Getting Started On A Photography Project

Welcome! If you’ve just happened across this blog post and wondering what’s going on – I’m Lee Iggulden, one half of Welshot, and I’m just getting started on a photography project of my very own.

You can read what it’s all about in the very first blog post I wrote – Money Where My Mouth Is… It explains the what, the why and the how.

Basically, I’ve set myself a challenge to undertake a long-term photography project to keep me, excuse the pun, focussed. While I am a highly motivated and driven person, I am also autistic, and I live with ADHD. In my working life, I am super hyper focussed, in my personal life, not so much!

Photography is THE only hobby which I have ever maintained for a long period of time. Except, my hobby became a business, and the business is now my motivation and driving force and has had all my focus and attention. Picking up my camera, just for me, had become non-existent and it just sat gathering dust in its bag, in the corner of my Welshot office.

At Welshot, we’ve ALWAYS maintained that photography is good for your mental health and well-being. Eifion even wrote a blog about it, How photography can help with anxiety. so, I thought, what better way is there to help me learn about (and come to terms with) my recent autism and ADHD diagnosis than using my camera to understand myself better, celebrate my strengths, and find calm through my own photography. Photography combines structure, creativity, sensory engagement, and mindfulness. For ADHD, it helps channel attention in a rewarding way. For autism, it offers structured creativity, sensory regulation, and a means of expression.

If you’ve read the first blog, you’ll know the challenge I’ve set myself. 60 different photo projects/sessions leading up to the big 60 in 2026 and right through until August 2027 – because, after all, you’re 60 until you’re 61 right!

Right now you might be saying / thinking to yourself, “Lee, that’s not a huge project, it’s only 60 different photography related sessions over two years” – but, when you break it down, it’s 2.5 photo sessions per month, and believe me, with the three sessions I’ve already done (at the time this blog went live) I’m realising that this project is gonna take some commitment, dedication and a lot of plotting and planning!

This photography project is a personal project, it’s not ‘Work, Work’ and, with no urgency, or importance for me to get it done, (other than my own personal satisfaction) I knew I’d be running the risk of letting it fall by the wayside if I didn’t make this challenge at least a little bit SMART. which is why I’ve decided to spend two years to complete it.

What I’m Learning from My Photo Project 60/60

Through my photo project, I am not only learning how to use my camera all over again, catching up with all the new developments in technology and practicing skills I’ve never used before, I’m also, while researching, learning and understanding ADHD and Autism, realising why photography has obviously helped me over the years.

I also discovered just how much I’ve been missing my own personal photography.

My project has given me that hyper-focused state which I thrive upon. Give me a deadline or make me accountable, and I am more likely to complete a task or a goal. My project might not be ‘Work, Work’ but I’ve announced to the world what I am going to do, so there’s no way I am not going to give it my all.

Just like my role within Welshot, when other people are involved (booking on an event, purchasing a Welshot One-to-One Learn Your Camera session etc) it needs planning, organisation and communication, this project involves people and no way am I going to let them down if they’re prepared to stand in front of a camera for me.

I could photograph Eif, but I’m pretty sure Eif would get fed up if I used him all the time, as, I suspect, would the reader of this blog.

If you’re interested, here’s a (very basic and rudimentary) list of how photography could possibly help you, just as it is doing for me, if you are (or suspect you are) autistic and/or have ADHD.

Focus and Attention

• ADHD: One of the challenges is sustaining attention. Photography provides a structured yet flexible focus task. When framing a shot or adjusting settings, your brain engages deeply with the present moment. This is similar to a ‘hyper-focus’ state, which people with ADHD sometimes experience naturally.
• Autism: The structured activity of composing a photo or following a process (lighting, angle, exposure etc) provides clear rules and boundaries, which can be calming and easier to engage with than unstructured tasks.

Sensory Regulation

• Photography encourages controlled sensory input:
  • The visual element lets you process and enjoy details in a way that feels purposeful.
  • The tactile interaction with the camera (pressing buttons, turning dials) can be soothing.
  • It can also act as a buffer from overwhelming environments, giving you a task to focus on and a lens to filter sensory overload.

Emotional Expression and Communication

• Photography gives a non-verbal way to express feelings, moods, or perspectives.
• It’s particularly helpful for those who are autistic and may find verbal communication challenging.
• Capturing the world through your lens allows you to share your unique perspective with others without needing to ‘explain’ yourself verbally.

Planning and Executive Function

• Many people with ADHD struggle with planning, and organising and photography requires mini-project planning and these small, manageable steps can train executive functioning in a structured, rewarding way:
  • Choosing a subject
  • Setting up the scene
  • Deciding on camera settings
  • Capturing the image

Mindfulness and Relaxation

• Photography encourages mindfulness: You’re observing, noticing light, textures, patterns, and movement.
• This can reduce anxiety, calm racing thoughts, and improve overall mental well-being.
• It gives your mind something to focus on externally, which can be less stressful than focusing internally.

Social Engagement (Optional)

• While photography can be solitary, it can also offer gentle social interaction:
  • Photography workshops, clubs, or online communities allow connection around a shared interest.
  • Communication is often task-focused and structured, which can feel safer and more predictable.

Confidence and Achievement

• Every photo taken is a small achievement, giving instant feedback and satisfaction.
• Seeing improvement over time helps build confidence, particularly if other areas of life feel unpredictable.

Photo Project #2/60 – Studio Mains Flash in the Welshot Creative Hub with Jessica Saffron

Jessica was one of the very first professional full-time models that I worked with, and when the opportunity arose for her to visit the Welshot Creative Hub in Llandudno, North Wales I jumped at the chance and started to plan a full day in the studio using mains off camera flash. Jessica was amazing to work with, she was patient, kind and considerate and if she was bored by my constant “Eif, how do I do this” questions, she didn’t show it.

How the day started!

As with my first session with Erica, it took me a while to get into my stride. Remembering not to rush in all guns blazing, I worked hard to slow down, concentrate on one thing at a time and not let my mind run away with me or get distracted. Working from the studio, as opposed to the on-location like I did with Erica, it meant I had to be disciplined and focused, stay on task and not run to my desk on the pretence of more urgent work and leave all the shooting to Eifion. Apart from getting mildly distracted by my own enthusiasm and feeling the need to post on social media as I went along at one stage during the day, I think I fared better than I thought I was going to.

Jessica really suits a ‘Vintage’ look and feel, so we started off simply with a casual look against our plain white wall.

Again, as with Erica, I found it awkward talking and directing Jessica, but once I got over the “Do something with your hands” stage, I fell into a natural rhythm

Working with lighting gels

After the first set-up with the vintage look, Eifion suggested we work with some gels. I found this a little harder, not only did I have to concentrate on the shots I was getting of Jessica herself, but I needed to be mindful of where the light, hence the colour, was falling, on her, but also on the white wall behind. These two were my most successful. Definitely a technique that needs practice.

Keeping it on brand….

Obviously there had to be a GREEN gel involved in the shoot somehow.

Thank you, Jessica for letting me turn your green.

Low Key, One Strip Light and Shadow Play…

This is the first time I have ever used this photographic lighting technique and again, it took some thinking. How much of Jessica did I want lit, where was the light falling, shadow placement – so much to think about all while I was having to concentrate on using my camera.

The first two images below you can see a ‘Behind the Scenes’ camera shot of the lighting used and a ‘Back of Camera’ phone shot of what I was taking.

How the day finished!

When I am helping photographers at our Welshot events, whether it be floral, still-life, or food photography, I always tell them that the set-up is the most time-consuming part of the shoot. Getting your set composition and prop placement so it looks right in camera is important. Get that right and you are halfway there when you finally press the shutter button.

Creating a set for a portrait shoot is no different, especially if you are shooting in a studio and not just using a plain backdrop and want to bring props into the mix. It takes time, it’s a bit of trial and error – it might look good to the naked eye, but waht does it look like through the lens? D

I love this look of different backdrops and cloths all being used together to create shapes and texture, it also gives you a different look and feel to your image depending on which angle you shoot from.

My favourite photograph, the one I’m most proud of.

This will be the shot that reminds me how good it feels to spend a day focusing on doing something that I absolutely love, get pleasure from and give me a buzz, that dopamine hit, when I download my images and see what I’ve made by using my camera.

Thank you Jessica, for a wonderful day, you were a superstar and I hope you enjoyed the day as much as I did

My September 2025 60/60 photo challenge projects are sorted and in the diary:

And… Obviously for the accountability, I’ve listed them below:

• Father & daughter studio portrait photo-shoot.
• Getting started with Affinity (editing software) session booked. (Not all my personal photo projects will include using a camera)
• A gentleman & his car – Black & white portrait photo-shoot on location in Snowdonia.

Might add a fourth to give myself some leeway and get ahead… I’m on track so far with 3 shoots down! Only 57 to go lol!

One last thing, I’d love to know, would you like to start a personal photography project? Has photography helped you in some way? Have you done a photographic project, what did you do? I’d love to know all about it, so pop a reply in the comments below, I’d love to hear from you.

Lee x

Want some inspo with your photography or photographic project?

Every week at Welshot we spend quite a bit of time putting together our weekly Welshot e-Newsletter titled ‘Your Weekly Dose of Motivation from Welshot’ and, each week, it covers a different genre of photography. You get seven hints and tips to motivate and inspire you in your photography, you get a weekly challenge to help you if you’re stuck in a bit of a creative rut and you get four ideas in our gear checklist (non-branded and we try to keep it affordable) – all focusing on that week’s chosen photographic genre.

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