Staying motivated to take pictures is harder than it seems just sitting around thinking about it. When you first get a new camera, like many of you will this Christmas, taking pictures is easy. You’ll want to shoot everything in sight.

A month or two after the holidays, once the newness has worn off and the demands of daily life reassert themselves, your motivation will get worn down. It won’t happen all at once, it will be a gradual process that will sneak up on you. One day you’ll need your camera and the battery will be dead. It will dawn on you the camera has been in the closet for two years. That’s how it happens.

Whether you can keep your motivation for taking photos will determine if you make it as a photographer. There’s no better teacher than experience.

Here are some tips to maintain your motivation after the holidays.

Get Together With Other Photographers

Many local and regional photography professional associations have regular meetings where you can get together with professional photographers in your area and talk about equipment, technique, and the realities of the business. I would strongly encourage anyone thinking of going pro to do this. You will get a much more realistic idea of the realities of the business.

Many cities have photography clubs that meet regularly to take pictures.

Photo Walks

Photo walks are really just people getting together and walking around taking pictures. They can be free, group walks sponsored by a local club or the type you pay a guide to show you around.

Paid guides offer a lot of advantages, especially if you’re in a new city. They’ll know the best places to shoot and the right times to get the best looks. They’ll also sometimes know people and can get you into places you wouldn’t otherwise have access.

Photography Vacations

There are companies catering specifically to photographers for special events and photography vacations. Some combine the vacation with workshops to make it a learning experience.

Many times photography vacations can be had in exotic locations and come with accommodations and a local guide. Sure, it costs more but the peace of mind is invaluable. If I’m out taking pictures, that’s all I want to think about.

Take a Class

Another way to keep your motivation up is to take a class at a local university or community college. Many offer photography classes as adult education at night and on weekends. You’ll learn a lot and, in the process, meet other photographers in the area.

You might not need these tricks to keep your motivation up and, if you don’t, good for you. Otherwise, get out there and mingle with other photographers and you can help one another.