Learning photography isn’t just about reading and watching tutorials—it’s about picking up your camera and shooting.
The best way to grow as a photographer is through practice. But not just any practice—intentional, fun, and focused challenges that help you experiment, see creatively, and build confidence.
Here are 10 beginner-friendly photography challenges that will boost your skills, improve your eye, and keep you motivated every day.
1. One Photo a Day for 30 Days
Take one intentional photo every day for a month. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be thoughtful.
Why it works:
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Builds consistency
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Trains your eye to see creatively
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Helps develop your own style
Tip: Create a folder to track your progress. You’ll be amazed at how much better your photos look by day 30.
2. Shoot with One Lens or One Focal Length
Limit yourself to one lens (like 50mm or 35mm) or turn off zoom on your phone.
Why it works:
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Forces you to move around and reframe creatively
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Helps you learn composition and perspective
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Makes you work with what you have
Bonus: You’ll start to see the world through your chosen focal length.
3. Color Challenge
Pick a color (e.g., red, green, yellow) and take photos of objects, textures, or scenes in that color for a day or week.
Why it works:
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Sharpens your observation skills
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Trains you to notice patterns and details
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Sparks creativity in everyday surroundings
Try building a color grid from your best shots!
4. The 10-Step Challenge
Walk outside, take 10 steps, and take a photo. Repeat for 10 rounds.
Why it works:
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Pushes you to find beauty in unexpected places
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Great for breaking creative blocks
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Makes you slow down and look more closely
Tip: Do it in your neighborhood or even inside your home!
5. Black & White Only
Shoot only in black and white for a week.
What you’ll learn:
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Light, contrast, and texture become more important
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You’ll focus more on shape and composition
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It gives your images a timeless, artistic feel
Most phones and cameras allow you to shoot in monochrome mode—or just convert during editing.
6. Stranger Portraits (With Permission)
Ask someone you don’t know (politely!) if you can take their photo.
Why it works:
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Builds confidence
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Sharpens portrait skills
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Teaches how to interact and direct your subject
Challenge yourself to take at least one great portrait of a stranger.
7. Shoot a Story in 5 Frames
Tell a story using only five photos—no words.
Example themes:
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A morning routine
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Preparing a meal
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A walk through your city
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A pet’s day
You’ll learn to think in terms of visual storytelling and sequencing.
8. Only Shoot at One Time of Day
Pick one time—golden hour, noon, blue hour, night—and shoot during that period all week.
Why it works:
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Teaches you to work with different lighting conditions
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Helps you master the “look” of a time (warmth, shadows, mood)
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Encourages repetition with variation
Bonus: Try photographing the same subject at that time each day.
9. Photo Scavenger Hunt
Create a list of things to find and shoot. For example:
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A reflection
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Something round
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A shadow
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A pattern
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A pop of red
Do it alone or with a friend. Make it a weekend challenge or a daily warm-up!
10. Shoot Without Editing
Take a photo and post or save it exactly as it came out of the camera.
Why it’s powerful:
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Teaches you to get it right in-camera
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Makes you think more before clicking
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Sharpens your understanding of exposure and light
Do this for a week—you’ll become more intentional and accurate with every shot.
Final Thoughts: Growth Comes from the Clicks
The best photographers aren’t the ones with the most expensive gear—they’re the ones who shoot regularly, reflect on their work, and push themselves creatively.
These challenges aren’t just exercises. They’re pathways to finding your voice as a photographer.
So pick one, grab your camera or phone, and start today. The more you shoot with intention, the faster you’ll grow—and the more you’ll fall in love with photography.