Documenting Your Photoshoot – Your Path to Better Nature Photos
Can you still remember the conditions, the time of day, the season, and the location where you took your best photos?
It's not always easy to remember all these details over the years and to know when certain places are ideal for your nature photography. That's why I have the following tip for you, which will help you remember better and improve your photography.
Why is documenting your photoshoot important?
Accurately recording your photoshoots helps you not only to find your favorite spots and times again, but also to continuously improve your photography. With detailed notes, you can precisely track under which conditions your most recent and best shots were taken.
Methods of Documentation
Good documentation can be done in various ways. Use a journal, the calendar on your phone (my favorite), or store the information digitally as a note or in a digital map (like Google Maps).
Location and Conditions
Time, Date, and Season: Record the exact time.
Lighting Conditions: Note the time of day when the light was best.
Weather Conditions: What weather conditions led to the best photos?
Tidal Conditions: Note whether it was high or low tide.
Directions: Describe exactly how you got to the location and where you went upon arrival.
Seasonal Behavior and Bloom Times
Animal Observations: Document the seasonal behavior of the animals you photographed. For example, when do certain species appear?
Plants: Note the bloom times of the plants.
Photography Techniques: Which techniques turned out to be particularly effective for the different species?
Planning Future Sessions
By documenting, you can also review past years and see exactly when and where you can photograph in the coming weeks and months. This invaluable tool allows you to better plan your shoots in advance and not miss any special moments.
By keeping track of these details, you will find that your photography becomes better organized and your results more consistent.
Extra Tip
If you keep your data digitally, set it to remind you of events from the previous year automatically. Use your phone's calendar, which you can also sync with your laptop. Tell the calendar to remind you of these events every year. This way, you will be automatically reminded each year when you can photograph, for example, bee-eaters, red deer, kingfishers, or white-tailed eagles.
