Most of the best photographers have a distinct and unforgettable photography style.
But there are many types of photography styles. And you need to find your own style to stand out!
What Defines Photography Style?
A photography style is more than editing or photo technique. It’s a combination of every decision you make as a photographer.
One of the best ways to discover your style is to look for patterns in your behavior. How you eat, travel, socialize, and so on makes up who you are.
You can develop these preferences by learning more about different cultures and preferences. And photography is no different.
Look for patterns in your techniques, compositions, and favorite photographers. You already have a photography style that complements your personality.
All you have to do is let it awaken and emerge using these methods.
4 Ways to Find Your Unique Photography Style
The first part of every photographer’s journey is discovery. As a beginner, you might not know where to start. Equipment, famous photographers to follow, and editing possibilities might confuse you.
Try to avoid distractions like this. Your priority is to cultivate and nurture your unique photography style.
1. Make a List of Photography Genres That You like and Experiment with Them
There are many types of photography styles out there. To find yours, you need to expose yourself to different genres. Here are a few of the many genres you can choose from:
- Portrait photography
- Landscape photography
- Macro photography
- Food photography
- Product photography
- Wildlife photography
- Pet photography
- Architectural photography
- Street photography
- Event photography
- Photojournalism
- Fine art photography
- Conceptual photography
- Abstract photography
- Underwater photography
Within these genres, there are many sub-genres. For example, wedding photography could fall under event photography.
And portrait photography doesn’t exist on its own. There are many types of portrait photography out there:
- Fashion photography
- Conceptual portraits
- Childhood portraits
- Fine art portraits
- Dance portraits
- Self-portraits
Which genres stand out to you? You can choose as many as you like.
Now, start experimenting with them. If you have a smartphone camera only, begin taking photos with your smartphone camera. Right now, your equipment doesn’t matter as much as your creativity.
This exercise will give you experience in many genres, which is very important in the long run. It will also start to provide you with a better idea of your photography style.
2. Make a Collection of Inspiring Photos to Understand Your Creative Taste
You will have specific food, outfits, and places that you like more than others. In a way, those reflect your style. Even if you’re not aware of them yet, you will have similar styles in photography.
You can find them by looking at different photos. Choose a genre that you like and look for it online. If a particular photo stands out, save it. You’ll use it to understand your preferences later on.
Instead of saving photos on your computer, you can use different social media platforms. Pinterest is excellent for creating inspiration boards.
Instagram also has a handy saving tool. And Tumblr lets you create an entire inspiration blog.
Start with 20 to 50 inspirational photos. Why did you choose them? What stands out the most? Write all of this down. Do you notice any patterns?
The more you understand your photography taste, the closer you’ll get to discovering your photography style.
3. Share Your Photos to Get Helpful Feedback About Your Style
Those with whom you share your photos don’t have to be professional photographers. But it would help.
Your goal isn’t to ask for constructive criticism, though. All you have to do is ask them to point out things you’re unaware of. So You can ask them questions like this:
- What was the first thing you noticed when you looked at my photos?
- Did you notice any patterns or styles in my pictures?
- Is there anything that’s missing from my photos?
This is a great way to look at your photos differently.
Others might give you feedback you wouldn’t have known on your own. They might see patterns to help you understand what kind of photographer you are.
4. Limit Your Equipment to Focus on Your Photography Style
Limitations are important. They can help you understand your strengths and make you more creative. They can also give you a clearer idea of your photography tastes.
Instead of looking for the best camera equipment, start with what you know and have. This doesn’t mean you should never invest in professional equipment.
But if you have to learn a lot of new technical information, you might not develop your style. So get rid of tech and social media distractions.
Use the camera you have. And take photos of everything that catches your eye. The less equipment you use, the easier it will be to understand your unique photography style.
If you have to learn a lot of new technical settings, you won’t invest as much time in your intuition. The fewer distractions there are, the more you can focus on developing a unique style.
Your creative intuition is what helps you understand the heart of your photography. It’s what makes your photos emotional and thought-provoking.
Even if you learn every setting on your camera, you won’t have a distinct style. It’s best to focus on the emotional side of your photography.
4 Ways to Develop Your Photography Style
There are many exciting ways to develop your style. The more you put these tips into practice, the more distinct your style will become.
1. Look for Editing Inspiration to Find a Starting Point
Many, if not most, photographer styles rely on editing to stand out. This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hours on editing.
If you prefer a natural look, you can still edit your photos to make them look eye-catching. These photographers have a natural editing style:
Other photographers have a more intense style:
2. Practice Editing to Intensify the Atmosphere in Your Photos
When you have a few photos you’re proud of, edit them in your preferred editing program.
You can use GIMP, Photoshop, Lightroom, or anything else that catches your eye. I like to use Lightroom and Photoshop for different purposes. You can mix and match as you like.
Don’t watch too many tutorials. Instead, treat your editing program like something you need to figure out independently.
This will help you save time and introduce you to interesting editing tools. It will also prevent you from feeling limited by specific editing rules.
There are three main types of editing:
- Retouching: This is very popular in portrait photography. Retouching involves getting rid of flaws and blemishes. Many retouchers aim to perfect their photos without making them look unnatural.
- Color Correction: You can change the tones and colors in your image with color correction. A few simple clicks can instantly make a simple photo look more emotional. There’s a lot you can do with color correction. So take some time to familiarize yourself with it.
- Photo Manipulation: This involves deleting parts of images. Or you merge different photos to create surreal or conceptual images. Photographers like Karrah Kobus, Alex Currie, and Rosie Hardy do this often.
3. Start a Daily Photography Project to Strengthen Your Creative Muscles
One of the best ways to develop your style is to practice regularly. You won’t improve quickly if you only dedicate one hour a week to your photos.
Even if you’re busy, you can help your style evolve a little bit every day. All you need to do is start a photography project.
Make sure it’s either daily or weekly. This ensures that you spend as much time with photography as possible.
Projects are an excellent opportunity to experiment with different genres and techniques. A few common photo projects are the 365-day project and a 52-week project.
For the 365 project, you have to take a photo every day. It doesn’t have to be outstanding. The point is to spend a little time with photography every day.
The 52-week project is a weekly one with a theme. Every week has a new topic, which is often abstract. This is meant to strengthen your creative muscles and help you think outside the box.
You can share your results online to get constructive criticism and inspire others.
4. Spend Less Time on Social Media to Avoid Too Much Influence
I know this sounds weird. You spend hours looking for inspiration. And now you’re told to stay away from social media.
This doesn’t mean you delete your social media accounts. Just spend a little less time looking at other photographers’ photos.
When you develop your style, you might get distracted by other people’s techniques. You might doubt your abilities if you look at others’ work too often.
Social media is a wonderful place. But it can also become a source of insecurity. Follow photographers. But don’t spend your time comparing your work to theirs.
Instead, use that time to practice, edit, and familiarize yourself with new types of photography. The more time you spend with yourself, the more original your photos will be.
Photography Style FAQs
These are the two most frequently asked questions we get along with our answers.
What Is a Photography Style?
A photography style is like your fashion and interior design choices. It’s the way you approach photography and edit your pictures. And photography styles can evolve a lot with time and practice.
Which Type of Photography Is Most in Demand?
The most in-demand photography types include photojournalism and landscape, headshot, portrait, and wedding photography.
And architectural and macro photographers can earn lots of money in their respective industries.
Conclusion: Photography Style
If you’re an aspiring photographer, chances are you already have a style. It’s just a matter of discovering it.
Look for inspiration. Take photos often. Join photography projects. And ask for feedback to make the most of your journey as a photographer. And take our quiz to find out how you approach photography!
