Gaining Inspiration

Sometimes writers find themselves struck with writer's block. They are needing a creativity recharge and often feel stuck. As photographers, we often find ourselves in similar predicaments. It's sometimes due to overworking, to lousy weather or simply lack of interest. Whatever the reasons, here are some great ideas to find new ways to inspire yourself as an artist.

1. POETRY

A common way to find inspiration is by reading or writing poetry. Dissect the words and find the emotions in them and attempt to portray them through photography. Let the image that is created tell the story that the poet is also conveying.

The following image is a self portrait taken by Photographer Sarah Benton, inspired by a poem that she wrote.

"Then the night comes and this when I miss you.

I miss the long and tall of you.

The short and small of you.
The rise and fall of you.
The pieces and all of you.

And you could be anyone.
You could be me.
The me, I lost in you.
The one who said it wouldn't do."
-Sarah Benton

Image by Sarah Benton, Pictorian Photography

https://www.facebook.com/pictorian?ref=br_tf

2. BOOKS

Authors create stories with words, just as photographers create stories with art. Just as art may inspire a writer, words can inspire an artist.

The image below was shot through a cafe glass door by Photographer Sarah Benton and was inspired by a quote from a memoir.
"A girl came in the cafe and sat by herself at the table near the window. She was very pretty with a face fresh as a newly minted coin if they minted coins in smooth flesh with rain-freshened skin, and her hair black as a crow's wing and cut sharply and diagonally across her cheek."

-Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

Image by Sarah Benton, Pictorian Photography

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This self portrait was inspired by an excerpt from a novel.

“Remember it all, every insult, every tear. Tattoo it on the inside of your mind. In life, knowledge of poisons is essential. I've told you, nobody becomes an artist unless they have to.”
-Janet Fitch, White Oleander

Image by Sarah Benton, Pictorian Photography

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This image, titled "Ode to Ophelia," was taken by photographer Ken Gehring of model Jessica Arnold. It was inspired by Ophelia, the fictional character in the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. 

Image by Ken Gehring, kgPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/KenGehringPhotography

Ken Gehring was also inspired by the character Cosette in the book Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo.

Image by Ken Gehring, kgPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/KenGehringPhotography

3. MUSIC

This image, taken by photographer Sarah Benton of model Natan Ramseyer, was styled by him, but the editing and angle and mood was inspired by the On An On song called "Ghosts."

"There are spirits
Coming to find me
They're not stopping
Until it's done.

And I can feel them
Taking me over

I can see them
From 56 miles away
But I can't hear
What they're saying
Image by Sarah Benton, Pictorian Photography
Every day the ghosts are coming for me
Every way I'm overcoming
To keep you alive
To keep you alive."

Image by Sarah Benton, Pictorian Photography
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4. MOVIES

The word "move" is in "movie" for a reason. They sometimes move us as individuals and artists to create.

Ken Gehring was inspired by the Disney movie, Cinderella when he photographed model Megan Wickliffe.

Image by Ken Gehring, kgPhotography

https://www.facebook.com/KenGehringPhotography

The following image was taken of my son. He was pretending that he was Percy Jackson on Mount Olympus in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. In editing it, I carried over the theme, giving it an adventurous, fantasy-type finish.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography

5. DAILY LIFE

Many photographers find themselves inspired by their own daily life. We all follow different paths, leading different lives and sharing or own life stories creates documentation of that for our families, friends and future generations to appreciate. 

Photographer Amber Privizzini captures her children's lives and finds beauty even in the simple task of daily cleansing.

Image by Amber Carbo Privizzini, Privizzini's Passion Photography

https://www.facebook.com/privizzinispassionphotography

Photographer April Burns produces magic when she captures the daily life of her children on their farm. Their interaction with animals under wide open skies captivates her fans. 

April Burns, April Burns Photography

https://www.facebook.com/AprilBurnsPhotography

6. PERSONAL EVENTS

Sometimes personal events can lead an artist to creating their favorite images. The emotions they are feeling during that event often transpires through their work. The personal events may be happy or sad. It could be a death in the family, a new struggle, or something like the celebration of a new job.

This image was taken of my son after we lost our family pet, Clover. My son and his bunny were inseparable and the loss was difficult for him. In the days after her passing, he clung to his stuffed animal and I felt compelled to photograph that time in his life.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography 

7. THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment can certainly have an effect on our work. Weather plays a big part in that the snow may make an artist feel dreary, while the sun may leave us cheerful, thus affecting our work. The types of sessions or artistic ideas would also differ due to the weather and environment. An environment of open desert would affect our ideas different than a thick green forest or the rolling green hills of Ireland. One's surroundings play a big role in the way an artist will think, feel and in how a shoot conducted.

Photographer Catalina DeVore found herself inspired by her own environment.

"It was the raven that inspired this shoot. In Native American culture, the raven is actually a bearer and bringer of light. It is given the credit for the sun, moon, stars, fresh water, and fire during creation. I loved the contrast of the black of the raven and white of the snow which paralleled the contrast of the raven and light."

Images by Catalina DeVore, Catalina DeVore Photography

https://www.facebook.com/catalinadphotos

8. SEASONS/ HOLIDAYS 

Oftentimes, the seasons or holidays will bring forth inspiration as well. Change brings new ideas to create new art.

Photographer Kristen VanDeventer Rice took this image of her daughter Ruby, inspired by Valentine's Day. The heart shaped mouth is creative, perfectly composed in the center of the image, while her choice of color and execution is classic and beautifully done.

Image by Kristen VanDeventer Rice, Kristen Rice Photography Buffalo
https://www.facebook.com/kristenricephotography

Below, Photographer Carrie Carpunky used the winter season to inspire her t create Hot Cocoa sessions for her clients. Other clients have probably heard of summertime lemonade sessions that almost become somewhat of a cliche, yet Carrie created a fresh new idea, which was ideal for the winter season.

Image by Carrie Carpunky, Carrie Carpunky Photography

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carrie-Carpunky-Photography/164012406962848

9. HISTORY

History can inspire photographers in many ways. It may be a crucial moment that could be re-created. It could even be an artist analyzing the feelings during a time such as The Great Depression or The Holocaust and expressing those feelings through their work. Through history we find stories to tell, conflicts to portray and lessons to remind each other of. Inspiration may even be found in something as simple as clothing from a different time period.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography

10. EMOTION

An artist's emotions may have everything to do with an artist's work. If an artist uses those emotions in their work, it is often seen by viewers and appreciated all the more. Sometimes, it may not even be an emotion that the artist is feeling, but simply an emotion they want to express through their art.

After having a friend experience serious insecurities, I decided to try and define the emotion visually rather than through words. I attempted to show an inner struggle with the body moving and in positions of angst. I used the birds to represent negative thoughts attempting to peck away at one's positive thoughts and self confidence. I chose to do the shoot nude because insecurities often make us feel naked to the world and as if we need to be hidden. I wanted to create a stripped down, raw feeling, just as insecurity really is.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography

11. BELIEFS

Photographers also find themselves expressing their beliefs through photography.

Photographer Michelle Keating Leach used her own religious faith to inspire her for a session.
"One morning while I was at church I just felt like I was supposed to create something. I can't tell you the song or the words that were said, but I had a picture in my head that embodied the phrase Fearless for an upcoming conference my church was doing. I really didn't know what it was going to look like other than I knew where to go and who to take with me. This is what came of that vision."
-Michelle Keating Leach

Image by Michelle Keating Leach, Magnolia Adam's Photography

Image by Michelle Keating Leach, Magnolia Adam's Photography

https://www.facebook.com/MagnoliaAdamsPhotography

12. MOVEMENT/ PASSION

If there is a movement or a passion that an artist feels strongly about, they will often express it and give it a voice through their art.

Below, Photographer Catalina DeVore did a tribute for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Image by Catalina DeVore, Catalina DeVore Photography

https://www.facebook.com/catalinadphotos

13. THE CLIENT

Be inspired by the client. Who are they? What are they about? What kind of person are they they? What are their passions? Let the client's personality shine through in their portraits so that even a passerby would get to know the client a little, simply by viewing the image created.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography

14. THE MOMENT

Capture the moment. Sometimes inspiration doesn't need to be sought after and that moment will simply come. Be ready for it. The unplanned are sometimes the best moments.

Below is an image I took of my son. We had been on a long road trip, so he chose to travel in his pajamas for comfort. When we stopped at a rest stop, I towed along my camera, not wanting to leave it unattended in my vehicle. This winter wonderland was awaiting us on the other side of the restrooms and my son was fascinated by the beauty nature had created. I am so glad that I captured this very moment and it is all the more special because it was unplanned.

Image by Robin Chavez, Robin Chavez Photography

15. PINTEREST

Pinterest is "the new guy in town." It is often used for inspiration by photographers. It's a way to share work, yet also be inspired by other ideas, props, clothing, locations, makeup, hair styles, posing, etc, etc, etc. The important thing is to use Pinterest for bits and pieces of information. It is easy to get lost in what is copying and what is not. To use it for ideas here and there though is great for inspiration as long as the artist is in the end still being creative and making the final idea their own.

16. OTHER ARTISTS

We all know the greats. We are inspired by Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz and Anne Geddes and what they have done in history alone for the photography world. Artists inspire each other as well, growing and challenging each other. New techniques are constantly being created. Being inspired is again another fine line when it comes to other artists. When the collaborated elements of the photograph are summed up, the majority of those elements should come from the inspired artist. 

~Robin