Ever spent hours painstakingly masking hair strands or fixing jagged edges after removing a cluttered background? What if you could skip the tedious work and let AI handle the heavy lifting—while you focus on creating stunning images?
You know backgrounds can make or break a shot. A messy room, harsh lighting, or an overcast sky can ruin an otherwise perfect portrait. But manually removing backgrounds? That’s time you could spend shooting, networking, or simply enjoying life behind the lens.
Aiarty Image Matting is designed to tackle these very challenges head-on. This isn’t just another “magic wand” tool. It’s an AI-powered background remover. No more wrestling with Photoshop’s Quick Selection Tool or drawing manual trimaps. Aiarty Image Matting delivers precision on tricky details (think frizzy hair, lace veils, or water droplets) and speed for batch-editing thousands of images—all with one-click simplicity.
Special Offer: Ready to ditch the tedious background removal grind? Aiarty Image Matting offers a 1-Year License Giveaway so you can test its power firsthand. For photographers ready to level up their workflow, unlock unlimited access at an unprecedented low price. Or you can directly grab our AiMeida package here!
Let’s face it: not all background removal tools are created equal. Aiarty’s AI is built to tackle the unique challenges photographers face daily. Here’s how it simplifies your workflow while delivering pro-level results.
Flawless Edges, Even on Tricky Details
Struggling with frizzy hair, lace veils, or splashing water? With the unique Alpha Matting, Aiarty handles semi-transparent edges and fine details effortlessly. No more jagged halos or lost textures—just clean, natural blends that look like you spent hours masking (but you didn’t).
One-Click Simplicity, Pro-Level Results
Why waste time on complicated tools? Aiarty offers four models trained for different image types. Import your image, choose a model, and let Aiarty work its magic. It’s that easy, making advanced techniques accessible to photographers of all skill levels.
Refine with Control, Not Complexity
Need a quick tweak? Aiarty’s smart editing brush tools let you refine edges or restore details in seconds. Think of it as a digital eraser—but one that actually understands your subject. In addition to the precise AI detection, you can use Manual Selection to adjust the area you want to keep.
Batch Process Thousands in Minutes
Shooting a wedding or product catalog? Aiarty edits loads of images at once, so you can focus on what matters: capturing moments, not clicking buttons. Edit 3,000+ wedding or product photos in one go. Ideal for high-volume projects. It’s faster than brewing your morning coffee.
How to Use Aiarty Image Matting
Editing doesn’t have to be a headache. With Aiarty Image Matting, you can go from raw image to polished masterpiece in just a few simple steps. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Import Your Image
Drag and drop your photo into Aiarty Image Matting—whether it’s a single portrait or a folder of 3,000 product shots. The software supports raw and high-resolution files, so your 4K edits stay crisp and professional.
Step 2: Choose Your AI Model
Aiarty offers four specialized AI models to match your subject:
AlphaStandard V2: For hair, lace, and semi-transparent edges.
EdgeClear V2: For sharp, detailed subjects like jewelry or wildlife.
AlphaEdge V2: For mixed edges needing both softness and clarity.
SolidMat V2: For solid objects like furniture or gadgets.
Select the model that fits your needs, and then click Start to launch AI reference.
Step 3: Refine (If Needed)
Not quite perfect? Use Aiarty’s smart brushes to tweak edges or restore details:
Eraser Tool: Fix stray hairs or halos.
Brush Tool: Enhance edges or add softness.
Dodge/Burn Tools: Adjust lighting for seamless blending.
Step 4: Export and Publish
Once your edit is flawless, export the image as a PNG with transparency or layer it into a new background in the software. Aiarty’s high-quality output ensures your work looks professional, whether it’s for a client portfolio, social media post, or e-commerce listing.
Where Aiarty Shines in Real-World Photography
Aiarty Image Matting isn’t just a tool—it’s a game-changer for photographers across genres. Whether you’re shooting portraits, products, or wildlife, Aiarty solves real-world challenges and unlocks creative possibilities. Here’s how it transforms your workflow.
For Personal Projects & Hobbies
For portrait photographers, delivering studio-quality headshots is now easier than ever. Cluttered backgrounds can ruin an otherwise perfect shot. With Aiarty Image Matting, you can replace messy backdrops with clean, neutral tones or custom designs in seconds. It excels at handling tricky details like frizzy hair, flyaways, or translucent fabrics, ensuring your subject blends naturally into the new scene.
For Professional Creatives
For travel and wildlife photographers, Aiarty Image Matting helps you isolate birds, animals, or landmarks from cluttered foliage or crowds. You can even replace dull skies with vibrant sunsets for a dramatic finish.
Wedding photographers know that every detail matters. From lace veils to tulle skirts, Aiarty ensures flawless edits for semi-transparent fabrics and flowing hair. Batch-process hundreds of ceremony and reception photos in minutes, and create dreamy composites by layering subjects into new scenes.
For E-commerce & Business
If you are a product photographer or a business owner, Aiarty Image Matting is your secret weapon for e-commerce success. Marketplaces like Amazon demand pure white backgrounds, and manually editing hundreds of product shots can be a nightmare. Aiarty delivers crisp, razor-sharp edges for gadgets, jewelry, or furniture, even under challenging lighting. Plus, its batch processing feature lets you edit 3,000+ images in one go. Swap uneven studio backdrops for consistent and client-ready results.
Why Photographers Trust Aiarty’s Tech
Aiarty Image Matting is designed to handle the toughest editing challenges. Here’s why photographers rely on Aiarty for precision, speed, and creative freedom.
Four AI Models for Every Editing Scenario
Aiarty doesn’t rely on a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it offers four specialized AI models, each optimized for different types of images.
AlphaStandard: Perfect for semi-transparent edges like hair, lace, or water. It preserves soft transitions and delicate textures, making it ideal for wedding photographers or portrait artists.
EdgeClear: Tackles sharp, detailed subjects like jewelry, wildlife, or furniture. It enhances edge clarity while retaining fine details, so your edits look crisp and professional.
AlphaEdge: Prioritizes edge sharpness over smooth transparency variations. Balances softness and sharpness for mixed-edge subjects, like flowing dresses with intricate lace. It’s the go-to model for fashion photographers or creatives working with layered textures.
SolidMat: Handles complex image structures for better matting accuracy and detail preservation. Delivers clean, precise cuts for solid objects like gadgets, shoes, or buildings. It’s a lifesaver for product photographers or real estate professionals.
Matting vs. Segmentation
Traditional background removal tools often leave harsh, jagged edges—especially around tricky details like hair, glass, or water. Aiarty Image Matting uses alpha matting, a sophisticated technique that blends edges like a soft brush, not scissors. This means your subjects transition seamlessly into new backgrounds, with no unnatural halos or lost details.
How Aiarty Stacks Up Against Traditional Tools
When it comes to background removal, not all tools are created equal. Here’s how Aiarty compares to traditional options or online background removers across key areas.
Ease of Use: Compared to the steep learning curve of traditional image editors, Aiarty is designed for photographers of all skill levels. No advanced editing knowledge required—just import, click, and refine.
Performance: Photoshop is powerful but time-consuming. Online tools often struggle with accuracy, especially with semi-transparent or fine details. Aiarty Image Matting handles complex edges (hair, glass, water) with AI-powered precision. Delivers natural blends and sharp details in seconds.
Upscaling Capabilities: Aiarty Image Matting comes with an AI Enhance feature to enhance image quality and resolution. With three built-in AI models, you can enhance the original image quality to extreme detail and upscale the resolution by up to 2X. This is a bonus feature you can’t find in most background removers.
Batch Processing: Aiarty Image Matting can edit thousands of images at a faster speed in one go—perfect for weddings, events, or e-commerce catalogs.
Elevate Your Photography with Aiarty
You didn’t become a photographer to spend hours hunched over a computer, wrestling with clunky tools. You became a photographer to create—to capture moments, tell stories, and deliver images that leave clients speechless.
Aiarty Image Matting is here to help you do just that. With its AI-powered precision, batch processing speed, and photographer-first design, it’s more than a tool—it’s your new creative partner. Whether you’re editing hair-flyaway portraits, polishing product catalogs, or crafting dreamy wedding albums, Aiarty handles the tedious work so you can focus on what matters: your art.
Why Wait? Join our Free License Giveaway and start your free trial from today. Your next masterpiece is just a click away.
A lesser known celebration for a day that, as a photographer / content creator / filmmaker / regular person that takes photos of their kids on their phone.. (everyone!) SHOULD be at the top of your calendar! World Backup Day! – March 31st!
March 31st each year, we all encourage each other to BACKUP! In my case it’s to make sure my directly attached external drive is backed up to my NAS (I’ve been using Synology NAS for years, and that’s how we arrived here!) and, I also use it to remind my wife to do her once-a-year backup of her ageing laptop! (trust me, I try…)
This year, we’ve joined forces with the team at Synology to award one lucky person with a FANTASTIC 4-Bay Synology NAS and matching Synology Drives to make sure that they’re BACKED UP properly going forward!
All you need to do to enter is to head over to our Instagram post linked below…
Tag a friend in the comments that REALLY needs to back up!
Losing your photo archive because you stored it all on your laptop and some clumsy mate spilled his coffee in your keyboard? The dog chewed it? Aliens… The list goes on! But with it being SO easy to back up these days, what’s stopping you?
29% of data loss is caused by accidents! Don’t be part of the 29%, click here, enter now.
Terms & Conditions for Instagram Giveaway
Eligibility: Open to legal residents of Australia aged 18 and over. No purchase necessary.
Entry Period: Starts March 28, 2025 and ends on April 2nd at 12:59 PM [Melbourne zone].
How to Enter: Follow @digitalps and @synology.official on Instagram, like the giveaway post, and comment as per instructions.
Winner Selection: A random draw will take place on April 2nd at 1:00 PM
Prize: One Synology 4-Bay NAS with matching hard disk drives. Prize is non-transferable, no cash alternative.
Winner Announcement: The winner will be announced on @digitalps Instagram and contacted via DM. The winner must respond within 72 hours to claim the prize. We will NOT message you from any other account or DM you from any other account – anyone else claiming you’ve won is a scammer and should be… well, use your imagination, I don’t like scammers…
Shipping & Delivery: The prize will be shipped to the winner at no cost within Australia. We are not responsible for any customs fees or lost packages.
Disqualification: We reserve the right to disqualify entries that do not follow the rules or are deemed fraudulent.
Not Affiliated with Instagram: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram.
Well, yes and no. I believe that if you’re simply a hobbyist and you’re not too worried about ever losing data on a card then it’s not going to make much difference if you get a pricey card or a cheap card. Though I would also suggest if you always get cheap cards, get small ones that don’t store too much data, that way, when, not if they fail, you don’t lose too many photos or videos.
There is an old saying, that goes “there are too kinds of digital storage, those that have failed and those that haven’t failed yet”. Cheaper and more expensive cards can both fail, they are both physical manufactured things. But the difference I have often found is that with some products that cost more, you’re not just paying for how they perform but also how the company that makes them performs when something goes wrong.
I have been exceptionally luck over the years, that I haven’t had more than 2-3 horror stories of hard drives or memory cards failing on me. Though most of the times when they have failed it hasn’t been a huge horror story as I am fanatical about backup, but that is for another article.
I got my first set of ProGrade memory cards back in 2020. I was sent them for long term review and I think 5 years later defiantly counts as long term. I got sent 1x V90 128gig and 1x V90 256gig and have been using them solidly for 4 or so years since. Not only that, but those two worked so well for me that I also bought 3 more of the 256gig cards.
I’ve have used them on countless projects for my production company as well as my Youtube channel over these last few years, they have captured probably thousands of hours of 4K and 6K high bitrate content, in some pretty challenging conditions and never missed a beat.
I’ve used them in cameras ranging from Sony, Panasonic, Canon and Nikon.
Even though I’ve never really needed to make use of ProGrade’s support, they have some pretty useful features. They have a free app you can download for Mac or Windows called PreFresh Pro which you can use to check your cards health. After all my cards have been though they all still show as 99.9% healthy. The app suggests that if you card gets down by 10% then you should look at replacing it as soon as possible.
You can also “Sanitise” your cards with the ReFresh app with will wipe then clean, but also optimise them for best speed and use. Though I’ve never really noticed the cards having any issues with speed on read or write. Please note that you do need to use a ProGrade card reader in order for the app to recognise your cards and work with them. Also even though the software is free, you do need to “order it” via their website. I am assuming they do this to limit the bandwidth of people downloading it over and over again from them website.
ProGrade also sell a $49 USD app called Recovery Pro for recovering lost data from a card. Of course this will depend on what has gone wrong with the card if you can get anything off it or not. So your mileage will vary, but it’s nice that they sell an option for this. Also note the purchase price a one year licence only, but they do have a free valuation copy you can use to scan your files and see if they app thinks it can recovery anything you can use before you buy.
Thankfully, I’ve never had the need for that app and fingers crossed I never will.
In conclusion, even though I generally hesitate to ever outright recommending something, I have no hesitation outright recommending the ProGrade SD cards. I’ve not used any of their other cards, but from the last 5 years of my experience with these cards, they work every time and have never given me any issues. Which is pretty much all you want from a memory card, isn’t it?
What is Program mode on your camera, and when should you use it?
Program mode is one of those “odd one out” camera settings – something that most folks never try because they simply don’t understand how it can help their photography.
Yet once you get the hang of it, Program mode is actually pretty darn useful. That’s why, in this article, I aim to share everything you need to know about this mode, including:
What it actually is
How it works
How to use it for great results
So if you’re ready to become a Program mode master, then let’s get started.
What is Program mode?
The camera mode dial operates on something of a continuum. On one end, you have Manual mode, which gives you complete control over the three elements of exposure: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. On the other end, you have Auto mode, which gives you almost no control over exposure.
As you can see in the diagram above, other modes exist in the middle of the spectrum. These modes – Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Program mode – give you some degree of control, but your camera does significant work, as well. For instance, Aperture Priority lets you control the aperture and ISO while the camera determines the proper shutter speed for a good exposure.
So what about Program mode? What does it do?
Program mode exists somewhere between Aperture/Shutter Priority and Auto mode, and it works like this:
You set the ISO, while your camera sets the aperture and shutter speed.
(Remember: The ISO refers to the sensitivity of your camera sensor, the aperture refers to the lens diaphragm size, and the shutter speed refers to the length of time the shutter captures light.)
Program mode also gives you control over other camera features, such as exposure compensation, but I’ll discuss that in a later section. For now, just remember that Program mode gives you ISO control, but leaves the aperture and shutter speed up to your camera.
(In fact, Program mode is sometimes referred to as “ISO Priority.”)
When is Program mode useful?
While Program mode isn’t nearly as popular as Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority, it can make a big difference to your photography – you just have to know when to use it.
In essence, Program mode works best when you care about the ISO, but you don’t care about the shutter speed and the aperture. This is either because you know that your camera will automatically give sufficient shutter speed and aperture values or because these settings won’t affect the final result in a meaningful way.
So if you’re shooting outdoors and you want to produce minimal noise in your photos, you might select Program mode, dial in a low ISO, and then let your camera do the rest.
I shot this using Program mode, which let me tweak my exposure settings on the fly.
Or if you’re photographing under powerful artificial lights, you might tell your camera to keep the ISO low, then trust it to nail the remaining exposure variables.
Bottom line:
If all you want to do is adjust the ISO, you’re set. Put your camera in Program mode, change the ISO, and focus on composing and framing your shots rather than thinking about the aperture, shutter speed, and overall exposure.
But that’s not Program mode’s only use. You see, Program mode is also a great transition mode. If you’re aiming to improve your photography skills but you’re still stuck on Auto mode, you might try leveling up to Program mode; you can then use it as a stepping stone to Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and beyond.
How to shoot in Program mode
Back in the 35mm film days, you would often choose the film you used based on the shooting conditions you planned to work in.
ISO (or before that, ASA or DIN) was a function of the film. ASA speeds of common film types might be 25, 64, 125, 200, 400, and maybe up to 800. You could go a little higher with special processing. The rub was that, whatever film type you chose, you worked with the same ASA for the entire roll (be it 12, 24, or 36 exposures).
With film, you had to stick with the same ISO (ASA) for the entire roll. (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Working with Program mode can be a little like shooting film – in that the first thing you do is pick your ISO setting.
This could be ISO 100 for good outdoor light, ISO 200 or 400 for lower lighting conditions, and ISO 800 or higher for dim conditions (or perhaps for when you will be shooting action and need to use fast shutter speeds).
Some photographers call Program mode “ISO Priority,” because once you dial in the ISO, it will remain set, even as the shutter speed and aperture change. (Of course, the big difference from film is that you can change the ISO from shot to shot if you so choose).
So you start by setting your ISO.
Then, unless you have a special reason not to, I suggest you use the averaging metering modes: Evaluative on Canon, Matrix on Nikon. These will consider the entire image and calculate the exposure.
If your camera is set to Program mode, you will now see that it has selected both aperture and shutter speed settings. Depending on the available light, these will usually be toward the middle of the settings range – perhaps something like 1/125s and f/5.6. You may want to change these, and we’ll get into that in a minute, but if not, you’re good to go. Nail the focus and take the shot.
You can shoot all day like this, with your camera pretty much working as a point-and-shoot machine. As a beginner, rather than puzzle over what your settings should be for each shot, you can use Program mode to concentrate on more important things – chiefly composition – and let the camera figure out the exposure. Take away the clutch and the gearshift, and driving is so much easier, right?
Program mode: beyond the basics
At this point, you should be comfortable with the Program mode basics: You set the ISO, and your camera does the rest.
But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find more useful features to unlock. Many of these can help you get the shot you want, instead of the shot your camera thinks you want. In this way, Program mode is like the late-night infomercial version of Auto; it handles all the nitty-gritty complicated stuff for you, but ends with a “Wait, there’s more!”
First, Program mode allows you to use exposure compensation to correct any exposure mistakes. By adjusting the exposure compensation in one direction, you can force your camera to take brighter images, and by adjusting it in the other direction, you’ll get the reverse.
Say you take a photo of snow and it turns out too dark. With a little exposure compensation, you can bring back the snow’s natural brightness (note that you can’t do that in Auto mode).
And you can adjust plenty of other camera settings while in Program mode, including white balance, metering mode (full/center/spot), point of focus, and whether your camera should use its flash.
(Contrast this with Auto mode, and you should start to see the usefulness of the humble little “P” marker on your camera’s mode dial.)
Of course, Program mode isn’t always the way to go. Sometimes, you’ll want to independently adjust your shutter speed or your aperture, in which case one of the Priority options, or even Manual mode, is the right choice.
But when ISO is all that matters, give Program mode a try.
Shooting in Program mode gave me a good overall exposure, but I didn’t like how the microphone was so dark.
I switched to spot metering, retook the shot, and got what I wanted. Program allows for this flexibility, whereas Auto does not!
Program Shift and some Program mode examples
You now know that Program mode allows you to set the ISO while your camera sets the aperture and shutter speed – but what if you want a narrower aperture and don’t mind lengthening the shutter speed? Conversely, what if you want a faster shutter speed and don’t mind widening the aperture?
That’s where Program Shift comes into play. This option lets you adjust the aperture and the shutter speed together – so the exposure doesn’t change, but the specific settings allowing you to achieve the exposure do.
The specifics for how to use Program Shift depend on your camera model, but I’d like to walk you through an example scenario where it can help you achieve top-notch results.
It’s an overcast day, so you set the ISO to 800.
Your camera is in Program mode, and it suggests an exposure.
You decide you want a deeper depth of field, so you use Program Shift to set the aperture to f/22.
Your settings are now ISO 800, 1/20s, and f/22. (Note that you’ll need to be on a tripod if you’re using a 1/20s shutter speed.)
You focus, then take the shot.
Image by Rick Ohnsman
You take a look and decide it might be better to isolate the foreground leaves with a shallow depth of field. Still in Program mode, you use Program Shift to put the aperture at f/4. Your camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to 1/640s to maintain proper exposure. You take another shot.
Image by Rick Ohnsman
Easy, huh? The ISO stayed locked in at 800, and as you adjusted the aperture, the shutter speed adjusted itself.
Suppose now you want to see the effect of shutter speed on a moving object. Still in Program mode, you leave the ISO at 800. To freeze the droplets of a fountain, you use Program Shift to set a 1/1600s shutter speed. You take the shot.
Note how the top shot, taken at 1/50s, has more blurred water drops; also note how the tree is sharper at f/22. The bottom image, taken at 1/1600s, displays frozen water – but at f/4, the depth of field is smaller. (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Now, what if you want to get a little motion blur on those drops? Use Program Shift to set a slower shutter speed of 1/50s. The aperture automatically adjusts.
(Exposure compensation is also an option should you need to make your images a little lighter or darker.)
Then make the leap
Program mode can help you get good exposures. And if you pay attention to the settings your camera chooses, you’ll begin to understand the relationship between aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, and motion capture. Program mode can also give you a good jumping-off point to work with a mode such as Aperture Priority.
Say that after making a shot in Program mode, you see the camera chose f/11 as the aperture, and you like the amount of depth of field that resulted. You can then switch over to Aperture Priority mode (Av on Canon, A on Nikon), dial in an f/11 aperture, and start shooting. The camera will stay locked at f/11 while adjusting the shutter speed for various lighting conditions.
The same goes for shutter speed. If your Program mode shot shows a nice amount of motion blur at 1/5s and you want to make subsequent images with that amount of blur, switch to Shutter Priority mode (Tv on Canon, S on Nikon), dial in 1/5s, and shoot away.
The camera will stay locked on the shutter speed you chose and alter the aperture as needed.
In the left photo, the focus is on the tree trunk at the right edge. At f/22, there’s a good amount of depth of field. In Program mode, roll the dial to take the f-stop to f/4 for less depth of field. The camera automatically compensates, putting the shutter speed at 1/160s. The exposure stays identical. (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Back to the safe spot
If you play around enough with your settings, you may eventually mess things up so that you create a bad exposure or become totally confused about why things are not working for you. That’s when Program mode comes to the rescue.
These were some of the first images I made when I got my Canon 10D years ago. Program mode was all I knew, but it got the job done. Don’t think you have to immediately learn to shoot in Manual mode to make nice shots. (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Put the camera in Program mode, put the ISO to a setting appropriate for your lighting situation (ISO 200 might be a good starting point), and it’ll be like hitting the reset button: you’ll be back to letting the camera choose exposure settings.
It’s easy to explore the relationship between aperture and depth of field while in Program mode. This series starts at f/4 on the left, before a roll of the dial (with Program Shift) took the aperture to f/8 (middle), and then to f/22 on the right. The camera did all the exposure calculations. As simple as one, two, three! (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Regardless of what mode I choose to shoot in, even Manual, I always put the dial back to Program mode before turning off the camera and putting it back in my bag. Then, if that once-in-a-lifetime shot presents itself and I must grab the camera, quickly power up, and shoot, I can be assured I will get a reasonably well-exposed shot.
I hope you will not take this article to mean you shouldn’t learn to shoot in Aperture Priority mode or Manual mode, because it’s true that a great number of professionals use these settings. But if you are new to photography and are confronted with more information than you can immediately absorb, working in Program mode might just be the helping hand you need.
Working in Program mode will free you to concentrate on composition while letting the camera figure out exposure. (Image by Rick Ohnsman)
Concentrate first on learning good composition. And make sure your images are well-focused, because blurry shots are impossible to fix in editing.
For now, let your camera help you with exposure until you begin to wrap your head around all there is to know. Even if you are a more experienced photographer, you might occasionally find that turning the mode dial and working in Program mode is the right choice for a given situation.
Program mode: final words
Program mode is a handy little option, even if it’s often eclipsed by Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority.
So the next time you don’t want to give up all control over your camera but also don’t want to do everything yourself, consider Program mode. You might ask yourself, “Do I need to adjust the aperture? And do I need to adjust the shutter speed?”
If the answer is “No,” then Program mode is probably your best option!
Now over to you:
Do you use Program mode? Do you plan to start using it? Why or why not? What do you think of it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Photography is an incredible hobby, but it can also be draining, difficult, and – at times – a real slog. If you’re feeling burnt out, you may need to take a break, or you might just require a bit of extra inspiration.
In this article, I share my top 15 favorite methods to gain photographic inspiration when you’re in a creative rut. Not every approach will work for every photographer, but I encourage you to read through the list and try a few techniques that appeal to you. By the time you’re done, with a little luck, you’ll be excited to head out with your camera and take photos once again.
Let’s get started!
1. Draw up a plan for your success
As with any other professional endeavor, documenting your photography goals is a great idea. In fact, just voicing and acknowledging what is in your head is the first step toward achieving success!
So think about what you want to do photographically, and draw up a list. If you’re just starting out, limit yourself to a couple of reasonable goals (though if you’re a more experienced photographer, feel free to push yourself here – really think about what you want to achieve and the kind of photos you’d like to take over the next year or two).
Maybe you want to get comfortable shooting in Manual mode, or perhaps you want to understand how to successfully use off-camera flash. Maybe you want to get better at composition, or perhaps you want to track moving subjects effectively.
But don’t just make a list and call it a day; also spend some time determining how you’ll achieve your goals. Will you read dPS articles? Check out books on photography from the library? Take several workshops? Watch some online courses? Spend an hour each day practicing with your camera?
No matter the goal, it’s easier to achieve when you have an actionable plan to help you get there. And if you want to boost your chances of following through, take this a step further by actually writing down the steps needed to achieve the results you’re after!
2. Look at work from your favorite photographers
Taking a scroll through other photographers’ portfolios can be wildly helpful when dealing with a creative rut! Platforms like Instagram, 500px, Flickr, and Facebook are bursting with amazing images, and by spending some time looking at the shots that you love, you can discover techniques and approaches to incorporate into your own shots.
Now, I’m not saying you should outright copy what others are doing. It’s about allowing yourself to learn from the works that resonate with you. So when a particular image grabs you, take a moment and ask yourself: What is it about the photograph that’s so appealing? Is it the composition, the color grading, the subject?
And once you’ve done your deep dive, don’t just close the tab and move on with your day. Take those elements that you found so inspiring and experiment with them during your next shoot!
3. Read about photography’s history
Think history is a snore-fest? Think again! Diving into the history of photography is actually wildly exciting. From the earliest daguerreotypes to the advent of digital photography, each era came with a novel way of capturing the world, and understanding this evolution can spark your imagination and give you a fresh perspective on what’s possible and what photography is all about.
You might discover, for instance, that techniques or styles you consider groundbreaking today were actually pioneered decades ago. Ever heard of “Pictorialism”? This early 20th-century movement focused on elevating photography to an art form by playing with soft focus and painterly lighting – techniques that are making a comeback in some modern styles.
Even more fascinating is how technological constraints shaped artistic expression. Back in the days of film, photographers had to be incredibly thoughtful about each shot, as film was costly and limited. This “limitation” led to some of the most iconic images we know today. Imagine bringing that level of consideration into your work now.
And what about the social and cultural impact? Photography has been a crucial tool for documentation, activism, and storytelling. Recognizing this wider context can deepen your understanding of why you shoot and what you aim to convey, influencing your work in powerful ways.
4. Work on personal projects
While it’s great to be busy and earn a living doing what you love, it can also start to drain your creative spirit. So if you’re a professional shooter, don’t just work on your money-making projects; give yourself permission to take on a passion project (i.e., a personal project) or two.
I captured this image as part of a personal exercise that focused on finding monochromatic patterns and frames.
See this project as a way for you to fall back in love with photography without any pressure or expectations. For instance, you might:
Photograph sunrises
Create a portfolio of abstract nature scenes
Capture your local sports team
Document your favorite forest
Note that your personal project can last for a few weeks, or it can take years. Either is fine, but do make sure the topic is near and dear to your heart; otherwise, you may find yourself getting very bored very quickly, which is the opposite of what you want.
Another image as part of my monochrome project.
Also, you don’t need to be a professional photographer to try out this strategy for photographic inspiration. Even if you’re a hobbyist, pursuing a dedicated project can be a great way to regain your motivation.
One more thing: Once you pick a project, make sure you give it the time it deserves (even if you’re busy with other work). If you put in real effort, you’re more likely to get real rewards!
5. Check out classic photo books
Before the internet, there were photo books. These timeless compilations showcase the work of masters whose contributions have stood the test of time. Names like Walker Evans, Edward Weston, Paul Strand, and Minor White might not mean much to you now, but crack open one of their books, and you’re in for an enlightening experience.
What sets these classics apart? It’s not just the age of the photographs; it’s the enduring relevance of their compositions, techniques, and subjects. Studying these works offers you a chance to break out of the current trends and standards, challenging you to think differently about your own shots.
For instance, have you ever noticed how modern photography often leans heavily on vivid colors? Some of the greats, like Ansel Adams, worked primarily in black and white. Exploring their grayscale worlds can open your eyes to the nuances of light and shadow, giving you a whole new toolkit for your own work.
And don’t just skim through these books. Really look at each photograph. Think about the choices the photographer made. How did they use light? What’s in focus, and why? This deeper engagement can be a source of invaluable inspiration.
So next time you’re in a creative rut, take a detour to your local bookstore or library and head to the photography section. You’ll find a world of inspiration that predates hashtags and filters!
6. Go shoot without an agenda
Working with a purpose isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when you have certain types of images in mind, it’s easy to develop expectations, and these can lead to pressure, stress, and frustration.
That’s why I highly recommend spending some time photographing without an agenda. Just pick up a camera – whether it’s a DSLR, mirrorless model, or even your smartphone – and photograph anything. It can be the interior of your home, your backyard, your neighborhood, or the nearest city. Just pick something convenient and do some shooting.
You don’t even need to put much thought into it. Sometimes, it’s just the act of pressing the shutter that can provide the right amount of stress release. And if it helps, feel free to delete the images at the end. The whole point is to just enjoy the act of photography without the need to create a perfect frame.
7. Photograph with a tripod
For many photographers, tripods are an annoyance – often relegated to the back of the closet or never purchased in the first place. But hear me out, because this unassuming piece of equipment can be a great way to revitalize your creative energy.
You see, when you use a tripod, you’re forced to slow down and pay attention to details that you might otherwise overlook in the quest for that next stunning shot. Setting up a tripod is slow, deliberate work – which means you have the time to adjust every parameter carefully, to think about the best focal length, to fine-tune your composition. In a way, working with a tripod gives you the chance to reconnect with the very act of photographing.
Even if you like to do fast-paced photography – on the streets or of wildlife, for instance – a tripod can help direct your focus. You’ll pay more attention to timing, to the movement of your subjects, to the changing light conditions.
One note, however: Make sure you use a tripod that fits your needs. If you’re into travel photography, you might go for something lightweight yet sturdy. If you shoot in rugged conditions, you’ll want a tripod that can stand its ground. While tripods can be perfect for regaining inspiration, it’s important that you don’t needlessly restrict yourself by picking the wrong model.
8. Do something creative (that’s not photography)
Photographic inspiration can be found in a variety of ways – and sometimes, the best inspiration comes from non-photographic activities. That’s why I encourage you to try something that’s creative, but that’s not artistic.
For instance, you might cook a meal from scratch, do some knitting, enjoy gardening in your backyard, write a story, do some journaling, or even just go for a walk outside and study the different leaf patterns you see.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with working on an alternative artistic pursuit, such as painting or drawing (and this can be an effective way to gain new inspiration, too). But if you’re feeling burnt out, distancing yourself from all things artistic might be a good idea.
Whatever you choose, let it flow without structure or planning. Use it as a means to release the creative energy building up inside. Be kind to yourself, and just give yourself some time to take a break from photography; the inspiration will return in time.
9. Try a different photography genre
If you’ve been spending months – or years – capturing the same subject over and over again, why not jump ship? I don’t mean that you should make a permanent change, of course, but a little genre-hopping can do wonders for your creativity. If you’re a die-hard portrait photographer, consider shooting landscapes or architecture for a while. If street photography is your jam, try some macro or cityscapes.
Switching genres is often like learning a new language. Initially, it feels uncomfortable, but as you get the hang of it, you start to see patterns and gain new insights into how language works. For instance, if you move from portraits to landscapes, you may begin to appreciate the subtleties of natural light in a new way. If you transition from street scenes to macro shots, you may find yourself engrossed in the minute details of the world.
And here’s the kicker: The skills and insights you pick up in one genre can often be transferred back to your primary area of interest. Those natural lighting techniques might inspire a unique headshot in your next portrait session. Or the way you frame a cityscape could add a new layer to your street photography.
So don’t confine yourself to a single box. Break free, try something new, and see if you can’t reignite that passion!
10. Complete a self-challenge
This approach is similar to the personal project technique I shared above, except it’s a lot more constrained. The idea is to set yourself specific rules, and then use them to direct your shooting. You can always invent your own self-challenge, though here are a few popular ones:
Capture a set of photos that convey the essence of each week (for a whole year)
Photograph a single color for a week
Photograph your daily meals
Take one shot a day for a month
Capture every sunrise and sunset for a month
Whatever self-challenge you choose, document and work on it. Perhaps even join or start a group online where others can participate with you. (As I discuss below, working with other photographers can motivate you further and help keep the inspiration alive!)
One tip: If you start a self-challenge and you struggle from the get-go, that might be a sign you should try something else. There’s nothing wrong with pushing yourself, but because challenges are nearly always tough to complete, it’s important that you genuinely like what you’re doing.
11. Spend time photographing with others
Photography can often feel like a solo journey, but it doesn’t have to be. Photo walks and photography meetups are very popular, and they’re a great place to talk with others who are passionate about the same kind of thing! Plus, photo walks and meetups are more than social events; they’re a great place to develop skills and find photographic inspiration. Working side by side with other photographers can offer fresh perspectives that break you out of your creative rut.
You see, there’s a unique energy that appears when photographers gather. You’ll find people who share your particular genre interests, and you’ll find people who don’t. This medley of viewpoints can be as inspiring as any world-class photo book or historic image.
And we shouldn’t forget the power of immediate feedback. Imagine taking a shot and then instantly sharing your excitement or doubts with someone who gets it, someone who speaks the nuanced language of apertures, compositions, and light. It’s the kind of conversation that can spark new ideas and help you see the world – and your craft – differently.
And if big meetups aren’t your thing? No worries. Even just having a buddy to shoot with on weekends can offer a regular dose of inspiration. You can bounce ideas off each other, critique each other’s work in real time, and collectively aim for better shots.
12. Go on a photography trip
We’ve all been there, shooting the same old cityscapes or meandering through familiar woods, feeling like we’re just recycling our past work. So why not venture far afield? A photography trip can breathe new life into your portfolio and, most importantly, your inspiration.
Suppose you’re a landscape photographer who’s been capturing forests for years. How about heading up north to capture the snowy tundra? The shift from green and brown to stunning whites and icy blues could be the jolt your creativity needs. Or maybe you’re a street photographer, routinely capturing the hustle of New York City. Consider making your way to smaller, quainter coastal towns.
You don’t have to cross oceans for this (although if you can, go for it!). Even a neighboring town, a nearby state park, or a historic site can make a difference. The key is to explore new environments that challenge you to see the world in a new light.
Of course, before you go, do some research. Get to know the area, look up potential shoot locations, and plan your days to maximize the time you spend shooting. Once you’re there, the change of scenery will likely trigger new ways to consider compositions, lighting, and subjects.
When you come back, you’ll likely find that the trip has given you not just photos, but a fresh enthusiasm for photographing locations that are closer to home.
13. Look through your photo archives
If you’ve been doing photography for a while, you’ve undoubtedly amassed a large collection of shots – but when was the last time you really dug into these files? Your photographic archive can be a goldmine of inspiration. You might stumble across a theme you started but never finished or a style you experimented with but dropped. And now that you’re feeling uninspired by your existing work, it might be the perfect time to revisit and possibly complete those incomplete stories.
Start by taking some time to systematically go through your photos, ideally going back a few years. Don’t rush. Let yourself absorb the work you’ve done and reflect on your growth and changes in style.
What should you be looking for? Perhaps an old but interesting technique or an unfinished series that could be turned into a portfolio piece. Maybe a type of photography you haven’t done in a while.
Then, when you find something inspiring, think of ways to take your old ideas to new heights. Maybe modernize them with skills you’ve acquired since then or combine old and new approaches to create something entirely different.
14. Work on your editing skills
If you’ve been stuck in a creative rut, you’ve likely thought about stepping away from photography for a bit. It makes sense: When you’re burnt out, a break can make a big difference. But you don’t have to drop photography entirely. Instead, you can focus on skills that don’t require a camera, such as editing.
Editing is far more than a final coat of paint; it’s where your images come alive and take form. And by learning new editing techniques, you may find yourself inspired by all of the photographic possibilities – the way you can combine editing and photography to create breathtaking results.
Even if you’re well-versed in the basics – cropping, adjusting exposure and color – you might be missing out on some of the most effective professional techniques. Color grading, blending modes, masking, dodging and burning; they’re all advanced approaches and tools that really can revolutionize your portfolio.
Developing your editing skills might seem difficult, but a plethora of online tutorials can guide you through these processes. YouTube is full of skilled editors sharing their favorite tricks. And you can find courses that go more in-depth, teaching you how to harness the full potential of your editing software.
So, instead of walking away from photography, channel your energy into mastering post-processing techniques. You may find that by improving your editing skills, you’ll view your past and future work with new enthusiasm.
15. Take a photography course
Sometimes, the best way to jumpstart your creativity is by learning something new. And what better way to do that than by enrolling in a photography course?
Structured learning helps you master new skills quickly, whether you’re a beginner seeking foundational knowledge or a seasoned pro craving advanced techniques. And the options are plentiful; there are literally thousands of online courses that let you learn at your own pace, right from the comfort of your home.
(Of course, if you prefer a hands-on experience, you can also explore workshops or even take classes at your local community college.)
Picking the right course depends on your needs. Are you into wildlife photography? There’s a course for that. Portraits more your style? Plenty of options there, too. You’ll find specialized courses covering topics like studio lighting, macro photography, post-processing, bird photography, and so much more. The world of photography education is incredibly vast and really does offer something for everyone.
At the end of the day, a new skill can push you to see – and photograph – the world in new ways. So don’t hesitate. Dive into a course and watch how quickly you regain that photographic inspiration!
Ways to find photography inspiration: final words
If you’re feeling uninspired, dejected, or just plain burnt out, I hope this article has been helpful. With a few simple techniques and a conscious effort to change your mindset, you can come back more inspired and more motivated than ever, ready to explore all these wonderful facets of an art form that has so many ardent fans all over the world!
So pick one or more of the methods for inspiration I’ve shared. Then really commit to it. If you do a self-challenge, give it your all. If you take on a project, block out time to complete it. And if you take a break from photography and do something else creative, put real effort into that, too!
Now over to you:
How do you plan to feel motivated again? Do you have any techniques for gaining inspiration that I didn’t cover in this article? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
