5 Photographic Styles
If you’re interested in photography, there are a lot of different genres to choose from. Which one is right for you? Before you can decide on a style, it’s important to understand what the five main types of photography are. This article will explain them and help you decide which one is the best fit for you!
Documentary
Documentary photography is a genre of photography that aims to reveal the world as it really is. It’s different from photojournalism in that it doesn’t focus on breaking news events but rather documents something over time.
Often, documentary photographs highlight social justice issues such as poverty and war, with a view to inspiring change. Photographers can also use their cameras to document natural landscapes, revealing elements of the environment that the average person would overlook or find difficult to see.
Documentary photographers can be highly acclaimed, with their work influencing many people. For example, Diane Arbus, who specialized in capturing marginalized people, was a key figure in redefining the art of photography.
Portrait
Portrait photography is a popular genre that captures individuals, groups, and families. It’s one of the easiest types to learn and has plenty of possibilities for experimentation.
Portraits of people can range from traditional posed shots to more informal, candid poses. These pictures aim to create an image that conveys the subject’s personality and character.
A good portrait photographer knows how to make their subjects feel comfortable in front of the camera. This requires deft handling of the camera as well as interpreting body language.
The best equipment for this type of photography is a DSLR or mirrorless camera that offers manual settings. This will enable you to control exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. Tripods are also essential for capturing sharp photos.
Street
Street photography is a genre of photojournalism that often depicts human behavior and events in public spaces. It can be a documentary form, but it is also an aesthetic and political statement.
It is a genre of photography that has been around for decades and has its own tradition and heritage. It is often confused with documentaries and glamour, but it is actually much more nuanced than those descriptions indicate.
A good street photographer does not try to control their subjects or poses but rather captures what is happening at the moment in a unique way. This is not easy and requires a lot of patience, but it is well worth the effort.
Nature
Nature photography is an art form that displays the earth’s natural beauty through landscape and wildlife images. These photos have a stronger emphasis on aesthetics than other types of photography and are among the most popular with art collectors.
The most challenging aspect of this genre is catching a scene in the right light, with subtle shifts in time of day and year having a powerful effect. This type of photography requires a unique set of skills and can be an exciting challenge for any photographer at any skill level.
To capture stunning landscape photographs, a wide-angle lens is ideal. It allows you to see a much wider view of your subject and also provides a deeper depth of field that brings the whole scene into focus.
Product
Product photography is a type of commercial photography that involves taking pictures of products for sale. The resulting images are often used in catalogs, brochures, and websites.
Generally, these images will be displayed in a simple and non-distracting way, with the product being the main focus. They are also a common way to show off a product’s quality and value.
eCommerce is one of the biggest markets for product photography, and it plays a huge role in driving conversions. In addition to traditional product-only shots, eCommerce stores can use 360-degree imagery to give shoppers a better idea of what the product looks like in context.
This style of product photography is especially helpful for products that have unique or hard-to-explain features. It’s a great way to convey how the product works and will make sure that any potential customer understands what they’re getting before buying it.