How to Find Your Photography Style

One of the most common questions I get asked as a photographer is: how do I find my style? What makes my photos unique and recognizable? How do I express my vision and taste through my images?

These are not easy questions to answer, and there is no simple formula or shortcut to finding your style. It’s a process that takes time, experimentation, and reflection. It’s also a process that never really ends, as your style evolves and adapts to your changing interests and influences.

In this blog post, I want to share some tips and insights that have helped me over the years to develop and refine my style. I hope they will inspire you to discover and embrace your own.

What is style and why do we want it?

First of all, let’s define what we mean by style. Style is the distinctive way you capture and present the world through your photos. It’s the combination of your choices, preferences, and techniques that make your photos stand out from the rest. It’s the signature that you leave on your images.

Style is not the same as genre. Genre is the category or type of photography that you do, such as landscape, street, portrait, etc. Style is the way you do it, regardless of the genre. You can have a style that transcends genres, or you can have a different style for each genre.

Style is also not the same as editing. Editing is the process of enhancing and adjusting your photos after you take them, using software or apps. Editing can be a part of your style, but it’s not the only factor. Style is more about how you see and shoot, not how you edit.

So why do we want to have a style? There are many reasons, but here are some of the main ones:

• Style helps us to create a consistent and coherent body of work. When we have a style, our photos look like they belong together, even if they are taken in different places and times. This makes our portfolio more appealing and professional.
• Style helps us to communicate our message and emotions. When we have a style, our photos convey our personality, our perspective, and our feelings. This makes our photos more meaningful and engaging for ourselves and our viewers.
• Style helps us to stand out and be recognized. When we have a style, our photos are more memorable and distinctive. This makes our photos more attractive and influential, especially in a saturated and competitive market.

How to find your style?

Finding your style is not something that happens overnight. It’s a journey that requires patience, curiosity, and experimentation. It’s also a journey that is unique to each person, as we all have different tastes, influences, and goals.

However, there are some general steps that can guide you along the way. Here are some of them:

• Don’t label yourself. Don’t limit yourself to one genre or one type of photography. Explore different subjects, themes, and techniques. Try new things and challenge yourself. You never know what you might discover or enjoy.
• Consume a variety of content. Look at other people’s photos, but also watch movies, read books, listen to music, and so on. Expose yourself to different forms of art and expression. Find inspiration in different sources and mediums.
• Pay attention to what you like and why. When you see something that catches your eye or moves you, ask yourself: what is it about this that I like? Is it the colors, the composition, the mood, the story, the message? Try to identify the elements that appeal to you and analyze them.
• Keep your inspiration specific. Don’t try to copy or imitate someone else’s style. Instead, focus on the aspects that resonate with you and adapt them to your own vision. For example, if you like how someone edits their skies, don’t copy their entire editing process, but just the part that relates to the skies.
• Practice, practice, practice. The only way to improve your skills and find your voice is to shoot as much as you can. Experiment with different settings, angles, and perspectives. Review your photos and see what works and what doesn’t. Learn from your mistakes and successes.
• Be yourself. Don’t try to please others or follow trends. Don’t compare yourself to others or seek validation. Shoot what you love and what makes you happy. Express yourself and your emotions. Be authentic and original.

Conclusion

Finding your style is not a destination, but a journey. It’s not a fixed or final thing, but a dynamic and evolving one. It’s not a goal or a requirement, but a reward and a pleasure.

Your style is your way of seeing and showing the world. It’s your way of being creative and having fun. It’s your way of being you.

I hope this blog post has given you some ideas and inspiration to find your style. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. I’d love to hear from you.