Finding Inspiration Amidst A Global Pandemic

Launching a photography business during a global pandemic may have seemed like a silly idea—but you know what they say, you miss a 100% of the shots you don’t take, so i decided to go ahead and take my shot at a new venture.

With social distancing and lockdowns becoming the new normal and the possibility of stay-at-home orders lingering, it wasn’t easy to stay motivated or inspired to keep capturing photos when leaving your home for non-essential purposes feels morally impermissible. As COVID-19 case counts began to increase; inquiries for photography services steadily decreased. However, I’ve never been one to dwell on circumstances out of my control and needed to find ways to nurture and practice my craft regardless of whether business is booming.

Prior to the first announcement of the stay-at-home order I had upgraded to one of Canon’s newest mirrorless systems and was sad to see it collecting dust as one of my more expensive paper weights. During this time, I thought a lot about how I began my photography journey as a teenager taking photos in the comfort of my own home—so why not revisit my humble beginnings? With a bit of brainstorming, I came up with a list of ideas that my fellow photographers or Instagram connoisseurs alike might use to sharpen their craft and spark some creativity. There are so many ways to keep your creative momentum steady until it’s time to go out into the world and capture new people or new places!

If you’re new to the realm of professional photography like myself or have just stepped into the amazing word of hobbyist photography but are unable to get out as much as you’d like to, here are a few tips:

1. You can never go wrong with food photography

I know, it seems cliché but it’s definitely an art worth mastering! Food is commercial in nature, and if captured creatively, you might find yourself breaking into the realm of culinary art photography with a stunning at-home portfolio. If permitted, you can even practice capturing images during an essential trip to your local grocer or bakery. Whether it’s an Uber Eats order or a simple Dream Donut from Tim Hortons—experiment with making it look even more delicious and presentable. (Pro-tip: share the image on Instagram and tag the restaurant; you could potentially score a page promotion and/or may even be compensated for use of your image)

It’s really as easy as taking a donut out of it’s bag and taking a shot.

2. A pet can serve as one of your greatest muses.

If there’s one thing I’ve discovered, it’s that Siberian Huskies make for great models (that is, when you can get them to stay still). Owning a pet is not only one of life greatest joys, but it’s also a great way to practice and improve your photography when it comes to capturing movement or subjects in motion. Taking photos of my dogs was a great way for me to learn my camera functions, as I had to explore my settings more in depth to be able to capture crisp and action packed images.

Capturing one of many instances of sibling rivalries. Sol (my younger husky) managed to release the kraken by bothering Luna while she was resting (she was clearly displeased).

3. Nature can be present indoors too

As a child thoroughly obsessed with all things Animal Planet, becoming a wildlife photographer was one of my greatest aspirations. At the time, I had no pets and rarely came across suburban wildlife in my neighbourhood. However, my mom was a horticulture enthusiast and had an impressive collection—and so my exploration of nature photography started off with a potted plant. I find that plants are a great way to build your still life or nature photography portfolio and are extremely cooperative. Once the lockdown is over, I plan on venturing out to Allen Gardens Conservatory to capture more beautiful foliage and flora.

A recent capture of a bee on a tree. Simple yet visually appealing.

4. Practice portraits with your family members

When your siblings aren’t too busy being annoying, ask them to pose for a portrait. You can get creative by putting together DIY backdrops and using items you can find around the house as props. Weather permitting, you can even take a walk outside and capture some shots around the neighbourhood while getting some exercise. During the summer, many outdoor areas such as parks or local farms are still accessible to the public—this is a great way to capture portraits in a more spacious and open environment.

My brother doing his very best sunflower impression.

5. Find other ways to reignite your passion

If the thought of having to find creative ways to photograph every day objects in or around your home fails to peak your interest—continue to explore for new inspiration. Personally, when I’ve lost all will power to pick up my camera, I turn to photography YouTube, NatGeo documentaries, or revisit old images on my hard drive to remind my why I started this journey. With any other hobby or talent, it takes consistent practice and sharpening of skills to become a true expert and even then, there’s always so much more to learn!

I was able to get close enough to have a Joel Sartore moment with this beautiful bird. This photo always inspires me to pursue my love for wildlife photography.

If you’re a photographer like myself or simply enjoy photography as a hobby, I hope that you were able to find some inspiration and navigate through creative blocks during this difficult time for business owners and enthusiasts alike. Comment down below if you have any other ideas on to get creative amidst a global pandemic!