"I just don't have time to take pictures."
"There really isn't anything to photograph."
You may be among those who give these two reasons for not taking more photographs. If both these excuses could be eliminated, would you be more tempted to "get out there" with your camera? If so, read on.
We suggest that you can photograph subjects you love on your patio or in your own backyard. Obviously, this doesn't mean you can have elk or sea otters outside the back door, but it does mean that you can plant beautiful flowers and attract neighborhood birds and animals to be your subjects.
If you photograph close to home, you'll likely find the following advantages:
How to improve photo opportunities in your yard. You can enhance the photographic opportunities around your house by selecting landscaping plants, designing feeding stations, and providing nesting boxes or other habitat that attract local critters. Nurseries or feed stores in your area may be able to offer assistance. Check with nearby university offices and state wildlife agencies for advice on plants that are compatible with conditions in your yard. For example, in our area the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service provides programs to help homeowners with plant and landscape issues. They offer courses such as "Backyard Wildlife Management" and "Forest Management for Wildlife" for the public through County Extension offices. The WindStar Wildlife Institute website provides a lot of information on attracting wildlife to your property as well as ways to educate yourself to become an expert on wildlife habitat. A little research will likely uncover other opportunities for improving habitat and photographic opportunities in your backyard!
Plants. Planting attractive bushes and flowers will provide you with fresh and beautiful photographic subjects. Some wildflowers can be successfully grown in gardens, but please don't remove wildflowers from wild areas or buy from those who do. A search on the internet for the term "native plant nursery" listed about 10,000 web sites, so finding a reputable nursery of native plants for your area should be possible. Of course, shade loving plants won't do well in a full sun location, or visa versa, so study the soil and light conditions for the plants you have in mind, and then select a location that offers what is best for both the plant and you.
Pay attention to what is behind your plants. A beautiful flower placed close to a brick wall will not allow for a soft, out-of-focus background. Be aware that depth-of-field in a flower closeup will be shallow, and you may want to use an aperture from f/11 to f/22 to capture detail in the blossom. The textures, colors, and shapes several feet behind the flower will influence the background of your photograph. If your yard is small or crowded, you might want to try an artificial backdrop (more on this topic below). The area in front of your prize plants is also important because you'll need a place for your tripod and your body without trampling on other plants in the process.
If you don't have room in the ground for every plant you wish to photograph, try growing some in pots. Then when the plant is in prime condition, move it to a location with a great background and optimum light. This approach will allow you to try plants that might not grow outside in your climate by keeping them in the house until time for their picture. You might even be able to share potted plants with photographer friends.
Birds. We have successfully photographed birds at our house for years and have made many publishable images. Our feeder is stocked year round, and water is always available for the birds. One feeder outside a window provides us with constant enjoyment. Another feeder is movable and used with a photo blind that is situated to optimize the available light. The feeder and blind are moved frequently to change the appearance of the background.
By attaching a branch to the feeder tray, we provide a convenient spot for the bird to land as it surveys the food. Most photographs are made when the bird first lands. Woodpeckers can be attracted with a peanut butter/lard/cornmeal mix placed in holes drilled in a small branch. If you put the holes on the back of the branch, they won't show in the photograph. When the forsythia or redbud are blooming in the spring, attach a flowing branch to your feeder. By giving your imagination free reign, you can come up with setups and arrangements that work photographically and entertain the neighbors as well!
Determine the bird species that hang out around your house and then research their food preferences. The Sibley Guides might be a good starting point to learn the preferred food for certain species (not all birds like black sunflower seeds). By presenting the appropriate food, you should be able to attract most of the available bird species into a photographic situation.
Insects. 
Caterpillars, moths, butterflies and other insects can also be good photographic subjects. Butterflies can be found in most backyards, especially if food plants are present. Again, research how to attract the species that occur in your area. Hint: early morning when the butterflies are still a little cold and the dew is sparkling on their wings is a great time for photographs. Plus this is a great excuse for leaving a part of your lawn unmowed where native plants can provide insect habitat for photography!
Other wildlife. Photographing mammals around your house might be more difficult since many are typically nocturnal (i.e., possums, raccoons, skunks, flying squirrels). Deer are becoming much more common across the states and are often ridiculously tame. Chipmunks and squirrels can be good subjects. We recommend caution when you consider whether to attract mammals by feeding them. They are typically healthier when eating wild diets, habituated animals can be dangerous, and human-fed animals can easily become a major nuisance that won't go away. Our experience is that bird feeders attract plenty of wildlife, and the deer love almost all our shrubs and flowers. The cute skunk that you attract with cat food might lose its appeal if it is frightened and reacts one dark night near your back door!
Backgrounds. Pay close attention to the background in your photographs. When you look through the viewfinder, almost all cameras show you the scene at the widest aperture of the lens. Manually stop down the lens (if your camera has this feature) to see the background that will be recorded with the aperture that is selected. Avoid backgrounds with bright or dark spots, lines, or shapes that draw attention away from the subject. Artificial backgrounds can be used behind the subject when necessary. These can be made from cloth, cardboard, foamcore, etc. Camouflage aerosol spray paint is now available and can be artfully applied to surfaces to look like an out-of-focus, natural background. However, wind can become a problem when you use big artificial backgrounds outside, so be prepared to attach everything securely.
This is a brief overview of photographing in your yard. With a little planning and work, your yard can become a great photo studio. Ask for assistance in selecting plants and arranging them so that people and animals enjoy them. Determine what animals live in your neighborhood and then provide habitat, food, and water for them. Watch your backgrounds to enhance the subject. Then keep your camera gear handy and simply step outside to capture those wonderful images that happen in your own backyard.
if you have questions about this article.