12 Photography Project Ideas to Inspire You

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Whether it's creating a photo book, a gallery wall, or even just a set of prints, sitting down to turn your photos into a visual story can be one of the most powerful ways to practice gratitude. By remembering why photos were taken, the people they were taken with, and the moment they celebrate, we create instant reminders to the many things we have to be thankful for.

So turn to your photos, find those that honor what truly matters, and use them to create the project that best fits your life and space.

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A photo for every day — it's that simple. But in this simple act of creating at least one photo for each rotation of the earth lie return tickets to the many little, memorable moments that slip our mind as the months go by. Whether it's the daily spills and thrills of having a little one or that moment the light hits just right through the window, think of a 365 photo project as an exercise in taking note of the small stuff that makes life worth living.

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Staycation photography is the perfect excuse to explore your own backyard. From the historic sites you may not have known about to the nooks and corners where the magic lives, there's so much in our cities that we take for granted every day. Look to resources like city blogs and local friends for help finding sites rich in story and ripe for a photo op. Or, grab your camera and venture out in search of the unknown, unencumbered by plan and inspired by purpose.

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Photos fill us with emotions and inspire the telling of stories. Putting those stories on the page and pairing them with photos can be a heartfelt way to celebrate the people and places that make a mark on our lives. Here's how it works: Choose a photo that symbolizes a connection, then write a letter to accompany it that you will pass down or share one day — and invite family members or friends to do the same.

Maybe you give the kiddo a photo and letter from each of the past 18 years when they go off to college. Or maybe, you show mom the impact she's made on the whole family by collecting photos and letters for Mother's Day. There are so many ways to bring this idea to life, and all of them are united by a single outcome: giving one of the most meaningful gifts they'll ever receive.

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Don't worry, you don't have to draw it yourself! Photo editing technology is more accessible than ever, which means there's no shortage of interesting effects that you can add to your photos. One of our favorite post-production DIY photo projects is turning images into a series of drawings that can be displayed as prints, frames, or even just laptop backgrounds. It's a fun way to take some of those photos that are stowed away in the recesses of file folders and give them new life.

No need for Photoshop if you don't have it! There are plenty of apps out there that do this right from your phone, including Painnt.

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At the intersection of food, friends, and family is the time-honored tradition of sharing recipes. With photos of those foods from prep to plating, that tradition could become a photo project in the making. So if you're creating a photo "for the 'Gram" of a delicious meal you made, keep it in your back pocket for that future recipe book too!

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Get ready for two photo project ideas in one. Can you think of old snaps that symbolize your childhood, your relationship with your partner, or something else altogether? Pay homage to the years that have passed by recreating the photo in the modern day. Or, apply the same idea in an equally creative manner by trying it out with iconic photos from history.

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Here's a fun but simple photo project idea for the Ansel Adams in all of us. Set out to photograph the world in black and white, keeping an eye out for scenes that would shine in those timeless gradients. Or, go through photos you've already created and curate a set that could make the transition to a classic look. Either way, you can easily make them black and white by using filters on iPhone or Android. Shooting on a DSLR? We have some free Lightroom presets to make it quick and easy.

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Seeking out or making photo holders that stand out from the crowd can become a project in itself. After all, sometimes the real creativity comes out in the way you display it. Just take a page from our friends: @tenillerusdale and crew sourced their stands as a small business find, while @olivecreativeco handcrafted swoon-worthy little magnets that would make any fridge or photo proud.

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Dig deep into those photos of old and find a few that deserve that larger than life treatment. (Or take new photos to create a set, like our friend @gcalebjones!). Maybe it's the jaw-dropping panorama you took on a trip, or that family photo you've always looked back on fondly. Just make sure to follow a few simple steps to keep the fidelity of your images intact. To help, we've even created a little guide that can show you how to enlarge a photo without losing quality.

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Everyone loves a good gallery wall — and with good reason. These curated wall art ideas fill magazines, social feeds, and Pinterest boards in all sizes, assortments, and styles. They're the perfect way to showcase your photography, from the professional to the personal, while adding a thoughtful touch of intention to any room. From curating your photos, to finding the right frames, and even installing it, it's a project that can come to life in any number of ways.

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For many of us, the photos we're handed down become our most prized possessions. They are the stories we will one day share, just as they were shared with us — relics of a different era that help relive the lives of those who matter most. To ensure their continued preservation is an act of love, legacy, and archive. And while it may feel overwhelming to approach those many albums or boxes, digitizing old photos is perhaps the most gratifying of these many photography project ideas… one rooted in the nostalgic connections we'll always hold onto.

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Whichever DIY photo projects become the focus of your lens, we'd love to see what you create! Just tag us on instagram by using @artifactuprising and pay us a visit to see what the rest of our community is up to.