176 ☼ 8 Ways to (Re)Discover the Joy of Photography
+ testing the Ricoh GRiiix
Dear friends,
First, a huge thank you for the incredible response to last week’s Process Manifesto. Your thoughtful comments, shares, and messages showed me that it’s clear we’re all searching for ways to resist sameness and lean into creativity that feels real.
This week, I’m keeping that energy going with something more practical: 8 Ways to (Re)Discover the Joy of Photography. Whether you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or just looking for a new spark, these ideas are designed to make photography fun (again).
And, at the end, a quick Housekeeping section to share some exciting recent features of my work in magazines and newspapers and a lovely podcast.
Let’s get into it.
Shake Things Up: 8 Ways to (Re)Ignite Your Creativity
Feeling stuck or uninspired happens to all of us, but sometimes a small shift is all it takes to get out of our head and back into action. Some of my favorite personal projects started with simple ideas like these—small ways to make photography fun again and get out of my own way without overthinking.
1. Carry a Small Everyday Camera (or Your Phone)
Having a small camera with me at all times makes photography feel easy and spontaneous. For a couple of weeks, I borrowed the Ricoh GRiiix from the good folks at MPB.com, and it checked all the boxes. It’s tiny—analog point-and-shoot tiny. It lived in my pocket the whole time, and there was no hassle, no excuses, just pure accessibility, and ease of use. Notice something pretty, turn it on, snap, put it back.
The results were lovely. Editing the files was a breeze, and it made photography feel fun in a way that reminded me why I love casual photography in the first place. If you’re in the market for a pocket-sized sidekick, the Ricoh GRiiix should be on your list of options. That being said, your phone works too—it’s all about lowering the barrier to capturing the unexpected.
(I’ve included some additional favorite shots below in the Gear section).
2. Set a One-Week Photography Challenge
You know I love a good creative limitation to inspire me to take action. Choose a theme—reflections, shadows, a single color—and take one photo a day that fits this theme. It’s manageable, sparks creativity, and gives you a new way to look at the world. Any theme will work, it’s all about giving yourself a restriction.
3. Maintain a Daily Photo Diary
A daily photo diary is one of the most rewarding habits I’ve stuck to the past few years. Nothing precious, not making art, just documenting your life, one moment at a time, without overthinking it. If you haven’t started one yet, check out my previous newsletter on why I think everyone should give it a shot.
4. Photograph a Single Object for a Week
Pick something mundane—a coffee cup, a pair of shoes, or, in my case, a tulip. In NOTICE (2021), I photographed a tulip throughout it life cycle, from bloom to the final wilt. It became an unexpected documentation of change and beauty. Find your tulip and see where it takes you.
5. Go on a Photo Walk with a Friend
Grab a creative buddy and explore your neighborhood. It doesn’t even have to be another photographer. The goal isn’t to get perfect shots; it’s to share perspectives, swap ideas, and have fun. Photography can be lonely—this makes it less so.
6. Limit Yourself to One Lens or One Focal Length
Restricting yourself to one lens or zoom setting forces you to get creative. My entire One of Many project was shot on a single body and lens, and that limitation turned out to be incredibly freeing. It’s a fun challenge that pushes you to see differently.
7. Shoot a Story in 10 Frames
Pick a simple story—like making coffee, your commute, or walking your dog—and tell it in 10 photos. It’s a creative exercise that helps build narrative skills and makes you think about sequencing.
8. Collaborate with a Non-Photographer
Photographers love staying in their bubble, but some of my favorite projects have come from collaborating with people in other disciplines—writers, musicians, filmmakers. Right now, I’m working on a few of these cross-disciplinary projects, including two portrait series with writers, a collaboration with a painter, and a couple of video projects. Creativity doesn’t care about boundaries, and neither should you. Have fun and experiment!
I’d love to hear which of these ideas sparks something for you—or if you’ve got a method of your own for making photography fun again, share it in the comments.
Let’s keep shooting, learning, and sharing together—one messy, human step at a time.
Warmly,
Wesley
NEXT WEEK: The joys of shooting expired film and what I’ve learned from the practice. Plus a new Process Giveaway including some special expired film from my personal freezer. Stay tuned.
Housekeeping
A few updates I’m excited to share:
NOTICE Journal, Volume One got a full-page feature in Het Parool.
One of my favorite street photos from Paris was featured in The Sun Magazine.
I spoke with Silvergrain Classics about the future of film photography and print.
I had a great conversation with Lucy on The Lucy Lumen Podcast about building long-term projects and so much more—you can listen to it here.
Thank you for your support, which makes moments like these possible!
This Week’s Gear and Lab
Camera: Canon EOS R5 and the Canon RF 24-70 mm f/2.8 L IS USM lens.
(ICYMI: my thoughts on this camera and lens can be found in Process 173.)
As mentioned before, I spent two weeks with the Ricoh GRiiix, on loan from MPB.com and I really enjoyed it. Some more favorite shots are below.
Shout out to MPB.com, my go-to for buying and selling used gear—they’re fantastic. Easy, fast, and everything comes with a 6-month warranty
Lab: My film is processed and scanned by Carmencita Film Lab, whose care and consistency I trust completely. They’re the best. Use code “PROCESS” at checkout for a free upgrade on your next order.
Support My Work and Elevate Yours
Enjoying Process? Support it by picking up a book or joining the Process Photo Club.
Process Workbook Volume One & Two: Creative prompts and assignments designed to get you out of your head and into action with your camera.
€8.99 each (free for Process Photo Club members)
NOTICE Journal, Volume One: A fresh perspective on beauty and rebirth, shot in Amsterdam.
€40 (€20 for Process Photo Club members)
📚 Order here and you help keep Process accessible to all.
Can’t get enough Process? Browse the Process Archives.
Visit the Process Photo Club members area for perks and more.
Those are all good approaches, but how about this. Walk out your front door and photograph the first thing you see. Walking ten yards and do it again and again until you cover 100 yards. Do that for a week walking the same ground. You'll be amazed at how differently you see each day. You'll have 70 pictures. Cull that down to seven and you might have a nice portfolio
These smartphones really do make it possible to become more acute observers in the world...I find snapping angles and textures I encounter in pedestrian life gives me greater awe and perspective when I revisit the everyday in a photo- great prompts!