Many amateur photographers are not sure which route to take when branching out into the professional world. That’s why experimenting with various photography styles can be beneficial. Experimenting can help you figure out which styles suit you best and how they can help you expand your skillset. The experience can help you learn new techniques and lessons, making you a better photographer.
With that in mind, take a look at the six types of photography styles that you should try, or even master, to build a stronger foundation for your professional career.
Important Tips Before Starting
If you decide to go pro, think about implementing client contracts. Find free photography contract templates by HoneyBook online and prepare them for your clients. That way, you can avoid any potential misunderstandings or legal trouble. Keep the contracts prepared in advance.
Similarly, make sure you have additional equipment in case something happens with your primary camera. If not, have a photo buddy on call to jump in if you need assistance. Now, let’s dive in.
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is an exciting branch of professional photography. It represents a way to tell a story that is newsworthy or even historic. That way, observers can live through the photographs and experience the events.
Photojournalists must be objective when documenting an event. For them, it’s more significant to capture candid moments instead of perfect shots. Most of the time, these photographs are unplanned and unscripted, meaning they represent a certain uniqueness and spirit.
Portrait Photography
Portraiture or portrait photography aims to capture a mood or personality of a person or group of people. Whether the photographs are full-body or close-ups, the face is typically the focus of the photo. The pictures can be posed or candid — that’s up to the photographer and the subject.
Depending on the emotion and tone of the shoot, photographers should use a suitable backdrop and lighting. The crucial thing is to make clients feel comfortable and capture their natural expressions. Most people claim that taking professional headshots will help you practice.
Sports Photography
If your goal is to depict emotion, passion, and drama, sports photography might just be for you. If you’re not a sports fan, you probably know one or two and understand the thrill and emotion that goes into watching a game. As you can tell, it’s not only about the athletes themselves but also about the fans.
Regardless of your subject, you should use a higher ISO to shoot at a faster shutter speed. If you want to zoom into the action, opt for long lenses. Make sure to try out different angles as interesting ones can help you stand out.
Fashion Photography
If you want the opportunity to express your creativity fully, fashion photography is for you. Fashion photographers take photos of jewelry, clothes, and other accessories to make them more appealing to customers. The task is to make those items eye-catching and desirable, so creativity is needed.
Fashion photographers work in various locations, from professional studios to abandoned buildings. Full-body shots are common, but they can also learn a lot from portrait photographers. Similarly, good communication and teamwork are necessary to make quality material.
Architectural Photography
Architectural photography encompasses both interior and exterior design of buildings, structures, and similar. The structures you could be asked to photograph include barns, farms, houses, apartment buildings, bridges, and more.
With this style of photography, photographers need to learn how to work with natural light. You can play with interior photos thanks to your existing equipment, but additional equipment, like this, is necessary for exterior shots. Tripods, tilt-shift lenses, and panorama heads are helpful.
Editorial Photography
Editorial photography is typically connected to newspaper and magazine articles. Depending on the story, the photographer will have different tasks and subjects, ranging from people to still images.
For this type of photography, you will need to take shots that work for various scenarios. That includes numerous layouts, vertical and horizontal compositions, and more. As with other similar photography styles, you will work closely with people (art directors, writers, etc.), so excellent communication is necessary.
Photo by Miha Jan Strehovec on Unsplash