It’s been done before but it’s easy and effective.

Another option is to try a flat lay style of composition. That’s where you arrange a set of objects on a table (or some other interesting surface) and make a photo from above. It’s kind of two dimensional but that’s the appeal. 

Outside look for viewpoints that let you look downwards. Stand at the top of a set of steps and look down. Go to a building’s higher levels and look down through the windows (or over the edge of the roof). How different do things look when seen from above?

• Find an interesting subject first then look to see if there’s a way you can look down at it. 
• On sunny days looking down on the subject gives you the opportunity to add shadows to the composition. This is most effective at the end of the day when shadows are longer.
• Food photography is a natural fit for this assignment. Wooden tables make great backdrops for food. Use sidelight to bring out the textures.

Why this photo works

You don’t have to use a drone or a stepladder to take a photo from above. Look for changes in level, retaining walls or steps that let you look down on your subject. 

Here, the symmetrical arrangement of the tables and chairs creates an interesting composition. The subtle tonality and mixture of textures adds interest.

Photography assignment 29: Hint of mystery (Subject)

Many photographers try and show the entire subject in their photos. But what happens when you only show part of it instead? 

Garden designers think like this. They like to include hidden corners to encourage people to step into the garden and walk through it. In a similar way, by not showing the viewer everything, you’re encouraging them to become more engaged with the photo in search of answers.

In this assignment your brief is to create a sense of mystery and unanswered questions by showing part of the subject, not all of it. Here are some ideas for how you can do it.

• Hide part of the subject in deep shadow. 
• Use a telephoto lens or move in close so that part of the subject is excluded from the frame. Try telling a story about the subject by only photographing part of it.
• Use a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus. Dark backgrounds are more mysterious than light ones.
• Light is an important part of creating a sense of mystery. Mysterious photos are often made in moody light.
• Standard and telephoto lenses are the easiest ones to use for this assignment. Their narrower field of view helps you exclude more of the scene from the photo.
• Resist the temptation to show everything in a photo. What you leave out adds to the sense of mystery and unanswered questions.

This photo of a man’s foot poses more questions than answers. Where was it made? Why is he wearing sandals made from old tires? What does the rest of the scene look like? You’ll get a better idea of the answers when I tell you that I made the photo in a town in Bolivia, and that the man whose foot I photographed is from a nearby rural village.

Photography assignment 38: Slow shutter speeds (Technique)

Most of the time photographers use shutter speed to freeze action and prevent camera shake. But you can get interesting results by putting your camera on a tripod and using slower shutter speeds.

In this assignment your brief is to experiment with using slow shutter speeds and a tripod mounted camera to create photos with blur. The idea is that part of the photo is sharp (that’s why you use a tripod) and part of it’s blurred. 

Waterfalls are a great example. Water flowing over a rock in a stream or river is another. Whatever your subject, start by setting the shutter speed to around 1/4 second. Then, once you’ve done that, experiment with different shutter speeds to see which one gives you the best result. 

You can also look for other subjects other than water, like grass blowing in the wind. Include something like a rock or a fence in the composition to juxtapose the blurred grass with something sharp.

• The image stabilization systems in modern cameras and lenses let you use shutter speeds as slow as half a second without camera shake. If you have an image stabilized lens or camera then test it to see how slow you can go and still get sharp images.
• Use a polarizing filter to remove reflections from wet rocks.

Waterfalls are a great subject to experiment with using slow shutter speeds. Here, a shutter speed of one second let the water blur nicely. I used a short telephoto lens to photograph the most interesting part of the waterfall, rather than try and capture the whole scene.

Photography assignment 43: A sense of place (Creativity)

Black and white is the ideal medium for capturing a sense of place. It captures the character of places just as much as the character of people.

Part of the reason for this is that black and white has a timeless, mysterious quality. Being one step removed from reality helps us see a place through fresh eyes. We see beyond the surface (color) to the essence of something (shape, form and texture). 

This assignment’s brief is to use these qualities of black and white to capture the spirit of a place. The choice of place is up to you. The important thing is that you find a way to capture its character.

Working locally is a disadvantage in one way because it’s harder to see it with fresh eyes. But it also gives you an advantage because you know it better, including the hidden corners that visitors miss. Think about the things that make the place unique. If you’re in a town, for example, that could be the style of architecture. This applies to homes people live in as well as public buildings. And character doesn’t have to be old. Even the newest housing estate has some kind of character to capture.

If you’re photographing a landscape, what are the unique geological features that make it special? 

Think about the light and weather as well. If there’s a marked difference between the seasons, then the character of a place changes through the year.

• You don’t have to travel to somewhere exotic for this assignment. Think local. How can you capture a sense of the place where you live?
• If you’re working locally it’s easy to turn this assignment into a project. How does the sense of place change with the seasons?

I made this photo in a narrow road in an English town. The architecture is typical of the area. Note how two of the windows are blocked in, a legacy of the window tax enforced between the 17th and 19th centuries.

The Magic of Black & White: 50 Assignments

These assignments come from my new ebook The Magic of Black & White: 50 Assignments

It builds on the lessons in The Magic of Black & White by giving you 50 assignments to develop your black and white photography skills.

I’m proud of this one and wish I’d had it 20 years ago when I was starting out in photography. Click here to see the details .

Further reading

• How To Get Out Of A Photography Rut With Creative Assignments
• Seven Black & White Assignments Results
• How Curiosity and Patience Make You a Better Photographer

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• Our Mission

A Photography Project That Develops Interpersonal Skills

Photography can help students work on communication, empathy, and teamwork—and see their communities through a new lens.

Our middle school’s mission is to shape and support a diverse community where students create high-quality work, care for the well-being of themselves and others, and engage in meaningful service. Last year, I began teaching a new course on leadership and service learning in which student-led project teams work with career mentors to address needs in the community. To equip students for success, I begin by teaching a series of lessons to promote the development of basic interpersonal skills: effective communication, empathy, and teamwork.

Focusing on Empathy

For a lesson on empathy, I partnered with a local photographer—and a parent at the school—to create a photography project called “Finding Your Joy.” I believe other educators can adapt this lesson to build classroom community while helping students identify others’ feelings, which fosters positive relationships. Lessons like this teach students how to read people, and how to understand situational context and anticipate reactions.

In the first lesson, which lasted 55 minutes, the photographer covered four sections: in photograph analysis, students learned how to identify emotions and find the story behind the image; in brainstorming, they considered what joy looks like at school; in introduction to photography basics, they learned about the rule of thirds, composition, and lighting and exposure; and in the practice section, they visited art, chorus, and drama classes to take photographs.

This assignment required students to take the focus off of themselves and watch—and anticipate—the actions of their peers and teachers. We sent a letter to staff describing the project guidelines, which covered rules like getting consent from potential subjects and not taking selfies or other posed pictures.

Helping Students View the World Through a New Lens

After the first lesson, students practiced taking pictures for one week, during which the environments expanded from the school to family and community settings. Students created a folder on Google Drive and shared their work with the photographer and myself. During that week, the students and I used the last 10 minutes of each class to revisit the guidelines, answer questions, discuss challenges, and analyze entries. For peer feedback, we followed the “two stars and a wish” format: Students identified the two strongest attributes of a photograph and shared one idea for improving the picture.

In the beginning, students struggled to give their peers meaningful feedback. Comments tended to be too general—e.g., “I like it. It’s good.” I modeled ways to provide specific feedback, which generated higher-level reflection. I asked questions like, “Why did you choose to photograph this girl?,” “Do you think the student to the left detracts from your photo?,” and “How can you crop the picture to create a stronger message?” Students took multiple pictures, so they were able to select their best work for submission. Feedback even led a few students to realize that they had missed the mark and needed to try again.

A week later, the photographer returned to teach the next lesson, which focused on analyzing student work, digital editing, and learning from one’s own work. She walked the students through a think-aloud, asking more questions about their photographs. Then, working in pairs and small groups, the class practiced editing with the tools already available on their phones and Chromebooks. For the majority of the class period, the photographer walked around the classroom and provided feedback.

From Looking to Seeing

Students submitted their three favorite photographs for the project. The photographer and I met once more to select the pictures that students believed best represented joy. We received media releases from students’ families and then posted the photographs on our school’s social media pages. We printed the winning photographs on canvas and displayed them at a local resource center for caregivers and their families. Today, the pictures are hanging in the front hallway of our school.

Students’ takeaways from this project were profound. Looking is a simple physical act;  seeing represents observing and understanding. Many middle school students do not easily recognize the feelings of others, but student leaders learn that everyone has a story.

Adapting for New Formats

The project was completed last fall in a traditional classroom setting. This year, I will adapt it to my virtual teaching assignment. A photographer will now mentor my students using a service like Google Meet. Photographs will still be posted on the shared drive, but now feedback and discussion will occur during online breakout groups. The pandemic may prevent students from working closely in the classroom, but the project goals remain the same.

And there was one last lesson, which may be among the most valuable of all. A photography project allows you to see through students’ lenses. It leads to meaningful conversation. Students were highly engaged in this project from the start because they were allowed to use their cell phones and Chromebooks. Ultimately, this project served as a springboard for students to focus on others. Without vision, we have no direction. Help your students go beyond looking to seeing.

11 Advanced Photography Exercises for High School Students

Whew! Eleven advanced photo assignments…did you try them all?

As I explored these photography assignments again, I had so much fun taking new photos and applying the techniques right alongside you!

If you didn’t join in on all the fun, you’ll find the complete list of photo prompts we explored below. Click on each link to see the short blurb with related tips and tricks for each prompt.

Also, if you teach photography, here’s a free lesson plan that goes along with this whole series. Click the button below and enter your email! (You can also  click here to purchase the entire unit, including all the worksheets with keys, test with key and review, a complete presentation, and a project outline.)

Alphabet Photography

ABC! Ready, Set Go! Take your alphabet pictures; you may be surprised at how fun and challenging finding photography letters can be!

Extra Credit

Do you need some extra points? Here are some photoshoot ideas that will get you extra points in the grade book and give you a reason to support your school! So go [insert your school’s name here]!

Built-In Camera Flash

You may need to use the flash on your camera when you’re in a pinch! Check the link for tips to make the light look as natural as possible!

External Flash

If you’ve got an external flash, it’s time to learn to use it! It can come in very handy in low-light situations!

Candid Photography

What is candid photography? Well, it’s a bit like being a spy! You’ll need to take pictures on the sly to capture those authentic expressions you’re looking for.

Story Telling in Photography

A picture is worth a thousand words? You bet! Maybe more! Take thoughtful, rich photos that have the ability to strike emotion in your viewers.

Pattern in Photography

Pattern photography is some of the most artistic photography you can take. Finding a good pattern and then capturing the perfect angle to accentuate it is fun!

High Contrast in Photography

I think most the great photographers thrive on high-contrast photography. These photos pop out and say, “LOOK AT ME!”

Low Contrast in Photography

This type of photo is much more subdued than your high-contrast photo, but if done effectively, it can really set the mood!

Color Contrast in Photography

We live in a world of color, so naturally, we  must  learn how to make the colors look good in our photos! So, using the color wheel and some good old-fashioned simplicity, we’ll get some pictures with great color contrast!

Light Painting Idea

What do you get when you mix a camera (with a tripod), a dark room, and some light sticks? Light Painting! This is one of the most fun photography assignments I’ve ever done!

I hope you take the time to try all these out! Also, don’t forget to click the links above to download the worksheets and view the full articles on each.

Thank you SO MUCH for all YOU do for those budding Photographers out there. YOU are truly amazing, too!

Click here to receive the  FREE lesson plan  that goes with this blog series and be added to my email list so that you don’t miss a thing! (If you want to do the thing right, check out this link to get information about the entire unit! )

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