Why Small Photography Projects Can Lead to Big Creative Growth

One of the things we often encourage photographers to do is start a project.

Projects can be incredibly worthwhile. They give us something to aim for, help us develop our creative vision, and encourage us to look at familiar subjects in new ways. Rather than wandering around hoping to find a photograph, a project gives us a sense of purpose and direction.

The challenge is that projects can also become intimidating.

Many of us start with a simple idea, only for it to grow and grow until it feels impossible to complete. What began as a small creative exercise suddenly becomes a huge undertaking with endless possibilities and no obvious finish line.

Take a project based on reflections, for example.

At first glance, it sounds straightforward. Then the questions begin.

Do reflections only count in water? What about puddles? Glass? Mirrors? Shiny metal surfaces? Should the project include landscapes, buildings, people, or abstract subjects? Should it be black and white or colour? Do the reflections need to dominate the frame or simply be part of the composition?

Before long, the simple idea has expanded into something so broad that it can feel overwhelming.

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, why not start with a much smaller goal?

You might simply decide:

"This week, I'm going to photograph the first three reflections I see."

That's it.

No pressure to create a masterpiece. No need to define every possible rule before you begin. Just a small, achievable target that gets you started.

Because starting is often the hardest part.

Once you've taken those first few photographs, momentum begins to build. New ideas appear naturally. You start noticing opportunities you would previously have walked past. Before you realise it, the project is underway and developing organically rather than feeling like a burden.

Recently, photographer and writer Wesley Verhoeve wrote an interesting article about this idea of giving projects clear boundaries and endpoints. It's well worth a read:

Give Your Project an Ending Before You Start It

The concept really resonated with me, so I decided to try a small reflection project of my own.

Reflections are the subject of our monthly challenge on Patreon, so this week I headed down to my nearest harbour simply to see what I could find. My goal wasn't to create a complete body of work or spend days searching for the perfect image. I just wanted to capture three photographs that might help inspire others taking part in the challenge.

What surprised me was how quickly opportunities appeared.

In a relatively small area, I found reflections in harbour water, puddles, and shop windows. The harbour itself provided an interesting backdrop, and each reflection transformed familiar scenes into something slightly more abstract and creative.

The lighthouse reflected in a puddle became an almost painterly image, distorted by ripples in the water. Reflections in windows combined interior and exterior worlds into a single frame, creating layers and visual ambiguity. Even simple patterns reflected on the harbour surface produced images that felt more like abstract art than traditional landscape photography.

What began as an exercise to produce a few example photographs quickly became something I wanted to explore further.

And that, perhaps, is the beauty of small projects.

You don't need to commit to photographing every reflection in Scotland. You don't need a grand concept or a detailed plan. You simply need a starting point.

Choose a subject. Set yourself a small goal. Create a handful of photographs.

The project may end there.

Or it may quietly grow into something much bigger.

Either way, you've created photographs, developed your eye, and taken another step forward in your photographic journey—and that's always worthwhile.