How to find your style in photography

Published: 10.08.2021

Style distinguishes a professional from an amateur. If an artist has their own unique style, it can be recognized immediately, even if the work is not signed. Through style, an author can be distinguished from thousands of others. It is a unique vision of the world, conveying feelings and sensations. Style is evident in any form of art: film, literature, music, painting, sculpture. A good photographer should also have their own style, a distinctive touch that will set their photos apart and attract clients to them. Finding one's style is a lengthy process. To develop an individual shooting style, one must spend many hours with a camera, try different genres, subjects, and constantly experiment. Don't be discouraged if everything doesn't work out right away. Photographers develop their own style over years. To find it, one must first understand what constitutes style and how to best search for it. We will look at the components of style in photography and provide recommendations on what to do to develop it.

What is the style in photography made of and how to define it

Style implies shooting in a specific genre of photography. It is impossible to be a professional in all areas, working in advertising, weddings, reportage, and fashion photography. To start, try shooting in different genres, you will understand which one suits you best and what you excel at. Perhaps you will become a popular photographer and will shoot fashion shows. Some people are passionate about sports and love dynamic reportage shots. Look for what you love. For example, a photographer who is allergic to animal fur is unlikely to be able to take stunning photos of pets. And people who do not enjoy cooking will not want to become food photographers.

To determine your genre, start by shooting in different styles. Try taking portraits, landscape photos, children's, family, reportage, and staged photos. Don't be afraid to show your work to others, exhibit it on specialized websites and forums. Ask for advice from fellow photographers on which genre suits you best and what you excel at. It doesn't necessarily have to be a trendy direction. Some people enjoy shooting glamour, while others prefer abandoned buildings and creepy places. The main thing is to enjoy the process of shooting, and it doesn't matter in which genre your photos will be.

An important component of a photographer's style is shooting technique. The technical aspect includes the following factors:

• Choosing lighting. Some photographers only shoot in natural daylight, while others prefer studio lighting. There are also enthusiasts of night photography with flash. Try taking photos in different lighting conditions and choose the optimal option for yourself.
• Exposure settings. Choosing the exposure greatly influences the style of the photograph. Take photos with long and short exposure times, with a closed and open aperture, find your niche in creating photos and make it your signature.
• Shooting modes. All DSLR cameras have four main shooting modes: automatic, manual, shutter priority, and aperture priority. To understand which one suits you best, try shooting in all four modes. Over time, you will figure out which mode is more convenient for you to shoot in.
• Using special technical techniques. Modern technology provides many opportunities for creating different styles of photos. Try 3D, HDR photos, multiple exposures, and so on. You may enjoy taking photos from drones and fall in love with panoramic shots. Use all the functions that technology allows to find your own style.
• Choosing the focal length. Photos taken with a wide-angle or telephoto lens visually differ from each other. Ideally, you should have several lenses to find your ideal focal length, from which you get the best shots.

A photographer's style is often not just evident during the shooting, but also in the post-processing of the photos. You may prefer contrasting colors and lots of light, or a dark palette with shadow reflections. It all depends on your imagination. Some artists add special effects to their photos, while others prefer minimal retouching. You may even enjoy black and white photography. It takes many hours of work in graphic editors to understand how to best process photos and give them a unique touch.

The most important thing in stylish photographs is to show the author's vision. Although the photographer always remains behind the scenes, their signature should be noticeable in the photographs. Show how you see the world through your own eyes, photograph what you truly love and are willing to observe for hours. Whether it's people, landscapes, animals, or objects, the key is to enjoy the process. When a person is engaged in their favorite activity, it is felt and always positively reflected in the photographs.

From the great photos that you will definitely take, create a Light album. You don't need to print the photos separately for this. We will print your photos directly on the pages of the Light album. Upload your images to the free editor Mapi7 and create a themed Light album. You can upload photos from your phone.

Make a Light Album

Tips on how to find your own style

To become a professional with your own unique style, you need to spend 10,000 hours practicing photography. This doesn't mean you have to continuously shoot during all that time. This includes the learning period, interacting with clients, editing photos, scouting locations, and much more. To find your own style in photography faster, we recommend paying attention to the following points:

1. Take as many photos as possible. Even if at first glance the location or lighting doesn't seem good enough, take a few test shots. Perhaps after editing, the accidentally taken shots will turn out to be great photos.
2. Study the works of famous photographers, get inspired by their style, and learn from the masters of the genre. This doesn't mean you should copy other people's work, but you can borrow certain techniques or nuances.
3. Communicate and collaborate with experienced colleagues. A joint photoshoot with another photographer can inspire interesting ideas and teach you new techniques.
4. Develop your creative abilities. A photographer is a creative profession that requires constant inspiration. Do not focus only on the art of photography, pay attention to other areas. You can draw ideas for your style from movies, books, music, painting, sculpture. Visit various exhibitions and art events, where you will be filled with new emotions and creative ideas.
5. Shoot using different techniques. It can be DSLR cameras, smartphones, film cameras, or video cameras. Different cameras display reality in their own way, and you will understand which one best suits your style.
6. Take pictures of what you love. If you have prepared a delicious dish, take a photo to remember it. If you meet a friend you haven't seen in a long time, ask them to pose for a portrait. If you enjoy watching insects, try macro photography. If you love spending time with children, capture their emotions. Enjoy the process, review the photos taken, and choose the ones that suit your style.

There is no need to get stuck on developing your own super style. You can shoot in multiple genres and edit photos using different techniques. If you are a wedding photographer and only shoot people, switch to other themes, explore new areas. Perhaps you will want to change your working style and find inspiration in another field. Try, experiment, and be patient. Nobody becomes a stylish photographer right away, but by working towards this goal, you will definitely get there.