MY YEAR-LONG CREATIVE CHALLENGE
I’m kicking off my photography business with a little personal project - 365 days of photography! The idea is simple: one photo every day for a year. I think it’s a fun way to stay inspired, keep learning and challenge myself to try new things every day.
Armed with a pile of photography books borrowed from the library, I’ll be diving into creative prompts and experimenting across different styles and genres. Each day, I’ll pick a new idea, try something new and see what I can create.
This project isn’t just about capturing pretty pictures, it’s about exploration, growth and stepping outside my comfort zone. I’ll be sharing some of my favourites here on the blog, so you can follow along (and maybe even try some prompts yourself)! 😊
Day 1
CREATE SILHOUETTES
Okay, I’m not going to lie... this isn’t a photo from today (obviously!), but it was definitely a challenge. I took it earlier this summer while on holiday in Germany, visiting friends and family. Shooting into the sun is never easy, and many of the images turned out too dark. The bright sunlight tricked my camera into thinking the scene was brighter than it really was, so I had to bring a little light back into the water during editing.
Next time, I’ll try to make the sun sparkle!
Day 2
FIND NATURAL FRAMES
I love how this shot turned out, I think the repeating lines and soft evening light made the perfect natural frame. It was taken at the beach huts in Folkestone, just as the sun was starting to set, casting that warm glow you only get at golden hour. Framing can make such a difference in guiding the viewer’s eye and creating depth in an image.
Sometimes, all it takes is stepping back, looking through what’s already around you and finding that perfect little window for your subject. :-)
Day 3
Celebrate autumn colours
Autumn is slipping away fast, so today’s prompt is all about capturing the season before it disappears. These pumpkins and squash were impossible to walk past. The mix of colours, shapes and textures felt like autumn in one frame. Sometimes the simplest subjects make the most satisfying photos. 🎃🍂
Day 4
CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
For today’s prompt, I wanted to break away from the usual eye-level shots and play with a completely different viewpoint. So I climbed on top of the monkey bars (safely!) to see the moment from above and it totally changed the feel of the photo.
Looking down adds such a fun sense of height and most importantly captures the determination in this little face. I would have never seen this from the ground. It’s a simple reminder that shifting your angle, even just a few feet up, can turn an everyday moment into something much more dynamic.
Day 5
Shoot indoor light trails
Today’s challenge definitely tested my patience (and my coordination)! Picture me in a dark room, waving a torch around and trying to create the perfect swirl: bright, smooth and somehow not blocking the label. It took more tries than I’d like to admit…!
But after plenty of twirling, timing and tweaking, I finally landed on a version I’m really happy with :-)
Day 6
CAPTURE A FESTIVE MOOD 🎄
Today’s challenge was all about photographing a feeling rather than just a scene, that warm, cosy magic that only Christmas decorations can bring :-)
This beautiful wreath at Champneys Eastwell Manor Hotel instantly felt like the perfect moment. Glowing lights, comfy chairs, and that “I could sit here all evening with a glass of wine” kind of atmosphere....
Day 7
MAKE A SEAMLESS BACKDROP
A small, sweet project today. I baked some cupcakes and set up a simple seamless backdrop at home. It’s amazing what a bit of card, tape and window light can do! Simple setup, clean background and suddenly it looks like it’s posing for a cookbook. Photos first… cupcake eating second. Priorities!
A productive afternoon all round 😄📸🍰
Day 8
FOLLOW LEADING LINES
Today’s challenge was to look for natural lines in the landscape. I loved how the winding coastal path draws the eye through the scene, leading you from the foreground toward the cliffs and the sea beyond. A simple composition trick, but so effective in creating depth and direction.
Day 9
GET UP CLOSE
It rained a lot today and I did not want to risk taking my camera out there. So instead, I focused on tiny details and shot raindrops up close on a window. I love how each droplet becomes its own little lens, reflecting the world in miniature (our lawn in the garden 😂). A simple macro moment that turns something ordinary into something surprisingly beautiful. I bet this could work really well in a busy city, shot from a coffee shop window.... Yep, that'll be another prompt soon.
Day 10
PHOTOGRAPH SOMETHING OLD
I spotted this rusting pickup on the beachband couldn’t resist taking a closer look. Its faded paint, broken window and weathered textures tell a story of time and use, and that felt worth capturing.
Shot at Dungeness, which always feels like a world of its own. Remote, quiet and full of strange, weather-beaten relics scattered across the landscape.
Day 11
CAPTURE FROSTY DETAILS
A cold start today, but the frost made everything look a little more interesting. I spotted these spider webs along the fence, coated in tiny ice crystals that showed off every strand. Just a small moment, but one you only catch if you’re out early enough to see it.
Day 12
DO A CHRISTMAS PORTRAIT
Today I’ve been playing with my new “toy”. I got myself a soft light box and used it to take this portrait. It’s amazing how much softer and more even the light becomes, especially paired with the warm background lights. A simple setup, but it makes a big difference in the final image.
Day 13
DO a SELFIE FAMILY PORTRAIT
This sunset photo was basically a race against time. Balancing the camera on the rocks, sprinting into position (I had 5 seconds!!) and hoping the kids didn’t wander off before the timer went off.
But honestly? This was a lot of fun. Just us, the Wye Downs, cold noses, muddy boots and a lot of giggles. 😊