Great article! I always love reading a little bit about how the sausage is made in regard to photo books. My largest struggle creatively has always been being able to make the time to practice the craft. I’m a full time engineer first, amateur photographer second. It’s rare I’m able to get the time for a long, contemplative photo walk.
Absolutely understandable, Blake. Sometimes there's less time, especially with family and work obligations. I hope you can still steal thirty minutes during a lunch break here and there.
My biggest struggle is motivation. It rains a lot here and getting out in the cold and wet is challenging. I’ve started attending indoor events like a bike stunt show last weekend - events like that re-invigorates the joy of making photos. Cheers, Ben.
A creative struggle of mine, is finding inspiration to go out and shoot. I know as artists we can't always be inspired, but instead to just get out there and perform the craft and this can allow inspiration in a new creative idea to emerge. Thanks again for the great reads!
Great read as always, Wesley. I am planning to complete my first photo book by the end of the year for a limited audience. So this was perfect motivation to get to it. As many have mentioned, my biggest struggle is time! Cheers.
More than two years into my own book project (on a similar theme, as it happens) and came across you last week for the first time. Everything for a reason! Your posts on the subject have just been so very inspiring – and just as I was entering that 'flagging' stage. The boost that reminded me that the end may be in sight after all. Thank you so much, Wesley :)
I have read many of the comments and see that folks struggle with finding time to work on projects. As a retired photography teacher, I have lots of time. I struggle with finding the right project/ideas to explore. I was quite good at guiding students toward defining long-term (1-2 year) projects, but I struggle personally settling on a single focus. For the past 3.5 years, I have created a weekly 5-6 page newsletter anchored by my photographs for family and friends. It was started as a way to keep in touch with family during the pandemic. It forces me to create new weekly content, but now need something less newsy and more personal. I have read through numerous comments, and it appears that many individuals struggle with finding enough time to work on their projects. As a retired photography teacher, I have an abundance of spare time. However, I often find myself struggling to identify the right project or idea to focus on. While I was quite adept at guiding my students towards defining long-term (1-2 year) projects, I have a hard time settling on a single focus for myself.
For the past 3.5 years, I have been creating a weekly 5-6 page newsletter that features my photographs. This newsletter was initially started as a way to stay connected with my family during the pandemic. It has been quite effective in helping me create new weekly content, but I now feel the need for something more personal and less newsy.
Kim, thank you as always for sharing! :) It's totally normal to have a hard time picking out a project for yourself even though you managed to guide others to pick theirs. It's harder for ourselves. Getting an outside person involved can be great, I can see it in my mentor sessions every time.
Also, very cool that you do that weekly newsletter for your family and friends. They are lucky :)
As a person with a full time 9-5 (more often 8.30-18) job, i struggle with make myself enough free time to shoot. Inspired by your project, i started my own "an-image-per-day" photo project (it's freaking hard!), but i still struggle to carry on with my long term projects: with so little time available, it's very hard and anxiogenous to reflect and make decision about them. Seeing other comments, it's a very common struggle!
Super common, Allesandro! I'm so glad you started the daily project. And then after that it's just about picking and choosing, maybe just one project at a time is the best.
A book...sounds like a journey. I have tens of thousands of photos from our Vancouver to Mexico rv trip last year. Would love to make a book of that even just for a keep sake. Will have to investigate a little more. Thanks for the post.
My struggle comes from having so many ideas and honing in on one of vision and really going for it without getting distracted by other ideas and thoughts. There are so many ideas that I want to create and capture, but putting together all the pieces and making it come to life sometimes is challenging.
I very much related to this problem, in part due to my adhd ha! It's not easy but the best advice I can give here is to start small and keep going from there!
Lately, I've been struggling with the notion of "what comes next?" with my creativity. I've been at this for years and still love it, but it feels as if I've hit, not quite a plateau, but some period of quiescence. Not objectively a bad thing, but when I would previously shoot several rolls every week, and now perhaps finish one every 1-2 weeks, I find myself questioning where I might re-find that sense of inspiration. Feels as if my brain is profoundly *ready* for some sort of level-up, but my body doesn't yes know how to express it.
Beautifully put, Katharine! In my experience inspiration comes in waves and sometimes we just need a break to make space for new inspiration. Also, and I will repeat here what i say elsewhere in the comments: For a long time I thought motivation and inspiration comes before action, but then I learned action creates motivation and inspiration. Just taking that first step and starting often can liberate bits of motivation and turn it into a flywheel effect.
My current creative struggle I believe is mostly being smothered by social media. Not just the waste of time on sm, but all the ubiquitous and trivial chatter. It drains me. Sucks out my creative ambition. I'm not photographing as much. I take less time with the process. I'm behind on getting my work printed (which has always been something I've valued).
Diane! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you may decide to do a little social media fast and see how that might impact it all. It sure can be a time suck, even toxic.
Oh, I’m the indulged. I paid my own edition of 2 books (two), 500 units each, in 2003. Since then I made lots of book dummies, here some examples perhaps you didn’t have a look at https://georgeappletree.substack.com/p/dummies-for-dummies , and the last one you probably neither watched
of books I rather like to do in the last times just for myself.
I made also many digital ones and to be honest every time it is harder for me to do that even just for myself.
Since 2003 I know there are many reasons to not do it. The main is I still keep 90% of the edition.
But if you want to know the main reason to not do it, just ask yourself about the very only reason for doing it: selfishness
The reason I keep on doing that kind of dummy for myself is because it is truly a fantastic exercise and a joy. Also a very good way to review and reflecting about your own work.
first off, I love the dummies you shared in the first post, really so cool. I think making digital dummies/books is a great alternative, as is hand-making them with cheap prints. Books don't need to be fancy, and they don't need to be expensive to produce, especially if it's for a smaller audience.
Naturally I have to disagree with you on selfishness being the only reason to do a book. Rarely is an absolute statement the full truth, and on top of that books can bring much joy to many that choose to buy them or lend them from the library.
That being said I do of course agree that making a dummy is a fantastic exercise and a joy, even if only kept to oneself. I'm glad you've made so many, and again they look very cool in that post.
I think we will just have to disagree on a few of these things George, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.
Re: distribution -- One of the good things about the internet is that distribution can be as simple as setting up an etsy shop, a squarespace site, or a shopify store. It doesn't mean the book will therefor sell tons, because in the end it's also about the amount of people aware of and interested in the book.
A small run zine can be very cheap to make, and have just as much heart as a fancy book. And a book through a print on demand website can also be very affordable for the photographer. Making a book requires time and passion and commitment, not necessarily money (tho time is money too in a sense).
Sounds like a great project Wesley. Looking forward to see it come to life
Thank you Marcel! With the amount of fun zines you've been pumping out I KNOW you know the joy of book making :)
Great article! I always love reading a little bit about how the sausage is made in regard to photo books. My largest struggle creatively has always been being able to make the time to practice the craft. I’m a full time engineer first, amateur photographer second. It’s rare I’m able to get the time for a long, contemplative photo walk.
Absolutely understandable, Blake. Sometimes there's less time, especially with family and work obligations. I hope you can still steal thirty minutes during a lunch break here and there.
Currently struggling with TIME and trying to figure out how to hack it so I can make my art.
The most precious resource, especially in a busy life with work and family. I understand!
My biggest struggle is motivation. It rains a lot here and getting out in the cold and wet is challenging. I’ve started attending indoor events like a bike stunt show last weekend - events like that re-invigorates the joy of making photos. Cheers, Ben.
Thanks for sharing Ben! I hope so too!
A creative struggle of mine, is finding inspiration to go out and shoot. I know as artists we can't always be inspired, but instead to just get out there and perform the craft and this can allow inspiration in a new creative idea to emerge. Thanks again for the great reads!
my tip: inspiration comes AFTER action, not before. Simply moving and starting and trusting it will come
Great read as always, Wesley. I am planning to complete my first photo book by the end of the year for a limited audience. So this was perfect motivation to get to it. As many have mentioned, my biggest struggle is time! Cheers.
thank you spencer! best of luck!
More than two years into my own book project (on a similar theme, as it happens) and came across you last week for the first time. Everything for a reason! Your posts on the subject have just been so very inspiring – and just as I was entering that 'flagging' stage. The boost that reminded me that the end may be in sight after all. Thank you so much, Wesley :)
Really happy to read this note Jonathan, thank you for letting me know!
I have read many of the comments and see that folks struggle with finding time to work on projects. As a retired photography teacher, I have lots of time. I struggle with finding the right project/ideas to explore. I was quite good at guiding students toward defining long-term (1-2 year) projects, but I struggle personally settling on a single focus. For the past 3.5 years, I have created a weekly 5-6 page newsletter anchored by my photographs for family and friends. It was started as a way to keep in touch with family during the pandemic. It forces me to create new weekly content, but now need something less newsy and more personal. I have read through numerous comments, and it appears that many individuals struggle with finding enough time to work on their projects. As a retired photography teacher, I have an abundance of spare time. However, I often find myself struggling to identify the right project or idea to focus on. While I was quite adept at guiding my students towards defining long-term (1-2 year) projects, I have a hard time settling on a single focus for myself.
For the past 3.5 years, I have been creating a weekly 5-6 page newsletter that features my photographs. This newsletter was initially started as a way to stay connected with my family during the pandemic. It has been quite effective in helping me create new weekly content, but I now feel the need for something more personal and less newsy.
Kim, thank you as always for sharing! :) It's totally normal to have a hard time picking out a project for yourself even though you managed to guide others to pick theirs. It's harder for ourselves. Getting an outside person involved can be great, I can see it in my mentor sessions every time.
Also, very cool that you do that weekly newsletter for your family and friends. They are lucky :)
My copy of Noticed is well loved.
I make a book per year of my favorites taken during that year.
Start small.
36 or 48 pages.
Practice the design and layout skills and it becomes easier and cleaner.
Super good info on your project.
Thank you Don! And really psyched to hear youve enjoyed NOTICE!
48 pages is a lovely size!
As a person with a full time 9-5 (more often 8.30-18) job, i struggle with make myself enough free time to shoot. Inspired by your project, i started my own "an-image-per-day" photo project (it's freaking hard!), but i still struggle to carry on with my long term projects: with so little time available, it's very hard and anxiogenous to reflect and make decision about them. Seeing other comments, it's a very common struggle!
Super common, Allesandro! I'm so glad you started the daily project. And then after that it's just about picking and choosing, maybe just one project at a time is the best.
A book...sounds like a journey. I have tens of thousands of photos from our Vancouver to Mexico rv trip last year. Would love to make a book of that even just for a keep sake. Will have to investigate a little more. Thanks for the post.
I hope you go for it! And an RV road trip along the west coast sounds like the perfect premise to make a book
My struggle comes from having so many ideas and honing in on one of vision and really going for it without getting distracted by other ideas and thoughts. There are so many ideas that I want to create and capture, but putting together all the pieces and making it come to life sometimes is challenging.
I very much related to this problem, in part due to my adhd ha! It's not easy but the best advice I can give here is to start small and keep going from there!
Thank you for inspiration!
you're very welcome!
Lately, I've been struggling with the notion of "what comes next?" with my creativity. I've been at this for years and still love it, but it feels as if I've hit, not quite a plateau, but some period of quiescence. Not objectively a bad thing, but when I would previously shoot several rolls every week, and now perhaps finish one every 1-2 weeks, I find myself questioning where I might re-find that sense of inspiration. Feels as if my brain is profoundly *ready* for some sort of level-up, but my body doesn't yes know how to express it.
Beautifully put, Katharine! In my experience inspiration comes in waves and sometimes we just need a break to make space for new inspiration. Also, and I will repeat here what i say elsewhere in the comments: For a long time I thought motivation and inspiration comes before action, but then I learned action creates motivation and inspiration. Just taking that first step and starting often can liberate bits of motivation and turn it into a flywheel effect.
My current creative struggle I believe is mostly being smothered by social media. Not just the waste of time on sm, but all the ubiquitous and trivial chatter. It drains me. Sucks out my creative ambition. I'm not photographing as much. I take less time with the process. I'm behind on getting my work printed (which has always been something I've valued).
Diane! Thank you for sharing, and I hope you may decide to do a little social media fast and see how that might impact it all. It sure can be a time suck, even toxic.
Oh, I’m the indulged. I paid my own edition of 2 books (two), 500 units each, in 2003. Since then I made lots of book dummies, here some examples perhaps you didn’t have a look at https://georgeappletree.substack.com/p/dummies-for-dummies , and the last one you probably neither watched
https://georgeappletree.substack.com/p/tokyo-unseen
That last one is the “sophisticated” kind
of books I rather like to do in the last times just for myself.
I made also many digital ones and to be honest every time it is harder for me to do that even just for myself.
Since 2003 I know there are many reasons to not do it. The main is I still keep 90% of the edition.
But if you want to know the main reason to not do it, just ask yourself about the very only reason for doing it: selfishness
The reason I keep on doing that kind of dummy for myself is because it is truly a fantastic exercise and a joy. Also a very good way to review and reflecting about your own work.
Cheers
first off, I love the dummies you shared in the first post, really so cool. I think making digital dummies/books is a great alternative, as is hand-making them with cheap prints. Books don't need to be fancy, and they don't need to be expensive to produce, especially if it's for a smaller audience.
Naturally I have to disagree with you on selfishness being the only reason to do a book. Rarely is an absolute statement the full truth, and on top of that books can bring much joy to many that choose to buy them or lend them from the library.
That being said I do of course agree that making a dummy is a fantastic exercise and a joy, even if only kept to oneself. I'm glad you've made so many, and again they look very cool in that post.
The idea of selling is of course after or before selfishness but it’s out of scope: nothing sells without distribution.
This one was a edition of ten for a photo book fair not long ago https://josefchladek.com/book/george_appletree_-_the_portuguese
A lost verse just for the love of art.
Perhaps you can be interested in the site
The very fact not mentioned before as another of my reasons is that there are too many photography books out there
I think we will just have to disagree on a few of these things George, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here.
Re: distribution -- One of the good things about the internet is that distribution can be as simple as setting up an etsy shop, a squarespace site, or a shopify store. It doesn't mean the book will therefor sell tons, because in the end it's also about the amount of people aware of and interested in the book.
A small run zine can be very cheap to make, and have just as much heart as a fancy book. And a book through a print on demand website can also be very affordable for the photographer. Making a book requires time and passion and commitment, not necessarily money (tho time is money too in a sense).
Good to disagree sometimes ; likes and flattery are too common.
That sounds too romantic Wesley: the only books really selling are those the big distributors move.
I agree it is a nice experience, but beyond that once done once finished.
As said before the main reason is selfishness (or ingeniously selling purpose). Both are just ringing bells.