It’s exciting to start immersing yourself in the world of photography; playing around with different lighting, resolution, angles, and settings leaves you with an infinite amount of possibilities to work with. The part about photography that is the most fun, and also the most challenging, is figuring out what to do with the photos after you’re done taking and editing them. Unless you’re an established photographer, you most likely don’t have much lined up other than posting them to your Facebook, but if you’re looking to find something a little more creative to do with your hard work, here are a few suggestions.

Print Them on a T-Shirt

A unique and practical idea you can do with your finished photos is turn them into fashion. Whether it’s a picture of your favorite pet, or a breathtaking view of your city’s skyline, making a custom printed t-shirt out of your creative hard work is an excellent way to get it noticed. Not only that, but you’ll have something that is completely original and won’t be seen on anyone else.

Make a Cookbook

A popular trend that many amateur photographers have taken interest in is photographing new recipes they try out, and if you enjoy cooking, it might be a fun way to document your culinary hits. Make a personal cookbook by printing out the recipe and placing a quality photograph next to it; it will make a great keepsake to look back on, and it’s something you can actually use for years to come.

Start a Blog

A fun way to showcase your photos is to start a blog and use it as an online journal. Blogs are becoming increasingly popular, and posting your photos and sharing your posts is a fun way to keep your friends, family, and any followers you acquire along the way updated on your life events. Having an online home to place your pictures also gives more purpose to documenting your daily activities, and it will help validate your new found photography skills.

Make a Collage

Spruce up your home by using your photos as décor, but skip the traditional frame on the wall; get a large piece of canvas and use your photos to make a piece of art. It can be solely your pictures on the canvas, or you can get more creative by cutting out eye-catching pictures from magazines, painting over your photos, and adding fabric pieces to the collage; using your photos to make an intricate design to adorn your house will help make your home feel more lively and personal, and it’s sure to create an interesting conversation piece when company comes over.

Give Your Photos as Gifts

A well thought out and personalized picture always makes for a considerate gift; it’s something that will have a lot of meaning behind it when you give it to the right person. For example, taking a high quality black and white photo of the restaurant where your parents went on their first date has the ability to be a great anniversary gift for them. Using your technical skills, imagination, and what you know about the individual person offers you a chance to create sentimental and significant mementos for those friends and family you hold dear.

Learning the ins and outs of photography takes time and patience, and it’s an extremely rewarding feeling when you get the hang of a new technique. What’s even more gratifying is when you’re able to utilize your pictures for something worthwhile and practical, and there are endless ways to do just that. The more pictures you take, the more confident and creative your end results will be, and at the end of the day, all that matters is that you’re satisfied with the finished product.

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Julie Hartwell is freelance writer who loves anything to do with the arts, design, and effective business marketing. When she’s not embarking on her own creative adventures, she writes about custom t-shirt printing for Blue Cotton.