How to Develop a Photo Project
So you have an idea that you would like to bring to life with a photo project. Where do you start? How do you begin to form a reputable body of work?
Making comprehensive images around a topic you are passionate about can be one of the most challenging things to do. There are lots of factors involved and many more things to consider, especially if you are working alone. If you are a self-taught photographer or new to crafting photo projects, then you’ve probably struggled with this at one point or another. More than likely you have asked yourself any variation of the following questions: Where do I even begin? How do I gain access to this person and/or community that I want to focus on? Is the story the idea that I originally started out with or has it now shifted to this new idea upon doing some research? How can I best represent the stories and voice(s) of the people I am photographing? And on, and on, and on. I’ll stop there for the sake of time (if you have similar questions that you’d like to be addressed that aren’t in this article, please share them!—I’ll do my best to ask relevant guests on the podcast to field your questions).
Advice from a photojournalist, Daniel Milnor:
In this abridged podcast explainer, Daniel Milnor shares a brief exercise in his approach to developing intimate documentary photo projects.
Taking cues from Daniel’s quick summary on the podcast, and from personal experience, we’ve put together a simple checklist to consider while you develop your next (or first) photo project.
1. Focus on a topic you’re curious or passionate about
It goes without saying, but it’s probably best that you focus on the topics and issues that you are genuinely curious or passionate about. Otherwise, you’ll quickly feel burdened with the project and will have quit before you even gained any momentum. If you are very self-aware, you’ll have a good understanding of the topics and issues that intrigue you and make you feel like you could spend a lifetime in pursuit of all of the knowledge in those areas. All of the answers are in the types of books you read, the kind of videos or films you consume, your heritage, culture, and traditions, the type of conversations you find yourself having over and over again, and so on. When you’ve found an anchor point that fills you with a sense of purpose, you’re off to a great start.
2. Research, research, and research
Once you’ve selected a topic you’re curious to learn more about, it’s in your best interest to explore what your unique take on the subject is going to be. Chances are: the topic you’ve chosen to explore has been the topic of focus for many photographers long before you. So, ask yourself: “What is it that I am trying to say, and am I contributing something new to the conversation?” Do your due diligence to consider how others, in the distant and recent past, have approached the subject matter before and what gaps or unique perspectives remain untapped. This preliminary research work is essential in order to ensure that your work and your voice as a photographer will stand out.
Becoming an authority on the subject(s) you choose to focus on is just as important as the photographs you end up making. So, it’s necessary to cultivate the habits of a journalist, scour through all of the resources afforded to you, connect with experts in your field of focus, and people on the ground level in order to develop a comprehensive knowledge about the topic you are exploring. You’ll be better off than to start without a sense of direction and always having to return back to the drawing board.
3. Draft a project breakdown
To keep yourself organized and on task, and to make sense of all the research you are doing, it is important to draft a project breakdown that contains all of the pertinent information to your project. This will be the working document you continually source and update throughout the duration of your project.
A project breakdown should include the following:
A working project title
A brief description of the project
The abridged focus of the project, in bullet points
The unique perspective you will employ to tell the story
The target audience of the project
The entry points to reach the target audience
The purpose of your work (what could it help accomplish?)
Research notes and links
4. Find a unique perspective
When it comes to telling stories with images and developing photo essays, a unique perspective is a thing that separates great bodies of work from the average ones. It’s important to consider the lens through which you plan to tell the story you’ve decided to focus on. If you drafted a project breakdown beforehand, you will have given this aspect some real thought. What does the story call for and how can you best represent it so that the message is not lost in translation? Are you zooming in on the experience of one person or are you considering the experience of a group of people or one or more families? Is it an abstract exploration of the topic at hand, loosely held together by a correlating theme? Is it a project brought to life with personal narratives and discovered artifacts? These are the types of questions to consider and resolve before you begin to seek access.
As Daniel mentions in the earlier explainer clip, you want to go off the beaten path to find the perspective that has not yet been explored or has only been minimally covered. The goal is to propel your project into the spotlight, not cast it in the shadows of the works that came before yours.
5. Explore the entry points
If you are not connected, savvy, or have a difficult time networking, then this very crucial stage will prove to be rather difficult. You cannot make intimate work without the consent and enrollment of the parties involved (I’ve learned this the hard way). As Daniel mentions, you want to make sure that you are reaching out to local liaisons, relevant organizations, community leaders, and other reputable personalities who have more reach and recognition in the communities you are working in than you do.
To gain the access you will need to get your photo project off the ground, you may have to do any or all of the following:
Send out emails to locals and organization representatives
Meet with individuals and community leaders in person
Join and contribute to community groups where you’ll find your target audience
Network with reputable personalities and experts whose referral may be crucial
Talk to people, make new friends, and develop the relationships
These connections don’t happen overnight so do all of the outreach you can possibly do but give it time. It’s bound to pay off if you’re persistent and can prove to the people you’re connecting with that you are indeed serious about the work you are doing (showing them your previous work and/or explaining your specific goals go a long way).
In Conclusion
With all of these steps in place, you should be ready to kick off your photo project over the duration of the time you have allotted for yourself to complete it. Obviously some factors will determine whether or not your project will be a short or long-term endeavor. Either way, take your time and invest in the relationships you are forming throughout the process. After all, that’s what matters most. Good luck!
If you want to hear more from Daniel Milnor on how to develop photo projects, you can listen to our podcast interview with him here, or watch his full series on the subject here.