I’m taking the liberty of suggesting that you do one or more of the following today:
1. Shoot personal work. Call in some favors, get creative with no budget, and shoot something for yourself.
2. Set free that idea you’ve been holding onto. Write a blog post about it. Ask your friends what they think. Tell the world.
3. Learn about video. Don’t have a camera? Buy drip coffee for a month instead of lattes, and buy a Flip Mino video camera with the money you save. Experiment.
4. Connect with your peers. Start a blog, dig into your Facebook. Or, hell, gather your photo friends for beers and a slide show.
5. Walk around with your camera. You don’t need sunshine. Interesting weather makes interesting pictures. iPhone or one dSLR body with one lens. There is no “client”. Just take pictures.
6. Rent a piece of equipment you’ve been wanting to learn about. Or try this rental secret: pick it up on Friday after 3pm, pay for Saturday. Sunday’s are often free because the camera store is closed. Return Monday by 10am. 3 days for the price of 1.
7. Put together a book of your work. Blurb or Asuka, whatever. Affordable. Even if you don’t print 10 or 100, print 1. Put it in your studio for visitors to flip through, or leave on it your coffee table at home.
8. Do the thing on your list that you most dread doing. Call that client who hasn’t paid. Sign up for Twitter. Develop a marketing plan. Go to the ASMP meeting.
9. Remind yourself that the gear you can’t afford is not the barrier keeping you from success. Gear has very little to do with photography.
[Click the 'continue reading' link below.]
–
10. Read up online about the history of photography and it’s masters. Weston. Steichen. Arbus. Mapplethorpe. Adams. Doisneau. Cartier-Bresson. Avedon.
11. Admit to yourself that you don’t know about something you’ve been pretending to know about. Sit down and do the research yourself. Learn it.
12. Go sit in front of the newsstand at some mega book store. Flip through all the magazines that interest you. Go beyond photo magazines. Generally speaking they limit your imagination rather than expand it. Spend at least an hour.
13. Make a list of 5 clients you want in the next 24 months. Shoot for the moon.
14. Rent a medium format film camera and shoot two rolls of 120. Slow down. Places will process your negs and give you scans these days for pretty cheap.
15. Look through the pictures in my portfolio and appropriate an idea. Tweak the concept and go make a better picture. It’s okay. We all do it. I’m probably looking at your work right now and am grateful for the inspiration.
16. Take 100 pictures with your iPhone. Or your Samsung phone. Or your point and shoot. Whatever camera is the closest to you right this minute. The best camera is the one that’s with you.
17. Refresh your website with at least one new picture. Or dig up an old one, re-process it and make it a new one.
18. Take a picture of something wherever you are when you read this post. Share it somehow, even if it isn’t your favorite. Post it to your blog, twitter, or link it in the comments below. Email or MMS it to somebody who will appreciate it.
19. Quit your day job if you hate it and can live without it. People say it’s a bad time to start a new business or go in a new direction. On the flipside, I think it’s a great time if you’ve got a clear vision and a little cushion.
20. Concept, shoot, and edit a short film (video) in a single day. Keep it cheap. Keep it short. Use whatever camera you have access to.
21. Show somebody your portfolio or a selection of pictures. Let them tell you which ones they like, but also be sure to ask them which ones they don’t like and why. You’ll likely learn something.
22. Back up your work. It’s not that hard and it’ll probably save your arse at some point in the very near future.
sweetness and awesomeness…thanks Chase
Just what I needed to read. Thanks for the inspiration.
nice little refreshment, thanks my bro!
Chase – this is a fantastic list of ideas to get the creative juices flowing. I will make it a point to do one of them today!
I am gonna print this one out!
I am already working my iPhone camera cuz of you !
Thanks for the kick in the pants. Even someone like myself, 20plus years as a pro, need this.
I’ve created a Flickr group for sharing the things people create after following the advice of #15.
It’s called ‘Better than Jarvis’
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1137999@N22/
DUDE – thank you for validating my day!
As always great post.
Chase, thanks for the kick here!
Stop looking at my work!
And also, are you planning some sort of mass storage device attack (re: point 22) ;P
Very inspiring! Thanks!
dude, your a mindreader! i was literally thinking of and working on exactly at least a couple of these things. but very succinctly put. thanks for the clarity/ clarification.
I spent the afternoon working on Number 4: http://nicolashenri.ch/blog/?p=287
Great post, Chase. Thanks so much!
Awesome inspiration Chase! thanks for the post. Now i just need the motivation to get off my arse and go do some of it
I found your list very uplifting. It put me in a good mood.
I put a new gallery on my site just yesterday,
http://paultreacy.com/g20stills
Now I just need to work my way through the rest of the list and make stuff happen.
Good man Chase for chasing us up.
Paul Treacy
http://photohumourist.com
Sweet inspiration Chase … no excuses now
Excellent post! I’m going to see how many of those I can check off by Monday.
pure greatness:)
So very well thought out. Got so inspired I wet my pants.
Thank you Chase needed to read it thank you very much
You never cease to impress me Chase. I think your open and honest attitude toward this industry is having a very real and positive effect on us all.
Thank you for sharing.
Great list. I’ve been trying to do a number of those things myself recently!
Excellent article, really gives us something to focus on.
Finally a list of the top xx items that was actually worth the read. No filler, short and sweet.
Thanks for this.
Here’s my link which didn’t activate previously,
G20 stillsAnd here’s a Flip Video and stills movie of same,
G20 MovieYou are absolutely right about the Flip. I’m a little tired of mine now but I haven’t got anything else nor can I, at this time, afford anything better. But it’s a brilliant little thing to use and can yield fine results.
I would love to fetch me the new Flip Ultra HD with stereo mics and hack it with a wide lens.
I’m going to stay in an Irish lighthouse with my wife and kids in a couple of weeks and hope to flog a picture feature afterwards. I will also make a movie about it all.
I’ve got 3 Blurb books I need to make for their big competition. That’s my next task.
Cheers,
Paul Treacy
PHOTOHUMOURIST.com
Great inspiration. Thanks! Number 19 is most tempting
Thanks soo much Chase…I read it and I showed my friends #9 cos they always say my pics are due to my gear and its TOTALLY NOT…Thanks again, I appreciate!!!
http://www.dialachinedu.com
#22, #22, #22.
thanks Chase. This is just what the Dr ordered today. On my way to shoot some personal work.
Great stuff. Definitely a much needed boost today.
Emily
http://emilymichelle.blogspot.com/
Great post!
I found a model and makeup artist to trade time for pics (zero budget). I don’t recommend doing this a lot but it’s good to keep the creativity fresh. I always learn things that inform my client portraits and keep me moving forward.
http://www.justinvoight.com
Thanks for this, Chase…
Thanks, Chase. Awesome reminders and inspiration … and kick in the pants!
Here is my cellphone pic:
http://twitpic.com/51srp
Wow, man, just the boost I needed. #1 and #13 is what I’ll go for. #19 I think about a lot but am going to hold on to for just a bit. Clear vision, I agree, is what sets you apart.
Thanks for this post!!
#18. Check.
Very inspiring post. I’ve already printed it out and will work my way through it. I just took 40 photos of my cube at work – who knew.
thanks for the kick in the pants! I’ve been needing to get off my arse for a while
Thanks for this. I can do 5 of them right after I right this.
Inspiring post – and not just photographers, but also for any creative worker (naturally with adaptations).
The 23rd step I would recommend is Go to your local restaurant and/or cafe and ask if you could hold an exhibition of your work there. Choose stock of suitable photos with you and select the exhibition material with him/her.
Nice, thanks for this list. Lots of them were on my own “list” already, but it’s great to have a reminder every now and then.. and there’s a lot of fresh ideas for me too.
Thanks Chase, My response to your #18 recommendation
“Take a picture of something wherever you are when you read this post….”
http://twitpic.com/51w4x
http://twitpic.com/51vyw
done.
posted images to the blog.
http://jarrodmccabe.blogspot.com/2009/05/photograph-journal-001.html
also, first new picture in ‘landscapes.’ is new today.
http://www.jarrodmccabe.com
thank you so much for this great post!
here’s my blogpost about yours and my photo!
http://www.icedsoul.de/2009/05/chase-jarvis-suggests-some-treeshaking-ufff/
greetings from cologne
teymur
My tree is shook. Thanks.
Great stuff Chase! Was a good reminder on a couple of things and some sweet ideas that I haven’t done yet – thanks for taking the time to post!
#18
http://twitpic.com/51z5q
Great post – lots of things that are easily done, but so easily overlooked.
Thanks!!
Here’s for #21. Let me know what you think.
http://www.ericgypetersen.com/photo.html
Thanks,
Eric Petersen
like you said:
my blog: http://www.fabianpulido.com/blog
and https://twitpic/520vx
if some one goes to my blog leave a comment!!
You certainly made the day for lots of people! Add me to the list…heading out with my little camera just for the sheer pleasure of it. Thanks!
Thanks Chase, starting with #18 today. http://twitpic.com/5227p
Perfect time for a back-up…
Hi Chase,
Brilliant points. Fell in love with my iPhone camera and find a new challenge to work with the absolute limitations of it.
I love your point that gear has little to do with photography. At the end of the day, all you need is a camera obscura. Renting the equipment you can’t afford to buy might just demystify the whole thing and you start appreciating what you have and make the best out of that.
I find often in situations, where I don’t have the stuff or not with me that my creativity kicks in and I find new solutions I haven’t thouht of before.
Thanks Chase for your substantial amount of inspiration.
I’m not a pro tog, but yeah, I should get some ideas for a personal project together if only to be creative in a more structured way rather than just taking photos of what I see and find interesting.
Some good ideas!
awesome inspiring post. thanks for that.
man, this was really good. i am saving it to my best blogs folder and going to attempt each one of them. this is really on time and really, really good(can’t stop saying really good…lol). thanks so much. it means alot.
Amen Chase! Thanks for writing this
Great ideas Chase. I think it’s time I put up a new post on my blog.
Thank you. I’m not even a photographer in any sense of the word, but this has moved me to do something I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. I appreciate it.
Very inspiring, love your blog. I’m already using my little nokia phone cam more cuz of you, even got a couple of shots. Gonna do no 15 and post it in the flicker group, and get a twiter account by the end of the week. Thanks for the inspiration. Time for bed in the UK. Peace.
posted a new photo on my blog
http://dimsumandsiomai.com/?p=262
a very nice inspirational post!
Like 14, try working in a different medium. I’ve been drawing with pen for a week (one 10-15 minute sketch per day) and its already been improving my vision.
Love this post Chase! So inspiring!!!
fantastic fantastic post. Love all the ideas.
Way to go. Inspiration to everyone. Love it.
Awesome…
#18
Thanks for the inspiration, my friend!
http://twitpic.com/52nhk
Just started mine, actually was thinking for a while but you finally made me do it!!
good ideas. needed that.
great great great inspiration. I’m going to print this one and put on my door. thanks chase
Refreshing and got me thinking of other idea like slapping on my least used lens to take photos for the day. It’ll force a change in the types of pictures I’d take.
Great article Chase! Thank you for the inspiration and ideas.
Inspirationnal…definitely gonna post that on myfridge and read it everyday…thanks
So, you had to know this was coming after asking us to take a photo wherever we were (#18). So here you go…(dont worry its not dirty)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobishow/3527797912/
Thanks Chase! Very inspirational.
Thanks a lot for this inspiration! You’re so right…
Thank You Chase- that is exactly what I needed.
#3 #10 #11 #14: ongoing
#18: seems easy#19: Cross fingers
thanks a lot from Istanbul for the kickstart.
Let’s have a look:
4. Connect with peers.
Check. Signed on with Twitter just last week.
5. Walk around with camera.
Check. Been shooting stuff around Bangkok streets.
7. Put together a book.
Check. Made a 160 page blurb book and gave it to my wife, only a month ago.
8. Client that hasn’t paid.
Check. It took 8 months (!), but they finally paid.
11. Read up.
Check. Was just re-reading Robert Frank’s bio the other day.
12. Newstand.
Check. Did that two weekends ago. Twice.
13. New client list.
Check. Already had two meetings with two perspectives.
15. Appropriate an idea from CJ portfolio.
Check. But no where near as good!
17. Refresh website.
Check. Last week I added Maldives Processing Plant photos to my portfolio. http://www.thomaspickard.com
Arctic | Icebergs to stock library last night – http://tinyurl.com/qjtdxp
Arctic | Landscapes to stock library last night –
http://tinyurl.com/rxycsc
21. Show portfolio and get feedback.
Check. Did that one t0o, only two weeks ago.
22. Back up your work.
Check. Did it this morning.
Okay, now onto the one’s I haven’t done yet/recently.
Thomas http://www.thomaspickard.com
Words to live by everyone. Thanks Chase….Again
great post. very inspiring. gotta shoot something today.
Thanks chase; I’m living the camera phone dream too! http://www.blackandwhiteberry.com – its teaching me a lot about composition and getting a way from always wanting the next best camera and thinking it will improve my photography.
This is just the inspiration I needed today! Thanks Chase. It’s a wonderful day!!!
These words couldn’t have come at a better time for me my friend. This post gave me some truly needed motivation to go out here and kick is serious butt with my camera. Thanks!!!
A perfect post.
Chase,
Great list! I will definitely tackle some of these!
WRT to your last item, I would also suggest that people practice a RESTORE after their back-up. I've seen many occassions where people back-up religiously only to find out that their restore ability was broken for some reason. Obviously, this only adds insult to injury!
Back-ups can't be emphasized enough, in general. I would assume that this community is comprised of avid photogs and they're probably careful about this… But imagine the casual P&S-camera-computer-phobic-family; who have years of family memories tucked away on a single hard drive. They're in danger of a devastating loss.
A great post.
Thanks!
PS. waiting for iPhone OS 3 to get an iPhone…
ok, see how this stuff works….. i started this yesterday…. ‘The DogTown iPhone project’ on my twitter:
http://twitpic.com/5307t
http://twitter.com/gallagherphoto
Chase, i thank you man, great sharing of thoughts and inspiration. oh, and also thanks for the iphone tips too. killer stuff.
Great list. I think I’m going to have to print it out and save for a rainy day when I need a little kick in the creative pants
Yes, personal work. It’s been missing recently. Time to go outside
Thanks Chase!!
Thanks Chase for the wonderful post. Inspirational. Which Flip do you recommend? The MinoHD?
thank you…i hate my job and frankly i’ve been a pu@#y about taking a chance….so here we go…!
I bought a Holga last Friday just for that purpose…and stuck a roll of Velvia in it. thanks for the inspiration
WOW! Thanks!
Thats 100% inspiration!
Great inspiring information for a Hump Wednesday bro… Thanks for the refreshing reminder
Great and inspirational – day job not so good at the moment, so these thoughts are very welcome!
This was just the inspiration I needed to get back on the photo wagon. Thanks!
You’re on!
As it happens, I did just decide to start shooting the things that interest me in my every day. I jam with a guitarist buddy weekly. His day job is building custom guitars, so I just started bringing my camera along.
Combine that with the “Blog-n-tell” challenge and well, here you go:
http://chicago-photos.blogspot.com/
MAn!!! Where the hell do you get all those ideas from!!! It’s been a while I’ve been reading you and following a lot of your work and have to SHOUT OUT LOUD… YOU MUST BE A HELL OF AN INTERESTING PERSON TO MEET IN REAL LIFE!!! Think I would give a finger or two for that!
Who knows… One day… Lifeis short but the world is also very small!!
Gonna take that picture now Master Yoda!!!! ;oP
Taara(as they say around here!)
Peter Pan.
great ideas. just what I needed to read.
Thanks Chase for putting words into my thoughts. Yes, what you wrote does work. I’m gonna share your post to my friends.
Awesome … just what I needed to read.
Cheers,
Glyn ;o)
Amazing post – Thank you Chase. Here is #2 & #18 for ya!
Split personalities and well-lit toes
Meep! So many terrific things I have to share — and get out and do!
@ car blog: yes, flip mino HD is fresh.
Great, Great, great. Thank you Chase.
Thanks so much Chase! You have just reassured my decision to quit shooting the same stuff over and over again in my life and do what I like without worrying so much about livelihood! I am experiencing more breakthroughs in my last 3 months than I ever did in my last 9 years! I shall continue learning all the stuff you suggested.
Thought one more time. So great, I needed to post the link to the blogentry in my own blog here:
http://www.lapplandblog.eu/files/25160090006dfaf513b5a48f1053e9a4-810.php
Best regards
Henning
this is very true
Number 13 – so simple yet so easily overlooked. Why wait for my dream clients to come to me? Could be a verrrry loooong wait.
this was the slap in the face I needed for my next day off to “get to it”. thanks for the wake up call Chase
- Matt Blassey
Pittsburgh ASMP
Beer is on me!
Chase this is an amazing post, I’m gonna keep coming back to this for the next few days, it’s really got the gears going, thanks.
Well this is going to keep me busy for a while! I like No. 16 the best…
My response to #1: http://www.flickr.com/neinlivez
nice post
found you from epic edits
seriously im inspired by your post
im just as noob as most of the freshmen.
i got great ideas but i dont have the luxury to share it with anyone.
hopefully one day my work will get notice.
Wow! Head is spinning….cant’ wait to get out and do some of these!
Thanks for those lines.
Now is not 'difficult' it is a perfect time to quit a day job you hate, you never regret that decision even if money becomes tight.
I got one to add… if you shoot color all the time shoot some B/W. If you always shoot B/W shoot color.
you really don't "need" more comments, but here's one anyways. Thank you for continuing to inspire me. I moved to the city from the country side to get closer to the photo community. Now I just have to get the balls to meet people (i'm a wuss)
thank you- I feel very warm and inspired after reading this!
Nice. My photo of the day.
http://dixonhamby.tumblr.com/
And I can tell from experience the last one is the most important. Lost a whole trip to Latin America because I didnt back up in time.
This is one of the best posts that I've read in a while. Thank you so much.
Great Post! I added it to my facebook page and twitter feed.
Thanks Chase….I will do research on how to set manual settings on my strobe instead of pretending I know what I'm doing with it!
What a great bunch of suggestions & inspirations. Kinda makes me feel bad for sitting here surfing the net.
a wonderful list, chase… and one to make resolutions from. as it turns out, many items on it were done today (many more than i expected). many are pointers i will use. thanks. and i got a flip for christmas – so more more to do….
Perfect advice for anyone…so good
Seriously inspirational post. Just the thing for the first sunday morning of the new year.
Reblogged – http://roundintriangles.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/the-best-new-year-post-ever/
Chase this is def very very inspirational. Thanks for the words.
Shiv
Thank you very much. I appreciate the encouragement.
Ha ha it would seem us photographers are very predictable, you are spot on. Thanks for the tips Chase.
Lee
Excellent post. I look forward to flipping though your work.
Hey! I couldn't find a form to send you an email so I decided to leave a comment. I just wanted to let you know
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Thank you very much !! You have shared very good information with us. I will also tell about it to my friends also in fact all the people known to me.
Got here via zenhabits.net and I really would like to give two thumbs up for this article. Inspiring concepts!
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I love this post and its mix of ideas, thank you. And as for a photo of what’s around my whilst reading this post? This is what’s in front of me: http://yfrog.com/h3dp7nj
Wow! I really needed this post Chase. Thank you very much for the inspiration!
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Thanks for the list, this is a great post!
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