Majority of the revered photographers have an unforgettable and distinct style of photography. In fact, one of the key takeaways from a photography school is being able to identify your calling and style of photography.
When you are starting out at the most basic photography workshop, you will learn that there are varied types of photography styles, but you will find yourself inclined towards one. Every photographer that has made a name for themselves has stayed true to their distinct style – RathikaRamasamyis known for her wildlife photography, DabbooRatnani and AtulKasbekar for fashion photography, the late Danish Siddiqui for photojournalism and so on.
Credit : Jeffrey Simon
What Describes Photography Style?
Photography style encompasses your technique, editing skills and every decision you make as a photographer. Just like you develop your personal preference and style about the kind of food you like, places you visit, who you socialize with by increasing your exposure and trying out new things; photography is exactly the same.
Look for commonalities in your techniques,favourite photographers, compositions, and develop a style that matches your personality
How can you identify your Photography Style?
A photographer’sjourney is all about discovery. At the start you may get overwhelmed by all the equipment, features, photographers etc but a few tips can help you:
List down Photography Genres That seem to be interesting
Expose yourself a limited number of styles that seem interesting. These could be abstract, architecture, landscape, portrait, underwater, dance, street and more. Don’t worry about equipment at this stage, click with a smartphone camera. Your creativity is what matters right now.
Collect photos that inspire you
Out of all the pictures of foods, the street, monuments, animals, people etc you take, you will realise there are few that you like more than the rest. The ones that inspire you will help you understand your creative taste. You will notice a similar streak across the shortlisted photos.
As you start to understand your photography taste, the closer it will take you to grasping your photography style.
Share Photos and get feedback about your style
Even if your friends are not professional photographers you need to ask them to point out certain things such as – what they noticed first, any particular theme or pattern that was consistent or anything that could have been differently. It is great to get different perspectives for your photos. They might notice things that you hadn’t.
Use limited equipment to help focus on your photography Style
Don’t start with fancy and advanced photography equipment, start small. Once you have limited resources you will get more creative and have clarity about your photography taste. Eventually you will have to invest in professional equipment, but at this stage, too much technical exposure may distract you and take you away from your uniqueness.
If you aspire to become a photographer, you are probably already leaning towards a distinctstyle. Get creative, take out that smartphone or invest in a basic Canon camera so you can post on their social media via the hashtag #capturedoncanon, sign up at a good photography school and ask for feedback- both professional and from your friends and family and make the most of your photography journey.
