Unlocking Creativity in Photography – Reflections After My Talk at The Photography & Video Show

Last Saturday and yesterday I had the pleasure of speaking at The Photography & Video Show at the NEC in Birmingham, at the SheClicks stand.

My talk, Unlocking Creativity in Photography, was about something many photographers experience at some point – feeling creatively stuck.

It is something I’ve experienced myself too.

Creativity in photography is something we often associate with inspiration or talent, but it is simply the habit of noticing what other people miss. It is less about waiting for inspiration, and more about intentionally looking for different ways of approaching the same subject, even if it is something very simple.

Exploring the same subject in different ways – a simple reminder that creativity often comes from how we choose to see.

Creativity grows from limitation

One of the most important things I’ve learned about creativity in photography is that it often comes from having fewer options.

When I limit myself – one lens, one location, one subject, one colour palette – I start to see more clearly. Instead of trying everything, I go deeper into one idea, one challenge.

Those limitations don’t restrict creativity – they give it direction and help build a more consistent way of working - the same subject can become something new.

During the talk I showed a series of images taken of the same objects, in the same place, using the same lens.

Nothing changed… except the decisions I made.

By shifting perspective, experimenting with editing, or returning on a different day, the same subject can lead to completely different results.

One subject, same place. Exploring how small changes in approach can lead to very different images.

This is one of the simplest ways to develop creativity in photography – staying with one subject and exploring it more deeply, rather than always searching for something new.

Slowing down

Slowing down is a big part of this process.

When we stay in one place a little longer – we begin to notice small changes: light, reflections, textures, details we might otherwise miss. These small changes often make a big difference in the images we make!

Often, creativity in photography is not about finding something new to photograph. It is about learning to see what is already there.

A small daily project

I also shared a personal project from October 2024, where I photographed one object from nature every day.

Leaves, seeds, flowers – simple things I found around me.

A simple behind-the-scenes view of my daily nature project, capturing a flat lay of autumn leaves using a minimal home setup.

95 days nature photography project grid.

It was not about creating perfect images – it was about showing up each day, paying attention, and building a creative habit. For every image I have included into my project grid, I have produced at least five others along the way.

And this is where creativity can lead to

Exploring colour, movement, and multiple exposure – allowing simple ideas to develop into something more expressive.

A final portrait shaped through experimentation – where simple ideas, colour, and process come together into a more personal visual style.

An example of how creative exploration can evolve when we continue experimenting with simple ideas.

Creativity is a long game and does not happen instantly.

It grows slowly – through practice, curiosity, and trying things, even when they don’t work. Making mistakes is the part of the process.

There is no single breakthrough moment. It is a process which takes time but the more you do it, the more natural it becomes. And this is the process you should also enjoy.

Trust the process.

Creativity comes from doing.

Olena xx