Taking photos (even as a hobby) is a fun way to energize your writing.
It was the early 1980s when I sold my first freelance article. I’d written about an unusual company that was on the radio a lot back then … advertising their potato chips — which they’d named Buffalo Chips.
When the trade magazine called Snack Food (now known as Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery) bought my article, I remember being surprised when I found out they’d paid me twice as much for the 4-5 photos I sent them as they did for the 750-word article!
Since then, I’ve seen that photos often DO bring in a lot more money than written articles. But because the photos are so important to most magazines (especially large commercial publications), professional photographers are usually the ones taking the pictures … not the writers.
Why Taking Photos Can Improve Your Writing
First of all, you don’t have to become a professional photographer to see a boost in your writing skills. Taking pictures with your camera or phone AS A HOBBY will have the same positive effect on your writing.
There are MANY ways that developing your photo-taking skills can enhance your writing, but I’m listing only 3 of those here.
🔴 Taking photos often increases your awareness of the world around you. Texture and color become important parts of your message, which can then influence the way you describe details in your writing. Before you know it, you’ve developed the habit of paying closer attention to things you used to ignore.
🟡 Looking for good images to capture makes it easier to “see the world from a different angle.” Finding good subjects to capture in photos can help you become more creative in your thinking (which often helps with writing tasks). “Thinking outside the box” is another way to look at this.
🔵 Learning to be more persistent is one of the gifts a new hobby or craft can teach you. Most writers already know it often takes at least 2 or 3 rounds of editing an article before they’re satisfied with the final result. But when they see that their PHOTO didn’t turn out the way they expected, they often shrug and give up.
The solution? Well, if this happens to you, just grab your camera (or your phone) and try again … maybe a day or two later.
3 Useful Photo Tips
1. Frame your image BEFORE you take the photo.
If you do a good job with this, you may not even need to crop it digitally later.
2. Pay attention to objects that are directly behind your subject … like maybe a tree or a telephone pole.
If you notice something that could be distracting in a photo, it’s a quick fix. Simply ask your subject (the person you’re photographing) to move a little to one side. This mistake happens more often than you might think!
3. Look for unusual angles or perspectives.
Standing beneath a tree with low-hanging branches, for example, can provide a way to create a natural frame for your photo.
Great Resource … for ALL Photographers
Darren Rowse (a blogger based in Melbourne, Australia) has been inspiring photographers — “newbies” as well as pros — since 2006, which is when he started a blog called Digital Photography School.
“I previously owned and operated a digital camera review site, and over two years, I had a lot of emails from readers asking for tips on how to use their cameras,” says Darren.
Over the past 20 years, the site has grown to include a team that live in locations all over the world and who write tips for a community that has grown to nearly 2 million.
(In case you’re wondering — I am NOT an affiliate for this school.)
