Cover of The 52 Weekends Photography Challenge by Emma Davies

52 Weekends

Fifty-two weekend photography prompts, one for each weekend of the year, gathered from ten years of the A Year With My Camera community.

You don't need special equipment, good weather or somewhere beautiful to go; only a camera (any camera, including your phone) and a little attention. Take one prompt each weekend, in whatever order you like, and let it send you out to look at the ordinary world a bit more closely.

£10 on Amazon, worldwide. Until [date, e.g. 5 December], UK readers can also buy it direct from me in a bundle with one or both of my other books, with UK postage included.

It's a small book

52 Weekends is 4 × 6 inches (about 10 × 15 cm), the size of a postcard. That's deliberate: it fits in a coat pocket or camera bag, so it can come out with you at the weekend.

If you're expecting something the size of the A Year With My Camera workbooks, this isn't that. It's a little companion book, made for carrying.

  • 4 × 6 in (10 × 15 cm) paperback, 116 pages

  • 52 prompts, each with a lined page for your notes

  • A checklist at the back to tick off your weekends

One prompt for each weekend

The A Year With My Camera community has been doing weekend challenges since 2016. This book gathers our favourites. Each prompt comes with:

  • The prompt: a short idea to take out with you, such as stripes, edges of light, the view from here or the colour you avoid.

  • A technique tip: one practical suggestion to help you on your way, whatever camera you're using.

  • Look Further: for the weeks a prompt really catches you, a photographer, painter or idea to follow up.

Opposite each prompt is a lined page for your reflections: what you noticed, what worked, what you'd try next time.

Start whenever you like. The prompts aren't tied to dates, so you can begin in January, in June or next weekend.

A good stocking filler

It's small enough for a stocking and gives someone a reason to pick up their camera every weekend of the new year. It suits a complete beginner, someone who's drifted away from photography, or a keen photographer who'd like some fresh ideas.

For Christmas delivery in the UK, please order by [last order date].

Build a keepsake as you go

Gather your year into a photobook you can hold. Download a free Canva template, add one photograph each weekend, and by the end of the year your book is ready to print.

Download a template: Square [size, e.g. 8 × 8 in] [Canva link] · Landscape [size] [Canva link] · Portrait [size] [Canva link]

How to use the template

  1. Open the template and make your own copy. Click the link and choose "Use template". You'll need a Canva account; the free version works. Your copy is yours to change; the original stays as it is.

  2. Add a photograph every weekend. Each page is labelled with its week and prompt. Drag your favourite photograph from that weekend onto the placeholder and it will drop into place.

  3. Change the shape of any placeholder. Prefer a square, a circle or a full-bleed page? Delete the frame and add a different one from Elements → Frames, or resize it to suit your photograph.

  4. Change or add text. Edit the captions, add a line about where you were or what you noticed, or copy a sentence from your reflections page.

  5. At the end of the year, download it as a PDF. Choose Share → Download → PDF Print.

  6. Upload it to the printer of your choice. Any photobook printer that accepts PDFs will do. Check their page size matches your template before you order.

Some printers ask for bleed or crop marks. If yours does, tick "Crop marks and bleed" when you download the PDF. If you miss a weekend, leave the page and come back to it; nobody else needs to know.

Where to buy

52 Weekends on its own: £10

Available worldwide on Amazon.

Buy on Amazon

Bundles direct from me

Until [date], you can buy 52 Weekends together with one or both of my other books, direct from me, with UK postage included. Books will be posted from [dispatch date]. UK only.

52 Weekends + A Creativity Workbook for Photographers: £20

Usually £28. Including UK postage. Both books are small, so they make a good pair for anyone who'd like fresh ideas.

Buy the pair: £20

52 Weekends + Beginner's Landscape Photography: £23

Usually £30. Including UK postage. For anyone who's off Auto and wants to photograph outdoors.

Buy the pair: £23

All three books: £35

Usually £48. Including UK postage. 52 Weekends, A Creativity Workbook for Photographers and Beginner's Landscape Photography.

Buy all three: £35

Questions

  • No. Every prompt works with any camera, including a phone. The technique tips are written so you can use them whatever you have.

  • Yes, and for anyone who’d like a gentle reason to keep photographing. The prompts are open enough that experienced photographers get plenty from them too.

  • No. Start any weekend and do the prompts in any order. The checklist at the back helps you keep track.

  • Yes. You need a Canva account, and the free version is enough. Printing your finished book is paid separately to whichever printer you choose.

  • The bundles are UK only. Wherever you are, you can order 52 Weekends from Amazon.

  • Bundles will be posted from [dispatch date] by Royal Mail second class, which usually takes two to three working days.