Non-professional photographers have many motivations for picking up a camera to make pictures. Reasons run from a fascination with technology to creative expression or even visual note taking. There are as many reasons to make photographs as there are people. The trick is to find what motivates you as an individual.
Personally I find it difficult to just drive or walk around looking for something to shoot. Having a project gives me context to help identify subjects that tell a story. I generally have several projects underway and switch between them to keep myself motivated. It is a strategy that is perfect for me.
It is important for me to shoot in places I know rather than going off to exotic locations to find images. I’m sure many people are completely bored by familiar surroundings. So shoot what interests you whatever that may be. Non-professional photographers have to be self motivated because there is no art director to guide your work.
I believe it is important to show your finished work rather than keeping it hidden from the world. Everyone has unique vision so share your images. Make prints or publish a book or create an online gallery. At the moment my work is mostly displayed online in web galleries and blog posts. My goal is to someday be able to sell a few prints but for now my audience is on the internet. There is an audience for just about any type of photography so find your audience.
My project to use legacy manual lenses for a year has helped me understand things about photography that are obvious to old timers. If you used film cameras and prime lenses even as a student then you probably know how to determine the correct focal length to capture a scene as you visualize the finished image. For most untrained photographers the process is simpler, just plant your feet, zoom the lens and shoot. No regard is given to how a particular focal length will render a scene beyond what is in or out of the frame.
