What's up, creative people. With summer right around the corner, what are everyone's plans over the following months or so? With longer days that seem endless and warm nights that stretch on, there's so much potential to do some new project or something new that excites and fulfills you, right?
As for me, I have a few travel plans for work lined up, and I'll be doing some actual filmmaking at a couple of spots I've never been to before, working on a larger project. So, outside of 'working,' I'm still figuring things out like everyone else. Let's venture into how we can make the most of our summers, shall we?
When it comes to summer, there's no better medium to capture that vibrant, lively, and nostalgic feel of summer than with film. Even if you have to work and handle your business most days, it still feels different going through your same routine, so there's no excuse to not capture or create something of your 2023 summer story on film.
Every summer has its own story - the places you visit, the people you spend time with, the festivals you attend, the late-night sweet tooth runs, the spontaneous road trips, night drives with music, the windows down and AC blasting, or even the thrilling flutter of a summer romance. These moments make your summer unique, the moments that deserve to be imprinted on the film rolls.
Sound good? Cool, let us delve into the practicalities of how we can tell our unique summer stories through the lens of our cameras.
Having some film available for just candid moments ready for whatever is essential for your adventures, but if you want to take it up a few notches, have some themes you want to explore that help guide photos on your trips or with people you're with. That way, on vacations, weekend getaways, or regular outings in your city, you have some narratives woven into your fun and exploration. If you want something more structured, you can take a theme and dedicate parts of the summer to creating around that. For example, say you wanted to capture summer colors with your favorite childhood treats, and you created a sweet series showcasing that in one cohesive body of work.
You can also consider creating an extended summer shot list. This could involve specific scenes you want to capture, like sunsets, moonlit portraits (which I've been wanting to explore more professionally, especially by the ocean), and more. When you start planning around particular themes or scenes, you'll find that unexpected activities and ideas begin to emerge naturally around those plans. It's these spontaneous moments that often tell the most memorable summer stories.
Now that we've briefly touched on themes and shot lists, let's get to the heart of what makes the summer season great to help make your photos stand out, and the answer to that is whatever is meaningful to you. Things don't have to be the stereotypical postcard moments; even if they are, you can interpret them differently than before, with renewed energy. It will be captured differently with each passing season, every time.
What's important is to find your personal connection with the summer, and sometimes it doesn't even have to be serious. Some of my favorite personal photos from last summer were from a Disney trip where I was put out one day but still participated in the activities with friends. It just made everything hilarious because the more I was in a mood, the funnier everything was to everyone. And looking back at those photos in those moments still puts a smile on everyone's face.
So, as you're creating your summer story on film, remember it's not just about capturing 'perfect' moments. It's about immortalizing your unique experiences - the hilarious, the unexpected, the mundane, and even the moody. After all, these are the things that make your summer story truly yours. Like that time you planned a road trip and, a few hours in, realized you should have flown instead - or has that just happened to me? Lol.
We only get so many seasons in our lives, so everyone stay safe and keep your camera close and your creative spirit closer. Here's to a summer of storytelling that's as unique and vibrant as you. Happy shooting!
❤️🔥🌊🌙
