Why You Should Revisit Your Older Work
As photographers, we constantly seek new inspiration and push to capture new photographs. We find inspiration by looking at work from other photographers, reading photography books, or watching YouTube videos. It’s easy to get caught up in getting new content as there are always travels and adventures and opportunities that you see that you would love to be part of yourself. But in that push for new, it’s easy to overlook the work you have created in the past, and your old work can be a fresh source of inspiration.
It’s easy to get excited about your recent work as those photos are fresh in your mind. The intention and feeling behind them are still a recent memory, but working on what you are excited about most and moving on to the next can cause you to miss good photos, especially if you have hundreds or maybe thousands to go through. Recently, I found myself going through some of my older RAW photos. With an archive that goes back over ten years, I don’t look through all of my older files, but I sometimes find myself importing older series of photos and travels from the past into Lightroom with a new outlook and a slower process.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley - 2015
Looking through your older work, the most evident characteristic is change. How much has your style and skill changed since that time? You may also find that the photos you found were your best may not have that same appeal, while others you dismissed may seem better than you remember. They have a new life.
So, what are the benefits of revisiting your older work?
1. Find Hidden Gems
When you revisit your older photos, you might stumble upon the ones you initially passed on. You may have moved on to the next after a quick 2-3 second review. When viewed with a fresh perspective, these photos can have new meanings as your growth and the passage of time may serve as a way to see things differently.
2. Reflect on Your Mistakes
Looking back at your older work provides an opportunity to reflect on your growth as a photographer, but remember that you will hate some of your older work. It could be embarrassing, and you will want to delete them immediately and pretend they never happened. Recognizing why these photos fail and what you would change helps you move forward with your progress as a photographer with your choices, techniques, and compositions.
3. Experience Nostalgia
Photos take you back and stimulate an emotion. You may be able to remember exactly how you were feeling when capturing a specific photo. This is especially true for a series of travel photos or an experience you shared with someone else.
Conclusion
Looking back on old work is an opportunity to reflect as a photographer with both the good and the bad. You will see some of your work in a new light. But some of your awful work then will still be awful now, and if so, you never have to do anything with those images, but it’s a great way to look back and consider how you have progressed or your perspective has changed.
Rhyolite, Nevada - 2015