Summer is one of the seasons that many of us look forward to yearly. Being under the sun with your family and friends is a great way to bond and experience new things together. If you dread going out during the cold months, you probably look forward to summer to finally do the things you’ve been postponing due to the cold.
If you ask people how their ideal summer would be, you’d likely get a day on the beach, eating the best summer ice cream–and shooting memories with their loved ones. For many people, summer is the time to experiment and try new things. And so many people try to explore and do as many activities as possible under the sun.
If you’re into photography, you might want to make the most of the summer to capture dreamy and youthful shots with your friends. But aside from taking photos, there are also other activities related to photography that you can enjoy, too. If you’ve been planning to make the most of this summer while doing activities you love, like photography, this post is for you.
Here are five photography-related activities you can do with your friends this summer.
1 – Learn about film processing and how it works via workshops
Even though we now live in a digital world where you can take photos instantly, the appreciation for film cameras is becoming a trend again. The rawness and unique vibe of film shots attract today’s generation to use them again. Since people are now after aesthetics, the filter-free yet dreamy vibe film cameras produce makes it a camera people like.
If you’ve been using film cameras for quite some time now, you might want to take this summer as an opportunity to learn more about them–specifically, how film processing works. Wouldn’t it be fun to learn and try how a small negative film turns into a colourful photograph?
You can look for a professional photo printing laboratory near your area or search for one online. Maybe there’s a photo printing lab that offers film processing workshops near you. It is a great way to learn and appreciate how a film camera works if you’ve been interested in it. So if you want to learn something new before summer ends, give film processing workshops a try.
2 – Shoot summer subjects and sceneries, then print them as photo cards, stickers, or stationery items
If you’re looking for ways to earn extra money this summer, you can do so by selling photocards. Realistically, it wouldn’t be fun to do a summer business you don’t like. So if you’re into photography, you might as well take advantage of your hobby to make money out of it.
If you live in an area where many tourists visit, selling photocards is a great profit-making business. But even though you don’t live in a tourist-favourite place, that’s okay. You can still turn your creative photography shots into something useful, such as a sticker or stationery item.
You and your friends can take this as an opportunity to travel. Most of the time, we rarely recognise and appreciate the beautiful sights within the area we live. You and your friends might be surprised at how many places you don’t know exists. Through this activity, you won’t only practise your photography skills and earn money, but also try something new while bonding with your friends.
3 – Try a gig as a photography team for hire for weddings and engagement shoots
In the U.K., most weddings take place during the height of the summer months, which are June to August. After months of chilly and cold nights, who wouldn’t love to celebrate one of their life’s huge milestones under the sun? If you ask any couple, most of them would likely love to officiate their love in the open salty air.
If you and your friends believe you have a talent in photography, why don’t you try a gig as a photography team for a wedding or engagement shoot? But of course, you should take this job seriously. After all, you’ll be working for two people celebrating one of the most significant moments in their lives.
If your friend has talent in photo editing, that would be an advantage for you. I suggest you practise shooting your family and other friends first before starting. If one of your friends has a talent for hair and make-up, maybe you can include that service in your photoshoot package. It would be a fun activity and business to try in the summer. But of course, this is something serious, so don’t do it if you’re not confident in delivering excellent work.
4 – Make a summer documentary or vlog for you and your friends
Today, Youtube has become one of the top platforms that allow people to share their experiences online. With this, anyone now sees the world in a different light virtually by watching other people’s videos. If you dream of travelling to a country you’ve never been to before, you can just search for travel vlogs to explore the place by watching.
The truth is time flies by too quickly. If this happens to be the last summer you spend with your childhood friends before moving to a different town or entering a new phase in your life, why don’t you document it? You don’t necessarily have to post this vlog online. Its purpose is to have something to look back on with your friends in the future.
On top of that, you wouldn’t have to be conscious about how you act if you’ll film the vlog for personal use only. But of course, you can still be creative and film it in a movie style. After all, it’s your vlog to record, shoot, and experience. So it’s up to you to direct and manage how the theme would be. You are free to be yourselves or shoot it based on a specific theme.
5 – Go on a day trip without using your mobile phones and the internet. Just document your day using a film or polaroid camera.
Last but not least is to go on a day trip without internet and mobile use. Today, almost everyone is on their phones 24/7. For a change, why don’t you and your friends challenge yourselves by not using your gadgets for a day?
You might say, then how can we document our trip? The answer is through the use of film or polaroid cameras. Since we’re used to using our phones even when spending time with our friends and loved ones, we often forget to enjoy the experience of being with them physically.
To avoid that and ensure that you get to experience and make the most of your summer, try to spend a day without using any gadgets. All you need is your film or polaroid camera, essentials, and friends to enjoy your trip. Try it and see how it goes.
Which activity are you eyeing to try the most?
Hopefully, you get to find one activity that you and your friends are down to try. Since summer only comes once a year, make the most out of it by trying something new while doing what you enjoy.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for DS Colour Labs Ltd (DSCL), a professional photography lab that offers a vast range of products and services for photo and print needs.
