Here at Parrot Print, we love a good photography project. Having a focus gives you direction with your photography, and an end goal to aim towards. Our post on creating a vision board for your next project is also excellent for collating all your ideas into one cohesive space, that you can keep referring back to when needed.

Your project can centre around any subject you like, but what is more personal than a celebration of your home town? Who knows this area better than you? And how can you go about capturing the magic of the area?

What does it mean to you?

First of all, take some time to think about what you love about your town. Is it a feeling you get or a certain aspect of the location (i.e. by the sea, rolling countryside etc)? Whatever it is, you should start brainstorming what you could do to bring your home town to life in pictures.

Look through old photographs of your home town and pick out some locations to visit again with a fresh perspective. The difference between old and new photographs also has a great timeline effect that will fascinate your friends and family.

Time is your friend

A project like this will take time to bring together as you want to give a full picture of the place you live – a sense of character, the people and the activities that are unique to the area. Make sure you are available for all the important events so that your finished project, which could be turned into a slideshow or gallery event once complete, has captured all the important times.

A photography project like this can be done over the span of a year or more, giving you the time to focus on other interests and projects that can be weaved in between.

Important events

Fill your calendar with local events such as the Christmas lights switch on, the local village fayre, a flower show or even the big sporting events that get the town together. Candid shots of villagers enjoying the area are gold dust – the perfect ingredient for a celebration of your home town.

You could also end up being the official photographer of the town if the locals know about your project. This could get your work published in local newspapers and magazines, as well as for promotional posters and flyers for next year’s event.

Although you will have a vision/plan for your project, you will find that this will change and adapt as the project progresses. You might find yourself drawn to portraits of notable figures in the town rather than group candid shots. Or, you might take a more insular look at your family’s relationship with the town.

There are so many possibilities!