When I first got serious about taking better photos, I decided to start a Project 365. If you’ve never heard of Project 365, it’s where you commit to taking a photo a day for a year. I know – that sounds crazy – but it was the best way to practice my photography. It forced me to pick up my camera every day and get used to choosing settings in all kinds of lighting situations. By Day #365 I had gotten off Auto mode, felt confident in shooting in Manual mode, and was taking photos I was proud of.

I took photos of everything during that time. Here’s one that I took while playing with window light:

Here’s one where I was practicing action shots:

And slow shutter speeds:

Low apertures:

Playing with depth of field is always a favorite:

Shooting in harsh light:

Paying attention to composition:

If you’re looking to improve your photography skills, a Project 365 is a great way to do that and I highly recommend it. Of course, it’ll take a lot of commitment and, most of all, time. If you’re interested in learning to take better photos sooner, I’d love to help you finally figure out all those camera buttons so you can create those share-worthy photos you want to take. I’m currently taking on new clients for custom photography coaching sessions and I’d love to help you stop struggling with your DSLR. Instead, learn to use that digital camera and be proud of your photos. Click here if you’d like me to show you how.

And whether you choose to improve your photography skills through a Project 365 or a coaching session with me, be sure to download my Cheat Sheet for how to shoot in Manual mode. You can find it here.