5 photo project ideas to start in September

September often marks a new beginning. Back to school, back to the daily routine, change of season. It's the perfect time to start creative projects and develop good habits. Photography can be a great way to capture these moments, document both the small and big things, and stimulate your imagination along the way.

Whether you're with family, friends or on your own, it doesn't take much to bring a photography project to life. All you need is a camera, a little inspiration and the desire to keep a record. The goal isn't to strive for perfection, but to have fun, observe and build lasting memories.

Here are five simple ideas to try out in September, at your own pace and according to your preferences. These projects are accessible even if you don't have much experience, and they will add some excitement to your return to work and provide images to cherish for years to come.

1. Give the new school year a new lease of life with a “home-made class photo”

What if the start of the new school year became a photo opportunity in its own right? This project is the perfect opportunity to transform an often busy day into a creative and bonding moment. Whether you're with family, friends or flatmates, taking a class photo at home can become a tradition in its own right.

A simple but neat setting

Before you start snapping away, take the time to prepare the setting. A neutral wall, a colourful background or a well-lit corner of the house will do the trick. Think about coordinating outfits to create visual unity and feel free to add a few accessories. School bags, globes, chalkboards or small signs with names and class names are all great options.

This type of staging also works very well with adults. Housemates can have fun taking a humorous ‘class photo’. Siblings of different ages can capture their first day back together, even if they are going to different schools.

Print instantly with an instant camera

To make the project even more tangible, using an instant camera such as the Kodak Mini Shot 4 ERA MS400 is ideal. You take the photo and print it immediately in 4x4 cm square format. You can display it in the hallway, stick it in an album or give it to your grandparents.

It's also a way to get younger children involved. They see the result right away and understand that the image is not just digital, but also something you can keep.

A ritual to repeat every year

Once you've got into the habit, you can turn this annual photo into a real collection. One print per year, in the same place or with the same style, allows you to see how everyone has changed. These photos can then be collected in a personalised photo album or framed to decorate a wall of memories.

It's a simple idea, but one that's full of meaning. It's a sweet way to celebrate the start of the school year and give everyone a place in your family or friends' history.

2. Create a photo book to tell the story of September in pictures

September is a month of transition. It marks the return to work, the first routines, the small changes of season. It's also a time full of moments to capture, which are often forgotten once the pace picks up again. A photo journal allows you to collect these moments and give them a place.

An image, a memory, a mood

The principle is simple. Take one photo a day, or one photo a week, throughout the month. It can be of anything in your daily life. A detail in your home, a moment of rest, a street scene, or even the weather that day. Each photo is accompanied by a short sentence, a keyword or a memory of the moment.

This project can be done alone or with others. It's a great family activity to do together in the evening or at the weekend. Younger children can also take part by choosing what they want to photograph to tell the story of their day.

The right camera for discreet photography

A compact camera such as the Kodak C1 is ideal for this type of project. Easy to use, it fits in your pocket or bag and allows you to capture the moment without interrupting your day. It is perfect for spontaneous photography, with no complicated settings.

The camera's discreet design also helps you document your daily life without staging the shots. The aim is not to take great photos, but to keep a faithful, authentic, sometimes even imperfect, but sincere record.

A beautiful object to create at the end of the month

Once the month is over, you will have collected around thirty photos. You can then group them together in a personalised photo book via AgfaPhoto Print. In just a few clicks, you can create a unique, easy-to-browse object that you can keep or give as a gift.

It's also a way to showcase what you've captured. Each image finds its place in a larger narrative that gives meaning to your month of September. It's a creative approach that's accessible to everyone and invites you to take a different look at everyday life.

3. Take up a photo challenge 1 day/1 theme: 30 simple ideas to capture

Starting a photo challenge is an original way to stimulate your creativity. With a light constraint each day, you observe your environment differently, while creating a coherent series to compile later. The month of September, between renewal and moments of transition, is an ideal playground for this type of project.

A list of themes for daily inspiration

Before you start, take the time to list 30 ideas. These can range from the dominant colour of an object (‘something red’) to a mood (“silence”) or everyday elements (‘my breakfast’, ‘my usual route’). Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• What I see when I wake up

• My favourite place

• Something yellow

• A detail I've never noticed before

• My mood today

The aim is not to strive for perfection, but to be consistent and explore spontaneously. You can choose a minimalist, poetic or more graphic approach, depending on your inspiration.

A disconnected experience with a disposable camera

To make this challenge even more unique, you could opt for a disposable camera such as the Kodak FunSaver with built-in flash. With 39 exposures, it allows you to take a photo every day of the month and adds an element of surprise. You don't see the image straight away, which frees you from your critical eye. It also gives you a little margin for error.

It's also a way to focus on the gesture, the framing and the light, without a screen. A retro and offbeat approach that appeals to enthusiasts and the curious alike.

4. Tell the story of a back-to-school event with a mini photo report

September is often full of little memorable events. It's the perfect time to document a special day in pictures, like a mini-reportage. The aim is to keep a record of a moment in time and turn it into a memory that you can look back on later, alone or with your family.

Choosing the right moment to take a photo

You don't need to wait for a big occasion to get started.

A simple weekend with friends, a school trip, a game at the park or a neighbourhood flea market are all good opportunities. What matters is the desire to tell a story through images.

By documenting the different stages of the day, you build a visual narrative. The build-up, the atmosphere, the details, the highlights... Each photo brings its own emotion to the whole.

Structure your report around a few highlights

To give your mini-report some rhythm, think about structuring your series of photos like a short story. Start with the moments of preparation. This could be bags being packed in a hurry, shoes lined up in the hallway, or the first laughs that mark the start of the day. Then, let the atmosphere of the day take over. Show the places, the faces, the weather accompanying the event, the glances exchanged without posing.

Then come the key moments. The action itself, the reunion, an unexpected discovery, a shared activity. This is where the energy flows and the images come to life. Finally, don't forget the little details. Objects placed without a second thought, a gesture between two people, a half-smile or a fleeting scene that could have been missed. It's often these discreet fragments that best tell the story of what happened.

Preserve the story in print

Once your report is finished, it's always nice to give it a tangible form. On AgfaPhoto Print, you can order prints of your photos and create the medium of your choice to tell the story of this unique day.

This project can also become a monthly or seasonal ritual. It's a way to keep track of the little events of everyday life while enjoying photography.

5. Start a seasonal photo tradition to repeat every year

Some habits are worth building over time. The idea of a photo project that comes back every year at the same time is simple, creative and precious. In September, the scenery changes, faces evolve and landmarks transform. It's the perfect time to start a long-term series.

Choose a photographic ritual to repeat every year

It could be a portrait in front of the front door at the start of every school year. A photo in a symbolic place, such as the bench in the neighbourhood park. Or an image of a significant object, such as a backpack, new shoes or a new notebook.

The key is to keep the same setting or theme. This allows you to build a coherent visual story rich in memories over the years.

Photograph the moment spontaneously

To capture an event, there's no need to strive for perfection or orchestrate everything. Simplicity is often the key. Soft natural light streaming through the window, an authentic pose, a glance caught at just the right moment. These elements are enough to convey a genuine atmosphere, without artifice.

Shooting on the fly also means leaving room for the unexpected. A burst of laughter, a spontaneous gesture, an unexpected interaction between two people. These are the images that leave a lasting impression and that we love to look back on. And when they can be preserved immediately in physical form, the emotion becomes tangible. Tucked away in a box, displayed in a notebook or given to someone as a gift, these photos take on an emotional value that goes beyond a simple digital snapshot.

Build up an autumn collection over time

Every new school year can become a page in an evolving album. You can group your photos together in a photo book, to be created each autumn.

In a few years, you'll have a beautiful chronological series to leaf through. It's a simple and sincere way to measure the passing of time, while cherishing the little rituals of everyday life.

Why not make September your photo month?

September often marks a new beginning. It's a time for good resolutions, but also for creative ideas. Starting a photo project at this time of year is a way to slow down a little, take a closer look at your surroundings and keep a record of the moments that matter.

Whether it's a photo journal, a daily challenge or a family ritual, every project can take shape. The important thing is to enjoy it at your own pace.

With a camera that's right for the new season and a little inspiration, every month can become a story in pictures. September is a great place to start. It's up to you.