Are you in a creative rut? I know I get there often- especially during the winter months when it’s cold and I get a “writer’s block” of sorts when it come to thinking of new ideas.

As a business owner, I think in general, January and February are very difficult months because the phone is quiet, the emails are quiet and you are just waiting around for some inspiration.

Let me challenge you to get off your couch, call a friend to model, get to your local studio space (or use your garage) and try my favorite “out-of-the-box” ideas to get those creative juices flowing!

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK SESSIONS

Buy some black lights off of Amazon. Get glow sticks, glow makeup, glow spray paint and anything else you can think of do an entire shoot in the dark! Supplies used:

UV makeup: https://amzn.to/2MGjTdk

UV nailpolish: https://amzn.to/2WvwWTr

UV body paint: https://amzn.to/2MHP5sI

UV spray paint: https://amzn.to/2TwSFs8

Dance lights: https://amzn.to/2Tohzu3

Black lights: https://amzn.to/2MJ6Jwl

Strip black lights: https://amzn.to/2DMZwIw

USE UNCOMMON OBJECTS

Use a copper pipe, gels, sparklers, Disco balls, white umbrellas, crystal balls, tin foil on the walls, or anything else that you can think of to throw some “spice” in your photos!

Supplies used:

white umbrella; https://amzn.to/2GcThzv

crystal ball: https://amzn.to/2DM4wx3tin

foil table cloth: https://amzn.to/2Gckpi8

disco ball: https://amzn.to/2WsTmVz

gels: https://amzn.to/2DNScMU

copper pipe: https://amzn.to/2To0hND

PLAY WITH LIGHT

Get some LED Christmas lights, LED string lights or even your phone’s flashlight to create silhouettes. Supplies Needed:

LED lights: https://amzn.to/2TlQzeBLED

curtain lights: https://amzn.to/2Sk0ZhNVIDEO

Video Light https://amzn.to/2Gen1ff

GET MULTIPLE PEOPLE

Practice posing multiple people or even couples- shoot at dark or an alternative time that you don’t usually shoot. This is time that you are in a “rut” to start trying new things that you’ve never done before!

Are you inspired now? There are infinite ways to start new projects and get a different perspective. So put down the Netflix, call a friend and start working!

Christal Marshall is a mom of three, photographer, videographer, homeschooler and just a straight hustler. 

She started out in 2011 from a camera that she bought off of Amazon for $400 and taught herself photography, graphic design and videography through youtube. Now she shoots 100,000 images a year at over 60 events.

She was voted top 20 wedding photographers in VA in 2016, 2018 and 2019. She has been featured over 50 times in various different publications.

See more of her work: www.instagram.com/virginiaphotosandfilms www.facebook.com/virigniaphotosandfilms or www.virginiaphotosandfilms.com

Book our studio now for your creative session in Hampton Roads, VA: www.rentasetva.com

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