How to Be a Creative Photographer

Stay current with trends and developments in your industry. If you are a wedding photographer, then you need to be aware of the current trend in that particular type of photography. It does not mean you need to emulate or practice it, but as a professional, you should be aware of the trends in your chosen field. For example, many brides and grooms want their weddings shot with a "photojournalism" style, providing more candid types of pictures and less posed.

Join an association, either formal or informal. This is another way to learn about the different factors at work in you sector. A career as a photographer can often be a solitary lifestyle. Being able to talk with other photographers and share ideas -- both good and bad -- can assist you in inspiring your creativity. There a many different associations depending on the type of photography you practice. One of the largest is the Professional Photographers of America as well as the American Society of Media Photographers.

Challenge yourself to try something different with each photo shoot you do. It may be a new pose or new lighting style or type of lighting. It may be using a different lens that you traditionally would not use on that type of shoot. Whichever you use, do it to the best of your ability and don't just view it as test shot.

Arrange for a colleague to critique your work. Or if you are just starting out after finishing school, have your former professor critique your work for you. The only way you learn is to acknowledge where you could have done better. Having someone critique your work will assist in this. Often two minds are better than one. Having a colleague you can bounce ideas off of or talk through different ideas with may lead to new creative approaches that you may not thought of on your own.