The Creative Benefits of a 365 Project (and What It Taught Me)

The start of a new year often feels like the perfect moment to reflect, reset, and recommit to your creative goals.

When I first picked up my camera every day for a 365 photography project, I didn’t know how transformative the experience would be. In a time when I needed something grounding and creative—photography gave me structure, focus, and joy.

In this post, I’ll share what I learned from the process, why daily photo projects can help you grow in surprising ways, and how they can deepen your connection to both your camera and your creative voice.

So many of these images only exist because I showed up with my camera every single day. The 365 project invited me to see differently, stay curious, and capture moments I might have otherwise missed.

First off: what is the 365 project and how can you join it?

The main idea behind a 365 photography project is to take one picture every day over the course of 365 days. From documenting your daily life to creating stunning artwork with your camera, the sky is the limit in your interpretation of this idea. You can use any kind of camera or as many different cameras and lenses as you own. Some people follow a theme or challenge for a week or month, others like to commit to one lens per month and try it out. It’s totally up to you to set boundaries or to go with your creative flow. You can do it all by yourself, with a group of friends, or you can join our existing community. Organize your pictures in editing programs like Lightroom or print them and hang them on your wall. You can even do it all on your iPhone and transfer pictures directly from the camera to albums. No matter how you want to define your project, all that matters is that it gives you joy, motivates you to use your favorite camera and allows you to have more pictures of your favorite moments at the end of the year.

While committing to a 365 project can be daunting because of the time commitment, it has so many benefits that make it absolutely worth a try.

Here are my 7 reasons why you should try it:

1. Improve your photography: taking a picture a day will keep you connected to your craft and make you a better photographer. No matter how bad or good your picture, you have given yourself an opportunity to learn from mistakes.

2. Stay motivated: Even on the days you don’t feel like picking up your camera you have a reason to do it anyways.

3. Meet new friends: No matter how you get involved in the project, you will have the opportunity to meet new people! You can either connect with photographers through apps like MeetUp or your local camera club, or join an online community where you can meet photographers from all around the world. I will be hosting an online community like that this year, a 365 project at Gather Academy together with my talented friend April Milani. We hope you will join us!! (You can start your project anytime, no need to wait for the next New Year’s Day.)

4. Stay inspired: Nothing is more inspiring than learning from other photographers and about how they create. When I first tried out a 365 project three years ago, I tried lots of new techniques which opened doors into worlds I didn’t even know exist. One of my favorite challenges was learning about high key photography. I hadn’t heard anything about it so I looked it up online. It made me leave my comfort zone and learn about different ways to use exposure. Looking back, it was another important stepping stone in my long journey as a creative photographer.

5. See in a new way: It can be tiring to see the same things day after day, to a point where you feel there’s nothing left to photograph. I was at that point when I started my first 365. My biggest surprise was how my way of looking at my surroundings changed while trying to find something interesting to photograph. Gradually I fell in love with the little things and discovered interesting areas no matter where I looked.

6. Become more confident: The more you try, the more you learn, the more confident you will become. It’s that simple!

7. Do something good for your soul: Photography is my mental yoga. Practicing on a daily basis helps me to make time for creativity. In doing so I make sure I plan a few minutes of me- time no matter how challenging my day was. Even a few minutes of focusing on something you enjoy can make a huge difference in your mental health.

I hope this article motivates you to pick up your camera and start your own creative journey. Just give it a try and let me know how it goes. I can’t wait to see your work!!

A Personal Reflection

When I started my first 365 project, I was still a beginner photographer—full of energy, endlessly curious, and so proud to carry my camera with me everywhere I went. That excitement is something I still remember vividly.

I didn’t know then how transformative the process would be. Taking photos every day helped me build my visual language—but it also connected me to other photographers doing the same thing. Some of them became close friends, and we still stay in touch today. We learned from each other, challenged each other, and celebrated milestones along the way.

So yes, 365 projects build skill—but they also build community, and that may be the most lasting gift of all.

A Note from the Future

Since writing this post, I’ve had time to reflect on the experience of completing daily photo projects—and what I truly gained from them.

While I still believe a 365 project can build creative discipline and deepen your relationship with your camera, I’ve also learned that this kind of structure isn’t for everyone. For some, it becomes more about checking a box than creating from the heart.

If you’re feeling called to explore a more intuitive or flexible approach, I’ve shared some thoughts on that in a newer post:
👉 Nurturing Your Creative Flow: Beyond the 365 Project

However you choose to show up creatively—daily, weekly, or when inspiration strikes—I hope you’ll make space to enjoy the journey.

With light and encouragement,
Ute