Up Next

Starting in 10s

Watch Now

Why Personal Projects Make You a Better Photographer with Larry Lourcey

March 17, 2026

Are you a photographer stuck shooting the same work over and over? Personal photography projects may be the key to improving your creativity, storytelling, and technical skills.

In this episode of The Professional Photographer Podcast, Pat Miller sits down with award‑winning photographer Larry Lourcey to explore how personal projects can transform your photography. Larry shares how projects like “40 at 40,” “The One Thing,” and his album recreation series helped him sharpen his creative vision, develop stronger storytelling skills, and even lead to an Emmy‑winning project.

Personal projects allow photographers to experiment without client pressure, test new lighting and creative concepts, and push their technical abilities further than typical client work allows. They can also help photographers develop stronger portfolios, attract new clients, and rediscover the creative passion that started their photography career.

If you're a portrait photographer, wedding photographer, or commercial photographer looking to grow your craft and stay creatively inspired, this episode will show you why personal projects are one of the most powerful tools for improving your photography.