Photography Microadventures

Irish Hills, Michigan

Back when I was single with no kids, taking off on a Saturday drive to take photos was easy: I just got up and did it.

Now, with a family and more responsibilities, spending time out taking photos has been harder to do. Many of my weeknight activities involve taking kids to their lessons or school functions. There are doctor appointments and musical practice. Someone has to do the dishes and mow the lawn. And my wife and I have a relationship to nurture. 

So what to do? How can a busy person support a photography hobby with such a constrained schedule?

My advice: take opportunities when you can, and don’t feel bad about it. 

The concept of microadventures has gained popularity in recent years, where you take a weekend, or a day, and head out into the world to do…something — anything out of the ordinary. 

For photography, it could be as simple as:

  • Waking up early and hitting the road to photograph a landscape or subject before the rest of your household even knows you’re gone. I do this on Saturdays when I know the weather and the light are optimal. Often, I’m back before everyone’s even had breakfast.
  • Taking advantage of work trips. I do this a lot with conferences, where you can head to a city across the country and wander into town to make pictures. Bring a camera with you on your next work trip and you can create something in the quiet moments.
  • Grab an hour when and where you can and check something off your to-photograph list. If we have nothing planned for the week, I’ll take a break after dinner and photograph a subject I’ve noticed during my travels around town. I’ll even stop somewhere on the way to pick up the kids (from the grandparents, from school, etc.) and capture something I’ve noticed. 

This could be true of any creative project. The point is: make your own adventures whenever you can. 

And for big projects? I communicate those with my family and ask for time to complete them. That may mean a few hours here and there during the week, but as long as you’re upfront about expectations and schedules, it shouldn’t be difficult. 

If it’s important, find the time.

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