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50 types of photography - Stocksy Ideas

Think that there’s only one type of photography out there? Nope. There are plenty of different types of photography out there in the world with varying subject matter, different equipment, and personal techniques.

Some photographers prefer to expand their skills and broaden their portfolio by pursuing multiple types of photography at the same time while others focus on perfecting a particular style throughout their careers. A wide range of experience shooting different subject matter can identify a niche or preferred theme for career or hobby photographers.

Here, we cover nearly 50 different types of photography, providing a brief description of each and showcasing some examples to get those creative juices flowing. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite topic to shoot or rediscover an old love.

Abstract Photography

Abstract photography, also known as conceptual, concrete, or experimental photography, is a genre that is difficult to define. Abstract photographs often use color, light, shadow, texture, shape, or form to imbue a feeling, sensation, or impression — without actually providing a representational image of the object or scene that’s being photographed.

Shots that typically fit into this genre of photography are not immediately associated with a familiar object in the viewer’s eye because they are created by isolating a particular object or natural scene in a way that removes contextual details from the image, either through framing the shot in a creative way or through image editing afterward.

Adventure Photography

Adventure photography is much more self-explanatory than abstract photography. This type of photography captures images of adventures, usually in the great outdoors. It often features remarkable landscape shots, adventurous travelers, and challenging shooting conditions because of accessibility to particular locations and shifting weather conditions while taking photographs outside.

Lugging camera gear into remote, rugged locations provides an additional challenge for adventure photographers. Hiking, biking, backpacking, and camping with gear is something that photographers of this niche genre are very familiar and comfortable with.

Juno

Architectural Photography

Another self-explanatory genre, architectural photography is when the main subject matter of the photograph is a building’s exterior or interior. These shots tend to be pretty accurate representations of the construction that are taken in a way that is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Exterior shots usually use daylight to capture the building along with nearby landscaping features. They can also be shot at night using ambient lighting from street lights, surrounding landscape, or moonlight.

Interior shots can be complementary to exterior shots to further depict a particular architectural style or can be used as a standalone.

Perspective control is a key aspect of this niche due to the sheer size of most buildings. The large-format view cameras of olden days, tilt/shift lenses, and post-processing can all contribute to getting a great shot of a big building.

The world’s oldest surviving photograph is an architectural photograph taken in 1826 or 1827, making the genre one of the first genres of established photography. As architectural trends have shifted and buildings of different styles have been erected around the world, photographers can delve deep into this niche, focusing their efforts on a specific architectural style such as Contemporary, Tudor, Postmodern, Gothic, Victorian, Classical, and beyond.

Astrophotography

Taking photos of astronomical objects like stars, planets, and meteors, celestial events like lunar or solar eclipses and other phenomena of the night sky all fall under the spacey umbrella of astrophotography. Astrophotography revolutionized the field of professional astronomical research as long-time exposures made it possible to record images of stars and awe-inspiring nebulae that are otherwise invisible to the human eye. Eventually, optical telescopes were designed to record light using photographic plates, essentially functioning like giant cameras.

Photographers can use both film and digital cameras with long-time exposure functions to capture these types of photos since light photons are able to accumulate over time. Special equipment and techniques, however, are pretty essential for capturing details so getting into astrophotography is no joke.

Due to its unique need for particular conditions and special hardware, astrophotography is typically a subsection of amateur astronomy. However, photographers that have a passion for the night sky are also able to participate by getting the right equipment, using the correct camera settings, and learning a few special techniques. Tripods, telescopes, fixed wide-angle photographic lens cameras, tracking mounts, imaging sensors, and post-processing tools are just a few of the items needed for great astrophotography.

Black and white photography

Black and white (B&W) photography focuses on capturing an image with no color. This can either be done through a camera setting or through editing a color image afterward. Monochrome images that use minimal amounts of lighting also fall under this category.

When photographic technology first began, almost all images captured were either black and white or varying shades of sepia. Some early color photography was hand-tinted but it was quite rare and expensive to create. As technology advanced into the mid-20th century, color photography became prevalent, taking over the once-dominant B&W genre.

Often capturing classic, timeless, and elegant shots, black and white photography is mainly considered fine art photography these days. Art films and other motion pictures also sometimes make use ofB&W as the chosen aesthetic, producing a nostalgic or vintage vibe.

Business photography

Business photos focus on the working world, with imagery being captured to support the growth and development of a business, usually for marketing and promotional purposes. By capturing images of the owners, their products, their teams, or their services, business photography allows companies to tell a story about their offerings through photos.

Portrait photography, product photography, lifestyle photography, candid photography (of things like workshops or meetings), and sometimes even architectural photography fit into this category, depending on the industry the business operates in.

These photos can be used as marketing collateral for a company’s website, brochures, and other promotional efforts as well as in editorials speaking to tech. Technology, after all, is big business. What did we even do before computers?

Candid photography

Most photographs of people are often posed, with the photographer directing the shot and models. Candid photography is a type of photography that removes the posed aspect of the equation, with photographers taking shots of people in motion, spontaneously, or by surprise. Photographers should aim to capture subjects in a natural state, without needing to direct or pose them to get the right image. This doesn’t necessarily mean that subjects aren’t aware that photos are being taken – consent is still an important part of being able to use those photos! It should mean, however, that your candid images will capture authentic scenes, reactions, and facial expressions of the people in them.

Secret photography is considered a subset of candid photography and occurs when subjects are totally unaware of their photograph being taken. Due to its unobtrusive nature, candid photography tends to use small equipment that’s often discreet in order not to disturb or distract subjects when shooting. Flash photography is also not common when taking candid shots as the flash draws attention and can cause subjects to alter their behavior towards a less natural, more controlled position.

Cityscape photography

The urban counterpart to landscape photography, cityscape photography captures images of city skylines or sections of a metropolis. These images can be taken during the day or night and usually feature large sections of a city. Wide-angle lenses are needed to achieve these shots, but telephoto lenses can come in handy as well to capture a smaller area of the city. Tripods can be very useful to prevent camera shake blur.

Cityscapes are a versatile genre of photography that can be captured at any time and from many locations. Higher elevations, like rooftops or top floors of high-rises, and less dense areas like waterfront promenades, can provide lots of options for a great shot. Playing around with the time of day also provides plenty of opportunities to capture a cityscape at the magical golden or blue hour, and everywhere in between.

Commercial photography

Commercial photography is that which is taken specifically for commercial use, usually to promote or sell a product or service. Photographers are hired to take shots of the product to be used in marketing collateral like brochures, menus, pamphlets, and beyond. Images of services can be staged using models or staff. Food photography, fashion photography, and product photography sometimes double as commercial photography. Headshots are another popular piece of the puzzle for this genre.

Confirming the type and amount of shots, as well as figuring out must-have shots versus nice-to-haves, will help ensure that a commissioned photographer can deliver what their client needs.

Caitlin Riley

Composite photography

Some types of photography are created by combining multiple images to create one composite image. Composite photography requires post-processing and editing of two or more shots to produce a layered shot that still looks cohesive.

In the 1880s, way before digital photography and editing existed, composite portraiture was being produced using a technique that allowed multiple exposures to be taken on the same photographic plate. These days though, separate images are blended by using layers, masks, and blurs. Montages of photos, where a scene is photographed in small chunks and then combined, and multiplicity, in which a person is captured multiple times in the same scene, can also create a composite photograph. Focus stacking, where a scene is captured from different angles or points of focus and then blended into one, is another technique used to create a large depth of field.

These types of photographs can create unique, artistic, and editorial images that are incredibly creative and often very striking. Due to their relative complexity, they also take longer to produce.

Creative photography

Another hard-to-define genre, creative photography includes a vast variety of concepts and techniques. It encourages experimentation and creativity in composition, as well as in the equipment and techniques used to capture an image (composite photography can overlap with this genre).

Other examples include fisheye lens photography or crystal ball photography which manipulate the perspective of the shot. High dynamic range (HDR) photography and forced perspective photography also fall under this photographic niche. Concepts like the recently popular “cake smash” photoshoots for babies and toddlers are another form of creative photography.

Experimenting with filters, textures, and opacity, as well as shutter speed, multiple exposures, and motion blur can help create a new perspective. Using other forms of media, such as painting on prints, coloring by hand, or cutting and pasting other printed images to create a collage, can also produce a creative final shot.

Documentary photography

Considered by some to be a part of professional photojournalism, documentary photography captures images of real life, usually in the context of historical events, as well as the everyday. A distinguishing difference between the two is that documentary photography tends to chronicle an event, subject, environment, or topic for an extended period of time, adding context to a particular storyline. Photojournalism usually deals with a shorter-term, more “breaking news” style of photography.

Sometimes shot in B&W for that timeless look, documentary photography can also be achieved by amateur or artistic photographers. Another popular subset of this type of photography can be found in the world of academics. Conservation photography and street photography may also be considered a part of this genre, but can also stand alone as separate categories.

Drone photography

Drone photography, also called aerial photography, captures scenes from high in the sky. It requires access to a helicopter, plane, or other airborne objects, such as a drone. Due to its challenging nature in terms of accessibility, many photographers have embraced the recent advances in drone technology, opting to use drones instead of flying in an aircraft with their cameras and taking shots themselves (also renting helicopters can get a tad pricey over time).

Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, allows photographers to capture shots remotely and/or automatically. However, many countries have strict regulations as to where drones can be flown so being aware of these is an important part of getting a good image without running into problems.

Beyond selling aerial shots for artistic and commercial use, this type of photography is also employed in cartography to create maps, archaeology, movie production, environmental studies, inspection of power lines, other surveillance, and more.

Double-exposure photography

Double-exposure photography is created by the merging of two images into one. Historically, this required special cameras and film development techniques. Modern digital cameras now have settings that allow for the capture of multiple exposures. Editing software like Photoshop also makes achieving this effect much simpler than film, although some purists would argue that it’s not a true double exposure if it’s not on film. Apps are now available to produce this effect on smartphones too.

The technique can be employed to deliver images with a surreal, ghostly quality to them. They often use silhouettes to create interesting, expressive imagery of two (or more) things at once. There is endless room for creativity in a double-exposure photo.

However, some planning of a double-exposure shot is required to determine a composition that will work well. A base photo must be captured, then the layer photo(s), and then the two images need to be edited and merged into one. The background of the base photo needs to be removed before adding in the layer(s) and blending them together for the final result.

Editorial photography

Usually used in newspapers and magazines, editorial photography incorporates aspects of fashion, sports, and event photography, typically shot in a candid nature. Generally, these types of photos are meant to illustrate a story that’s newsworthy, educational, and/or informative.

Since these images are meant to be shown in printed media, they tend to accompany text, giving additional visual context to a story line or project. Different from commercial and advertising images, editorial shots are used to accompany articles and therefore fall under a particular licensing model.

Editorial shots usually can’t be used for commercial purposes to sell a product, unless the photographer gets appropriate model or property releases. Buyers who purchase these types of photographs from stock agencies are responsible for following the licensing conditions.

Jen Grantham

Event photography

Event photography captures guests, activities, and the ambiance of a gathering. Weddings, christenings, corporate parties, birthdays, dances, awards ceremonies, funerals, conferences, live concerts, and other engagements fall under this category of photography.

These shots can be used for personal, sentimental value, as well as to promote or market an event, organization, or company for commercial purposes. Falling under the candid photography genre as well, some shots at the event may be posed to document the guests in attendance, but most of them are usually taken as the event naturally unfolds.

Beatrix Boros

Family Photography

Taking photos of a family in posed or candid portraiture is known as family photography. These types of shots are often commissioned by the family for personal use to hang in the family home. They capture the relationships between parents, children, siblings, and sometimes extended family. Family reunions, weddings, and other family occasions are an ideal opportunity to practice this type of photography. Newborn photography and shooting events like cake smashes can also fall under this genre.

When used commercially, capturing family photos should feel authentic and real. Similar to candid photography, these images can show the connection and tender moments caught between family members or they can emulate a staged family photoshoot. Paramount, however, is that the models hired either are actual family or are able to communicate the intimacy associated with family. Otherwise, you can end up with an awkward group of models pretending to family.

Fashion photography

One of the oldest types of photography, existing since the mid 1800s, fashion photography is the practice of capturing models in clothing and other fashion accessories for editorial or advertising purposes. Fashion shots can be taken in a studio, on location in an exotic or complementary landscape to the clothing, or live on the catwalk at a fashion show.

Fashion photo shoots usually require good gear and lighting. Hair and makeup stylists are often involved as well, preparing the models in ways that highlight and showcase their clothing and/or accessories. Fashion photography can range from haute couture that focuses on the latest trends and styles thought up by renowned designers to capturing models for a department store catalogue.

Film photography

Film photography dates back to the late 1800s and is the precursor to digital photography. “Safety film” was introduced by Kodak in 1908, although previous iterations of film were used as early as 1889, but were made from the much more flammable material, nitrocellulose — usually referred to as “nitrate film”. Color film was introduced for home movies in 1935 by Kodachrome, and 35mm film lengths were used for still cameras as of 1936.

35mm color film uses multiple layers and filters to capture an image that, once exposed or developed, produces a color photo. Black-and-white photo processing was less complex and not as temperature-sensitive as color photo processing. However, the processing of black-and-white photos was less available on a commercial scale, prompting the design of black-and-white film (even though the processing was done in the same way as standard color film). Film size and speed are both factors to take into account when shooting on film. Film speed describes the film’s threshold sensitivity to light, denoted by the ISO scale.

Until the early 21st century, film photography was the principal form of photography. As digital technologies became more widely available, many consumers left film behind and moved to digital formats. In 1981, Sony released the first consumer electronic camera which was followed by Fuji’s first digital camera, released in 1989. However, a recent trend in photography over the last decade has seen a revival in film photography, with companies like Kodak and Fujifilm now revisiting their product lineup to incorporate film offerings once again.

Most modern photographers shoot using digital cameras these days, but enthusiasts and fans of the charm and aesthetic of film still use this original photographic technique to create amazing photos using fully manual settings on analog cameras. This type of photography is not as straight-forward as shooting on a digital camera, but it offers a deeper learning opportunity for professional photographers as they get to understand how their camera functions and how changing particular settings alter the art of capturing a photo.

Fine art photography

Fine art photography is created by an artist who is using photography as a means to bring an idea, concept, message, or emotion to life in imagery. It is meant to fulfill the creative vision of the artist, conveying a specific feeling to the viewer through the shot. These images are often framed and displayed as art on walls in the same way a painting would be.

Sometimes fine art photography overlaps with other genres of photography such as photojournalism and fashion photography. Representational photography, that which seeks to objectively capture the subject matter or scene as it really is, contrasts with fine art photography, which is meant to capture the artist’s subjective intent behind the image.

Becoming popular in the Victorian era and evolving to the present day, subsets of this type of photography include nude photography, portraits, and natural landscapes. Ansel Adams is considered an exemplar of fine art landscapes with his stunning black-and-white photography captured in national parks.

Food photography

Another type of photography that overlaps with commercial, editorial, and still-life photography, food photography is a niche in which food is the main subject matter. Whether it’s fresh ingredients, kitchen scenes, or plated dishes being shot, this genre encapsulates all things food. These photos often become advertisements in magazines or on blogs and can also be featured on packaging and menus or in cookbooks.

A prolific genre of photography, capturing food usually includes a photographer that collaborates with an art director, food stylist, and/or prop stylist to get the final shot. Often shot from an overhead perspective or a 45-degree angle changing trends are now encouraging some narrow-angled shots that use effects like selective focus, tilted plates, or extreme close-ups to showcase an ingredient or fully-plated dish.

Golden hour photography

Popular with amateur and professional photographers, golden hour photography refers to the hour before sunset or the hour after sunrise in which the sun is at its lowest point in the sky, producing a warm, golden tone as background lighting.

Golden hour photography features less contrast than images captured during the day when the sun is higher overhead, creating strong highlights and dark shadows. Landscape photographers often prefer shooting in this hour as the unique conditions of sunlight enhance the colors of a particular scene (hence why it is also called magic hour).

Blue hour photography contrasts golden hour photography as it captures images in the hour after sunset and before sunrise when indirect sunlight gets evenly diffused and produces a blueish, colder tone across the sky. This hour is popular with cityscape photographers that can use the darker hue to accentuate skylines that are lit using the interior lighting of buildings.

Holiday photography

Holiday photography is a niche can incorporate portraiture, landscape photography, food photography, night photography, and aspects of lifestyle photography, among others. It’s usually used to capture memories or still life imagery of Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Years, Solstice, Hanukkah or other holidays typically falling at the end or beginning of the year.

When planning to shoot holiday imagery with models, authenticity is the name of the game. In the northern hemisphere, winter is in full swing and feelings of togetherness with a cozy, insulated vibe are favored. Take a page from the Danes and get into the hygge state of mind, finding soft, intimate moments spent with loved ones. In the southern hemisphere, December holidays spell summer fun. Togetherness is still a key element with authentic imagery of happy families, but the mood is more exuberant, lively and open and the summer offers endless beach opportunities and holiday barbecues.

Indoor photography

Images captured inside are known as indoor photography. Photographers must use special techniques or sometimes even minimal flash photography to capture a scene due to limited ambient lighting. ISO, focus, and shot composition are all important aspects of indoor photography.

Considered to be another subset of still-life photography, indoor photography produces imagery of scenes inside a home, workplace, and any other building or sheltered structure. Lighting is perhaps the most challenging aspect of this genre as windows, indoor lights, and additional lighting sources (such as a flash bulb) bring a level of complexity to how the photographer effectively captures a scene. They also provide unique conditions that change throughout the day as outside light filters through the windows of the building.

Infrared photography

When practicing infrared photography, film or image sensors sensitive to infrared light are needed to capture images. Filters are used for in-camera effects such as false-color or black-and-white, delivering images with a dreamlike or unreal quality to them. They often feature dark skies and atmospheric haze, with clouds being more prominent as well. Post-processing software can also help photographers achieve this aesthetic.

Infrared photography did not exist until the early 1900s when Robert W. Wood, an American physicist, and inventor, developed a filter that allowed him to capture the first infrared and ultraviolet photography. Ultraviolet photography is similar to infrared but captures images using light from the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. The “Wood Effect”, mainly caused by foliage being captured using the infrared spectrum and giving off that imaginary quality to photos, is named after him.

Landscape photography

Dealing with capturing the great outdoors, landscape photography focuses on trees, deserts, beaches, mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, and all other aspects of the natural world. Landforms, weather, changing seasons, and ambient light are all aspects of this photographic niche. Wildlife photography often overlaps with this genre.

Sometimes shooting man-made features or changes to the landscape (such as farmlands, orchards, gardens, etc.) is practiced by landscape photographers, but many choose to focus on shots that show pure natural scenes, devoid of human influence or activity.

Playing around with camera settings such as depth of field, shutter speed, and aperture and using different lenses or filters can create various effects on landscape imagery. Tripods also come in handy when it comes to image stabilization and panoramic camera functions are also often employed.

Lifestyle photography

This genre of photography captures people in real-life situations, telling stories about their lives in a way that documents the scene, while still being artistic. Most often, scenes are posed or directed by the photographer, but the imagery is meant to appear as natural as possible. Sometimes lifestyle photography is shot candidly.

Lifestyle photography also overlaps with fashion photography, documentary photography, and family photography as it tries to capture snapshots of the subject’s lives. These shots can be used for personal use, framed in the family home, or for commercial or editorial use to inspire or promote a particular approach to everyday life.

Long exposure photography

Long exposure photography, also known as time exposure or slow-shutter photography, uses a long duration of shutter speed to capture stationary aspects of a scene sharply, while blurring or smearing the moving aspects. It differs from conventional photographic practices as it captures an image over an extended period of time, instead of in a single snapshot.

Photographing moving water, such as a waterfall or stream, using long exposure creates a mist-like effect around the water, blurring together its movement while the rest of the scenery retains its sharpness.

Night photography often uses long exposure to capture star trails or other celestial objects. Light from other sources such as street lamps or headlights can also cause interesting effects in a shot that’s being taken using long exposure. Light painting is another technique that uses long exposure and a mobile light source, such as a flashlight or sparkler, to create a unique “painting” with the strokes of light.

Macro photography

Also called photomacrography or simply macrography, macro photography captures extreme close-ups of often very small subjects. Insects and plants or flowers are popular subject matter in this genre. Other macro imagery can include close-up shots of food, water droplets, everyday items such as fabrics or feathers, toys, eyes, jewelry, and other abstract patterns and textures.

Macro photography requires specialized lenses to capture a true reproduction ratio of the subject matter, with depth of field and lighting being important considerations in adjusting the shot. Extension tubes can also be used to extend lenses for that up-close and personal capture.

Photomicrography, which uses a digital microscope to capture images, is achieved when the reproduction ratio of the shot is greater than 10:1.

Milky Way photography

Similar to space photography, Milky Way photography focuses on capturing images of the Milky Way in the night sky. Challenging low light conditions mean photographers need a bit of experience with setting up wide-angle camera lenses to collect as much light as they can in a single exposure. Tripods can also be useful to stabilize a shot when making use of long exposure settings. Remote shutters help capture these types of photographs effectively as well.

A bit of research into what type of weather conditions are required, as well as figuring out when and where it is best to shoot will go a long way in ensuring that the images capture the Milky Way successfully.

Minimalist photography

Minimalist photography captures a scene using limited, or minimal, elements. Color, lines, patterns, shapes, and textures can play a big part in these types of photos.

Stemming from the minimalist art movement of the 1950s, minimalist photography encourages artistic simplicity. Shots typically incorporate natural landscapes or scenes as the main focus, often captured at sunrise, in the early morning, or under the darkness of night when not many people are active. Images give off a sense of barrenness or emptiness, showcasing the neatness and simplicity of using limited elements in the shot’s composition.

Newborn photography

Closely related to family photography, newborn photography focuses specifically on capturing images of newborn babies. This type of photography can include the parent(s), but can also capture the child alone in a cozy or cute setting.

Many newborn photographers have a studio space set up to ensure the safety and well-being of the baby while photos are being taken. Props and accessories are staples.

Newborns may be captured when awake, although many are photographed while sleeping and easier to pose. Anne Geddes is a well-known baby photographer, recognized worldwide for her iconic images of newborns and babies.

Night photography

All photos taken at night fall under the category of night photography. Camera settings must be adjusted and sometimes special techniques are used in order to capture images in these low lit conditions.

Long exposures and time-lapses are popular techniques, as is light painting and spiral photography. Astrophotography and Milky Way photography can belong to this genre of photography as well.

Besides capturing the night sky, other common subject matter in night photography includes city skylines, industrial scenes and factories, fireworks, nightlife or live concerts, roads, lit caves, abandoned buildings or bodies of water lit by moonlight, lighting, lava, aurora borealis or aurora australis, amusement park rides, lit aircraft, bioluminescence, and other creative sources of light.

Tripods, shutter release cables or self-timers, flash units, manual focus, remote timers, and special camera lenses can all be useful in capturing night photography. Many smartphones now also incorporate a Night Mode to facilitate mobile night photography.

Pet photography

A subset of family photography, pet photography focuses on capturing beloved two-legged and four-legged friends. Birds, cats, dogs, horses, bunnies, hamsters, and even fish can be captured in a portrait manner for a family to cherish.

Depending on the type of pet, treats, props, and various other accessories can come in handy when trying to get the animal to pose for a shot. Candid shots of multiple pets chasing one another on a beach or at a park can be achieved, as can more formal posed shots of pets in their home environment, perhaps on their favorite chair or with their favorite toys or humans. Moving shots will require adjusted camera settings and perhaps even a special prime lens with a fixed focal length and a wide aperture.

Photojournalism

A form of journalism, photojournalism uses images to tell a news story. Although it is closely related to other types of photography such as documentary photography, street photography, still-life photography, or war photography, it is unique in that it must meet strict ethical standards. Work needs to be honest, impartial, and must tell a visual story meeting journalistic terms.

Photos are often used in news media or magazine editorials. Photojournalists are reporters that carry photography equipment and make split-second decisions in what images to capture to represent a news story as it unfolds. Often, this means they are in extreme conditions with regard to their personal safety.

The genre has origins in war photography, beginning as early as the mid 1800s. Its popularity began to decline in the 1970s as some photo-magazine publications stopped printing. More recently, these types of photos are entering art galleries, alongside fine art photography.

Social documentary photography, considered to be a form of photojournalism and subset of documentary photography as well, records events in the world through a social or environmental focus. Also sometimes called concerned photography, this type of photography highlights social issues, including capturing the lives of impoverished or vulnerable communities.

Portrait photography

Portrait photography captures a portrait of a person or group of people. Portraiture is a challenging genre of photography because it needs to use lighting, backdrop, and posing to convey the personality of the subject in a single shot. Self-portraits and silhouettes, as well as headshots, also fall under this genre.

Lighting especially plays a big role in setting up a portrait, with high-key brightly lit shots being common. There are plenty of other lighting options to consider as well. Fast, medium telephoto lenses are preferred, used to isolate the subject by controlling the depth of field. When away from the studio, using the lens’ bokeh effect to blur the background elements that are out of focus can provide an easy solution to not shooting on a clean background. Environmental portraits, those that are meant to show the subject in their environment, would not want to have much, if any, background blur, however.

Product photography

Belonging to commercial photography, product photography focuses on capturing objects for advertising purposes. Catalogues, brochures, and websites all use product photography to show their goods.

With e-commerce continuing to grow as a platform and the internet providing a much faster way for people to bring their goods to market, even the world of fashion photography is incorporating techniques that no longer require human models. Clean product photography that features the product on a white background, techniques like knolling (where objects are arranged in an organized, eye-pleasing way and shot as creative ads), and ghost mannequin photography, where mannequins are used and then edited out of the final shot, are just some of the recent trends in product photography.

Real estate photography

Real estate images are often used for commercial purposes to sell a home or workspace or to showcase a beautifully executed design in editorials. Interior photography and exterior photography both fit as sub-genres of this category.

Experience with lighting techniques, optimal camera settings, and gear is important for real estate photographers as indoor lighting is often not adequate enough to get effective shots. When shots are used to sell a property, making the space feel warm and welcoming is critical. Staging scenes by decluttering spaces and ensuring rooms are presented as clean and functional, yet lived in, will also be important to achieving a quality final shot.

For commercial spaces like offices or storefronts, the same principles can be applied. However, the functionality of the space for different purposes should come across in the imagery.

Seascape photography

Also called ocean photography, seascape photography is a subcategory of landscape photography that focuses on capturing seas and oceans. Sometimes other objects or subjects are in the shot, such as people in the water or on boats. Islands, cliffs, and other geological formations may be captured as well, alongside marine wildlife. Coastal photography is a niche in seascape photography.

Capturing the motion of waves is popular in this genre, as are reflections in the water of cityscapes. Long exposure and sunburst techniques, in which the sun’s rays can be seen in the photo, are also often employed in seascape photography. Golden hour and blue hour can be ideal times to shoot seascapes to avoid harsh midday sunlight reflecting off of the water.

Tripods, filters, and other gear to keep the camera (and photographer) dry and safe should be accounted for when going on a seascape photoshoot.

Social media photography

Social media photography is an all-encompassing genre of photography that uses images for social media posts on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, or any other social network. Images tend to have still-life or editorial qualities to them, but fashion photography, product photography, food photography, and other types of photography are also often incorporated in social media posts.

When used for personal posts, images tend to capture a moment or tell a story about a person’s life and usually contribute to their online persona. In commercial campaigns, images are mainly used to promote a brand or sell a product or service.

Sports photography

The act of capturing sports imagery is known as sports photography. This type of photography is often considered to be a branch of photojournalism, particularly with regard to professional sports. Sports photographers often work for newspapers or sports magazines, but may also create imagery for advertising purposes. Amateur sports photography usually belongs to the vernacular photography niche, in which the focus is on capturing the everyday life of regular people.

Since most sports are fast-paced, camera gear and settings need to be able to capture the action as it happens, with shutter speed being most critical. Location is also an important part of getting a great shot. The type of sport being shot will determine a lot of the requirements for the camera body and lens that works best. Individual sports, such as golf, boxing, cycling, or track-and-field may focus on a small depth of field, capturing the intensity of the participants. Team sports, like football, hockey, soccer, and the like, require a larger depth of field to properly capture all of the action and the various teams participating.

Still-life photography

Still-life photography is another overarching genre of photography in which inanimate objects are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner and shot for either personal, editorial, or commercial use. Images usually incorporate some artistry, with the photographer having creative leeway in how to arrange the composition of the shot. Lighting and framing also play an important part in the setup.

Popular still-life subject matter includes food, flowers, and plants, personal desk space or workspaces, household items such as dishes, vases, and plates arranged in creative or artistic ways, and the like.

Since still-life photography tends to be centered around the arrangement of the objects being shot and the lighting used, photographers of all levels and skills are able to take beautiful photos, without necessarily needing to use complicated techniques or gear.

Surreal photography

Surreal photography, similar to abstract photography in that the final image is not always immediately recognizable, encourages photographers to find unique perspectives to capture. Part of a wider surrealist cultural movement that began in the 1920s, surrealist photographers used darkroom tricks and optical illusions to produce dreamlike shots before digital editing tools became the norm.

Underwater portraiture and underwater landscape photography can usually be classified as surreal due to their supernatural ambience. Landscape photography captured in the right conditions are also able to incorporate aspects of surrealism.

Food photography, fashion photography, and conceptual portraits or closeups are sometimes shot with a surreal aesthetic in mind. Images are captured and often edited afterwards to add an eerie or supernatural effect. Architectural photography, as well as still life photography, provide more opportunities for surreal subject matter.

The end goal of this genre of photography is to deliver images that are inspired by passion and a unique perspective, blurring the lines between a dreamlike setting and reality.

Lucas Saugen Photography LLC

Street photography

The art of capturing a scene in a public place, particularly on the street, is called street photography. Many of these types of photographs are also considered to be candid in nature, usually unstaged and shot spontaneously.

Depending on the country, there are certain consent laws to take into account when taking photos of people in public. Being aware of what these laws are in a given location is an important part of capturing street photography for broader use.

Another genre that’s closely linked is urban photography, in which photographers capture street scenes in city settings. Portraiture and architecture often play a part in these images as well.

Subject matter doesn’t always need to include people, however. Capturing environments that don’t include visible human activity can also be considered street photography. In those cases, human presence is usually implied through the composition of the image. While also having many similarities to documentary photography, street photography tends to be less deliberate in its purposeful or defined messaging.

Time-lapse photography

In time-lapse photography, a series of frames of the same scene or subject matter are captured to depict a state of change or fluctuation. The final result is a collection of shots that can be played back like a short video that shows the object or subject being affected by the passage of time.

Popular subject matter includes things like the motion of the sun, stars, moon, and other celestial bodies in the sky, the growth of a plant, the decay of a piece of food, the evolution of a big project like a new building, or people and traffic moving around in a city.

Time-lapses use a formula to achieve their distinct moving quality. Perceived speed of the subject matter equals the projection’s frame rate, divided by the camera’s frame rate, multiplied by the actual speed of the scene taking place (math!). Recorded shots will vary in how quickly they appear to move, based on this calculation. Time-lapse photography also uses short and long exposure times, in addition to modifying the speed of the camera, to control the amount of motion blur present in the frames. Combining this technique with others such as high-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging and day-to-night transitions can produce stunning imagery.

Mosuno

Travel photography

Documenting a place, particularly one that highlights the cultural, historical, touristic, or iconic aspects of the given area, is called travel photography. Dating back to the 1850s, the genre had been made incredibly popular by travel publications like National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler.

Images can be used for editorial or commercial purposes, depicting the ambiance of a place, as well as the feeling one gets from the land, people, and cultures that inhabit it. Very broad in its subject matter, the genre makes use of elements of portraiture, landscape photography, architecture photography, street photography, and night photography, among others. B&W photography is also a commonly employed technique.

Laura Austin

Underwater photography

Taking photographs while underwater, usually while scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, or from an underwater vehicle or automated camera lowered from the surface, is known as underwater photography. This type of photography results in images of marine life, the subaquatic environment (including shipwrecks, geological features such as cave systems and other underwater-scapes), and/or people pursuing underwater activities. More recently, underwater imagery has also been used to document the state of bodies of water and their ecosystems when it comes to issues of climate change and pollution.

Equipment is an important aspect of this genre as cameras tend not to be waterproof by default. If they are, they are usually limited to a particular depth. GoPros or smartphones in plastic pouches are sometimes used as a gateway into underwater photography before investing in more advanced camera equipment and proper, often expensive, underwater housing for a particular camera.

Shooting in water also comes with adjustments to the lens as water decreases the angle of view for a lens by 25-30%. Water clarity, the presence of waves or bubbles, currents, dangerous marine life, and proximity to the seafloor will all impact shots as well. Time of day and location in relation to the sun also play a significant factor in how underwater photos get captured, as do the settings of the camera being used. This genre is, therefore, more challenging to master, simply due to the additional costs for equipment and special safety concerns of the shooting environment.

Song Heming

Urban exploration photography

Somewhat related to travel photography, urban exploration photography, also called urbex photography, focuses on capturing abandoned places and spaces that have been long forgotten. Aspects of architectural photography, as well as interior and exterior photography, comprise part of this genre.

Since the subject matter is usually old, dilapidated, and structurally questionable buildings, ensuring photographer safety is key. Often, these locations require photographers to trespass on private property, bringing into question the legality of capturing these types of shots. Background research is highly recommended before embarking on an urbex photo session.

A range of camera gear and techniques will be needed, depending on the location being explored and the ambient light that filters through the abandoned structure.

Juuso Voutilainen

War photography

Often overlapping with photojournalism and documentary photography, war photography delivers iconic, sometimes difficult to look at imagery of armed conflict and its aftermath. War imagery is usually used for editorial purposes to enhance public awareness of areas engaged in combat.

Some of the earliest war photographs can be traced back to the Crimean War of 1853 to 1856, captured by Roger Fenton. These early shots recorded stationary imagery of war, like fortifications or soldiers and land before and after battles took place, mainly because of the limited photographic technology that was available at the time.

More modern war photography taken in the 20th century included chronicles of World War I and World War II and were usually captured by soldiers, as well as by photojournalists. However, as technology advanced, mass-produced images led to an over-saturation of the often terrible scenes, with viewers becoming desensitized to the value and historical significance of this type of photography.

Nevertheless, armed conflicts are still captured today. Due to the dangerous nature of the job, journalists and war photographers have designated special protection through international conventions to prevent fatal injury in the field — but it remains a risky occupation.

Sky-Blue Creative

Wedding photography

Wedding photography can include engagement photos, pre-wedding photos, shots taken during the ceremony or reception on the big day itself, as sometimes may even include honeymoon or “trash the dress” photos. Wedding photography is also one of the larger categories of commercial photography, with many photographers specializing in this service.

There are two main approaches to wedding photography: traditional or photojournalistic. The traditional approach typically has posed images that the photographer controls and directs throughout the event. The photojournalistic approach usually has a more editorial feel, with candid, more natural images taken using little direction. A third, more fashion-focused approach also exists, with these shots using more innovative or creative techniques, delivering more dramatic imagery. Culture and tradition often play a large part in the style and types of shots a couple is looking to capture.

Wildlife photography

Wildlife photographers generally need to have an “in” or some experience to achieve great shots of wildlife. Patience, good gear, and safe shooting locations are all important when trying to capture animals in the wilderness. Did we mention patience? It can take days of waiting to achieve the perfect shot of a wild animal. The type of animal being photographed will also determine the amount of preparation and type of camera gear required.

Equipment like tripods and shutter releases and telephoto, wide-angle, or macro lenses, are usually used in wildlife photography. Sometimes, camera traps are set up in the environment for an extended period of time, taking shots using motion detection so that animals aren’t spooked and their natural behaviors aren’t disturbed by lurking photographers. These shots are often used in editorials for publications like National Geographic. If you’re about to undertake this kind of photography or hiring a custom content crew, don’t forget your badge of patience. You will need it.

Perfecting different types of photography

As you can see, there are lots of different types of photography to try out, experiment with, and perfect. Subject matter, lighting conditions, and the location of the photoshoot will all impact the type of camera gear and techniques used to get a great photo. Possible uses of the photos will also help photographers determine if they need to meet any other special conditions, such as getting model or property releases for the imagery.

Experience and practice go hand in hand — if you’ve found something on this list that you never tried capturing before or even thought about shooting, there’s no time like the present to go get that shot!

And if you’ve already got a portfolio that showcases your talents, send some eye-catching shots our way. Apply to become a contributor and show us your photography portfolio or check out our contributor FAQs for more on what we look for in the Stocksy collection.

107 Different Styles & Types of Photography To Try in 2022

You’re probably aware that there are far more styles and types of photography than just wedding, landscape and portrait.

However, you may be surprised to know just how many genres of this wonderful art there actually are!

If you’re looking to experiment with something new, or just want to kick-start a new photography career – look no further than this.

We’ll describe the most common types of photography, from Abstract all the way to Wildlife… with everything else in between!

The next time you pick up your camera, take a look through this list and attempt some amazing new photography genres.

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Who knows, with this enormous list of different types of photography– you may just find your new creative calling ;-)

Table of Contents

Types of Photography in 2022: 107 Different Styles & Genres

3D Photography

Whether you use a regular digital camera, a smartphone app, or a dedicated 3d scanner and modelling software, this type of photography never fails to impress.

3D photos may remind you of vintage glasses with red and blue lenses, but today’s techniques yield much more convincing results.

Abstract Photography

Abstract photography is a way of creating and depicting a visual image that doesn’t have a direct relationship with the real world.

It’s a means of expressing ideas, thoughts and emotions through the different elements of a picture, without trying to create a traditional or realistic photo.

Adventure

Adventure photography involves capturing images of activities like extreme sports and action-adventure.

Kayaking, rock climbing, spelunking and even sky-diving fall into this category. Action and 360-degree cameras are best suited to this genre.

Advertising


Advertising photography is a commercial venture where images are used for advertising purposes.

These photos might be used in magazines, newspapers, posters, billboards, books and also product catalogues like the one you get each week from your grocery store.

Generally speaking, this genre is more focused on the brand than individual products.

Aerial Photography

Aerial photography involves images captured from a bird’s-eye view, usually from great heights.

While drones can capture aerial photos, this genre also encapsulates images taken from larger aircraft like planes, gliders, helicopters or even hot air balloons.

Aerial photos can be captured by the photographer personally, or by mounting camera equipment to airborne vehicles.

Aesthetic Photography

At the most basic level, if a photograph is aesthetic, it is simply pleasing to the eye, positive in appearance, eye-catching, or able to trigger an emotional response in a viewer.

This genre can encompass many other styles, but in general, it’s something that will develop over your time as a photographer as you experiment with various techniques.

Architectural Photography

Architectural photography captures stunning shots of buildings – usually only the outside. Although with larger structures, photographing cavernous interiors is also part of the job.

These photographs may be used by architects to promote their designs and work.

Astrophotography

Astrophotography is an incredible genre as it involved capturing images of the night sky. Much like astronomy, astrophotography can be used to capture images of deep space objects such as stars, planets and galaxies.

Automotive Photography

Being paid to take photos of fancy cars must be every schoolboy’s dream, but there’s a lot more to automotive photography than meets the eye… and it often doesn’t involve the kinds of ‘dream cars’ we imagine.

Even though the subject doesn’t show expressions like a human portrait model, capturing a vehicle in a creative way requires a lot of work – lighting, composition, post-production – it’s a highly-skilled process, and as such, well-remunerated at the commercial level.

Bird’s Eye View

Whether or not you own a drone, it’s possible to get unique and wonderful bird’s eye view photos of a location whether indoor or out. Think about creative ways to use a fully extended monopod, standing on chairs, climbing trees or just shooting down from tall buildings.

Whatever the case, changing the viewer’s viewpoint in this way can help to differentiate your images. Bird’s eye view shots are often very popular on social media too.

Black And White Photography

Black and white (or monochrome) photography is a little old school but incredibly popular. In this field, photographers only work in black and white and rely on tonal qualities, exposure and contrast to give an image character.

B&W is a popular format for portraits, where the monochromatic tonal range can be used to enhance facial characteristics, or remove distractions that would otherwise be represented in full colour.

Blue Hour

Blue hour photography describes being outdoors, capturing photos during what’s known as the ‘blue hour’.

Blue hour happens twice per day. It’s the brief period of unique light cast over a scene right before sunrise and after sunset. Shooting during this time results in moody pics with soft tones.

Boudoir Photography

Boudoir photography is the art of photographing intimate and romantic scenes of the human form.

More often than not, you’ll see boudoir images captured in a bedroom or a living space. Another telling sign is the choice of clothing, or lack thereof, which sets a saucy tone.

Business/Corporate Photography

Business photography is often used in professional settings or in the workplace. Images can vary from a group of employees in a meeting to hard-hat wearing builders on a construction site.

The point of this genre is to help sell a business’ professional services or for use in internal communications.

Candid Photography

This style is a little like street photography in that you usually photograph your subjects without them knowing it.

Candid photography is put to good use in situations where capturing someone in a natural state is desired. This way, people are not forcing a smile or changing their behaviour just to have a photo taken.

Child

This is a fun genre usually employed by those who want to capture images of children for a client. A child photographer may take portraits of children or more likely snap them at play.

Christmas Photography

It may only come around once a year, but getting your friend to dress up as Santa to take some photos at your local mall can be a lucrative venture!

You’d be surprised how much money a parent is willing to part with in order to get a photo of their child sitting on Santa’s knee during the festive period… even if it does inevitably end in tears!

Cityscape

View Of Los Angeles Skyline At Sunset | Credit: Greg Cromie

Cityscape photography is a lot like capturing a landscape except that it’s done in an urban and built-up area.

Images of big city skylines are a popular form of art, especially if it’s your favourite city on display. Cityscapes can even be captured from the top of tall buildings or a helicopter.

Commercial Photography

Commercial photography is a professional genre in which a photographer is hired to take pictures specifically to sell a service, promote a product or create a unique collection of photos for another business.

Composite Photography

Composite photography is a fantastic art form where a photographer will combine several images, overlays and even alternative mediums to create an image.

Taking the actual photos is just a small part of creating a composite – more time is spent afterwards in computer editing.

Computational Photography

While not a style of photography per se, ‘computational’ refers to the use of complex computer algorithms to aid with the act of photography or editing.

The iPhone’s panorama mode or Photoshop Neural filters are two such examples of computers and/or artificial intelligence helping to perform complex tasks that would otherwise require a lot of time and skill.

Conceptual Photography

Credit: Comfreak

Conceptual photography is rather a hard style to define since it encompasses so many different subjects and styles. The one thing that they all have in common, is that they all set out to communicate a concept or an idea.

It’s often linked with fine art photography, with the photographers starting with an idea and trying to find a way to illustrate it visually, often using intricate post-production.

Concert Photography

Concert photography involves someone attending music concerts, band rehearsals and even backstage events. Their role is to document the concert, usually for the sake of the band or a publication reviewing the event.

Contemporary Photography

Credit: Zelko Nedic

Contemporary photography is an abstract concept that’s difficult to define. It encompasses fine art, documentary, fashion and various other genres to create something current and notable.

Crystal Ball Photography

Crystal ball photography has become a popular choice used a lot on social media platforms.

In this style, a clear glass ball is held up in front of the camera. When the image is taken, the background will be out of focus, but the ball will contain a perfectly crisp reflection of the same background.

Dance Photography

Similar to the concert genre, dance photography involves photographing performers on stage. This could be for classical ballet, modern dance, or any other style.

The images may include rehearsal and staged shots to be used for promotion and dancer portfolios.

Documentary Photography

Documentary photography is the process of capturing and detailing events, activities and even locations. The images captured will be used for historical purposes to be preserved for future generations.

A successful documentary photographer will often travel to far flung corners of the world to capture unique stories – a the ability to travel at a moment’s notice is a big asset.

Drone Photography

Shooting with drones can be considered a form of aerial photography; however, the difference is that the photographer never leaves the ground.

With this photography type, a propeller-driven drone or robot is remotely controlled to achieve elevation and capture images of the land or subjects such as mountain tops and tall buildings.

Editorial Photography

Editorial photographs are those used in news sources such as newspapers and magazine articles. They’re also more commonly used in online media outlets and document everything that’s newsworthy.

See also the difference between commercial and editorial photography.

Event Photography

Event photography is a more generalised genre where a photographer is hired to capture special events. These could include family shoots, engagements, birthday parties, weddings, festivals, or corporate events and promotions.

The whole point is to document the experience of the guests, but you’ll usually need great people skills to get the most out of your subjects.

Family Photography

Family photography is a style of portrait shoot that involves getting multiple family members into the photo. They can be staged line-ups or even candid shots to freeze time and record a family’s growth.

A lot of families organise annual portrait sessions to chart the passing of time.

Fantasy Photography

If you’re looking for a style of photography to really transport you to another universe, fantasy photography (aka surreal photography) is like nothing else on this list.

Borrowing elements of the fantastical and surreal, successful fantasy photographers will also be adept hands at photo manipulation, often superimposing and blending multiple layers to achieve their desired Tokien-like special effects.

Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is another form of commercial work where images are taken of clothing and accessories. The clothes and fashion accessories can be laid out or styled on a model – there are usually art directors and stylists on a fashion shoot that can lend a hand with this.

Fashion photography can take place in a studio, a store, on location or even at live fashion shows. Location scouting is usually an important element in planning successful magazine shoots.

Fire Photography

When practised safely, taking photos of fire is fun and exciting. Professional photographers use fire as a backdrop to photos by using slower shutter speeds or supplementing light by using fill flash or even a backlight, such as in the example above.

Our of all the various types of photography, this is one you need to take with – keep a bucket of water close at hand if you’re photographing an open fire.

Femto

Femto photography is a style used by scientists to take high-speed photos that freeze the movement of light.

The camera works at a trillion frames per second and captures photons in motion.

Film Photography

Film or ‘analog’ photography is where the medium first originated as far back as the 1800s.

Old-school cameras use a roll of film made from cellulose material. Not unlike a digital camera, a film camera would expose the film to light for a fraction of a second to record the scene on the cell.

Nowadays, with modern post-processing software, it’s simple to recreate the vintage photography look of film, but most film photographers would never consider it!

Fine Art Photography

As the name suggests, fine art photography is an art form where images fulfil an artistic purpose. Fine art images are often displayed in galleries or are sold to collectors or those with the cash to display them in their homes.

Fish-Eye

The fish-eye style produces some incredibly exciting and distorted images. This is due to the specialist ultra-wide-angle lenses used.

The wide field of view captures an image that includes a lot of peripheral details. Sometimes you’ll even capture your feet in the picture – see our guide to the best fish eye lens.

Fitness Photography

Credit: Pikx by Panther

Gym use has exploded in recent times, and so has the desire to become social media’s next big fitness model. Photos are obviously a big part of promotion in this industry, so honing your lighting, posing and shooting skills can help you succeed as a fitness photographer.

Flat Lay Photography

Shotkit is the home to the camera gear flat lay, but this type of photography of exists in multiple genres. It’s also one of the most popular styles for product photography on Instagram in 2022.

Good lighting, creative backgrounds, unusual props and accurate placement of objects all add up to a successful flat lay photo, which can often be sold on stock photography sites.

Food Photography

Food photography is enjoying popularity thanks to the social media craze of people photographing their meals with their phones.

Professional food photography will see a dish and its ingredients stylised for the shot. These images are used by restaurants for advertising and menus, and by publications about food.

Forced Perspective

Forced perspective photography relies on a bit of a camera trick. It’s all about creating a form of illusion through the placement of subjects and the positioning of the photographer to fool the natural scale.

Forensic

Forensic photography, or crime scene photography, involves the documentation of a crime scene. Police and security organisations employ these photographers. It’s hard to comprehend some of the scenes they’re called in to photograph.

Glamour Photography

Glamour photography is very similar to boudoir but usually leans more to headshot portraits rather than body nudes.

These are more often than not images of female subjects with their hair and makeup prepared by a professional. These can be used for professional or personal purposes.

Glitch Photography

Glitch photography is an exciting and creative genre that requires forced defects to be introduced to create an image. A glitch can be caused by damaging or manipulating the camera or by manually altering the data contained within an image file.

Golden Hour

Golden hour is often considered the best time of the day to capture images with natural light. It covers the time just after sunrise and just before sunset when the light turns to a warmer hue.

Landscape photographers love this time of day as their scenes are bathed in gorgeous light – you’ll see lots of types of photography which take advantage of the light at this time of day.

Headshot Photography

Headshot photography is another form of portraiture. The difference is that with this style, you’re only photographing the subject’s head.

These photos are used for business websites, personal portfolios, security passes and even the standard driver’s licence.

High Dynamic Range [HDR]

High Dynamic Range or HDR photography is a process where you capture multiple images of the same scene. Some will be under-exposed and others over-exposed.

In post-processing, or sometimes in-camera, you can stack and blend these photos. That way, you end up with a single image with exceptional detail in both the light and darker areas.

High-Speed

High-speed photography is used for scientific purposes but is also a fun pursuit.

To do this type of photography, a special high-speed camera is used with super-fast shutter speeds. Images taken will freeze even the fastest of subjects from cars to speeding bullets.

Holiday

Holiday photography is a growing phenomenon where seasonal festivities are captured. This could be for family purposes, but more often is used for commercial purposes. Images of seasonal food, events, locations and how people interact are used for marketing purposes.

Indoor

While it’s relatively apparent, this genre involves taking photos while inside. The lack of natural light requires the photographer to set up alternative lights such as strobes and flash. This genre tends to be called upon for commercial shoots.

Infrared Photography

Infrared photography has been around for a very long time. The process means that to create the image, infrared light is captured by the camera and, as a result, records light and dark differently to a standard image.

You can create stunning shots with an infrared camera, filter or editing process.

Kirilian Photography

This is one of the more mysterious types of photography that’s surrounded by a lot of myth, science and controversy. Some believe you’re capturing the living ‘aura’ of an inanimate object, while others just practice it for the amazing effects it can produce.

Whatever the case, Kirilian photography has had a long and interesting history and it could be time for you to give it a go yourself.

Kinetic

Kinetic photography sees you move your camera not to capture movement, but to create it. While this goes against every rule of photography, fast and purposeful movement of a camera can result in fun and dynamic images.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is one of the most significant genres, and its popularity has not diminished with time.

It involves finding and photographing beautiful landscapes to celebrate the natural world.

Landscape photos can be sold for thousands of dollars in some cases, especially when the location is remote or unique in some way.

Levitation Photography

This is definitely one of the more popular types of photo on social media – making people and objects float in mid air is something that’s actually surprisingly easy (and rewarding) to do.

Lifestyle Photography

Lifestyle photography is all about freezing a scene involving people interacting with their world. But, unlike street photography, this one is mostly staged and unobtainable.

The images are primarily used for commercial purposes, such as selling a product like cars or fashion.

Light Painting

Light painting is the fun and creative process of using long exposures – see next genre below – to build a mesmerising image. While the shutter is open, you can run around with a torch, spin a fire-stick or even play with sparklers.

The final image will show the entire path of the light source within the composition.

Long Exposure Photography

As hinted at above, long exposure photography means you can alter camera settings to force the shutter open for long periods of time. A standard photo might see around 1/250 shutter speed. But a long exposure can result in the shutter exposed for several seconds, minutes or even longer.

Long exposure is most commonly used for night shots and astrophotography, and is one of the types of photography that can bring about intrigue to your images with very little effort.

Macro Photography

Macro photography allows you to use a unique lens to photograph teeny tiny objects. The most common form of macro is to get down low and photograph insects and tiny plantlife. These pictures bring the minute and often unseen critters to larger-than-life scale.

Maternity Photography

This sub-genre documents a woman’s progress towards childbirth. These images are often commissioned to celebrate the wonders of pregnancy. These photos are essential as they form the first half of a before and after shot to remember forever.

Milk Bath Photography

Credit: Anastasya Pavlova

This niche style of photography was popularised by a photo by Annie Leibovitz of Woopie Goldberg in a bath full of milk, made for Vanity Fair in 1984. By diluting a tub of bath water with milk, photographers can create some creative images of their subject surrounded by hazy white water.

Milky Way Photography

Milky Way photography is a specialised form of astrophotography that focuses on the Milky Way. With the right gear, time and the right time of year, you can capture mind-blowing images of the galactic core.

In this situation, long exposure photography comes into play to allow as much light as possible to hit the camera image sensor.

Miniature Photography

Credit: Greg CromieThis fun form of photographic artistry mixes miniature figures with real life scenes and situations. The trick is to build an illusion of scale where the figures and the surroundings look life-size.

Minimalist

Minimalism is a stylistic art form where photographers will take pics of a scene or setting with minimal elements and subjects. In the spirit of minimalism, that’s all I’m going to say.

Mobile (Smartphone) Photograph

Mobile photography is a booming genre where people use their smart device as an everyday camera. Beyond this, there’s a growing industry of professional mobile photographers creating art and commercial work with their phones.

If you’d like to get better at taking photos with your phone, see this review.

Monochrome Photography

Often confused with black & white photography, monochrome refers to photographs that show variations of just one colour.

In this way, a b & w photo can be classed as monochrome, since it uses variations of a single colur, but a monochrome photo can be created with variations of any other colour in the spectrum.

Motion

Motion photography is a lot more controlled than kinetic photography but follows a similar style.

With this genre, a photographer will use the controlled movement of a camera or subject intentionally. As a result, the image will have smooth and blurred lines that create a sense of movement.

Motorsport Photography

Motorsport photography is a niche off-shoot of sports photography.

Photographers will photograph anything and everything to do with cars and motorbikes. There’s a huge demand for this kind of imagery from fans and it can include races, car shows and promotional events.

Multiple Exposure

Multiple exposures photography is exactly as is sounds: you use numerous images and overlay them to form one.

This can be done in some cameras but more commonly is achieved with editing tools. The results can be very creative and tell a unique story to the viewer.

Newborn Photography

Newborn photographers capture photos of a newborn child, often styled using cute outfits and props. The time that we’re babies is fleeting and being able to document it in a beautiful setting is essential to many parents.

The type of photographer who shoots newborn portraits often also works in maternity photography.

Night Photography

Night photography is similar to indoor photography in that you need to alter camera settings and introduce additional lights to be able to take a shot. An alternative is to use no other light sources but instead rely on long-exposure techniques to create an image.

Nude Photography

Credit: Natalia Naa

Nude pictures don’t have to be erotic or sexualised. They can be anatomical, primal, raw, emotive, mysterious, documentative, and most certainly artistic.

Panorama

Most modern cameras and mobile devices have a setting to create panorama photography. These are images where you pan the camera slowly around a scene, which is usually of a vast landscape.

The camera is actually taking multiple shots and ‘stitching’ them together to form a single wide image.

Pinhole

Credit: Kevin Laminto

Pinhole photography is another old-school photography where a crude camera box is made with a tiny pinhole opening. This momentarily lets in light that hits a piece of photographic paper. The exposed paper captures a not-so-clear image.

Pet Photography

Pet photography is another form of portraiture, but in place of humans, you photograph someone’s beloved pets.

This is a specialist genre, as you have to be able to manage animal behaviour. You also need to be prepared to photograph everything from a rat to a prized pig.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism is one of the oldest forms of photography and is a vital part of the news media world. Images captured in this style are used for news-related publications and online platforms. It’s influenced by a whole array of other genres.

Portrait Photography

Portrait photography incorporates many of the styles we’ve already covered here. It’s the skill of photographing people or yourself in a range of settings and situations. Portraiture traditionally focused on the head and upper torso.

The purpose of such photos varies wildly from fine-art to police mug-shots – because of this, portrait photographers are always in high demand.

Prism

As we discovered with the crystal ball, holding a glass object in front of the lens can produce amazing results.

Prism photography is no different as the image appears fractured via the angled glass. It can be a very creative effect that draws in the viewer.

Product Photography

Product photography is another tool used in the commercial and advertising world. We live in a time of intense consumerism, and the best way to represent a product is to take and publish photos of it.

This style covers taking photos of everything from tea bags to T-shirts.

Real Estate Photography

Real estate photography takes place in and around properties that are for sale or lease. A photographer will take pictures of the outside of the building, often using specialty lenses, to represent and sell the site.

Real estate photographers also take shots of every interior room and space, styled to make the property attractive.

Satellite

Credit: NASA

Satellite photography doesn’t involve a photographer – at least not a human one. A satellite that’s orbiting the earth can be remotely controlled to capture super-high-altitude shots of areas of the planet.

These photos are used for weather forecasting, disaster recovery and also military purposes.

Scientific

This photography genre is always evolving to document scientific discoveries and pursuits.

It’s a pretty wide field of study, but being able to document such activities for review and historical preservation is critical.

Seascape

Photographing seascapes is similar to the landscapes genre, with the exception that there’s less land and much more ocean. These images may be taken to create visually stunning works or for more commercial reasons.

Self-Portrait

Aside from being a great way to practice photography, you can also sell creative self-portraits if you come up with an original theme or shoot in a far-flung location.

Often, photographers travel alone or are without the assistance of a model – by puttingyour camera on a tripod and shooting with the self-timer, you can add yourself to the scene and reshoot as many times as your heart desires.

Senior Photography

Credit: Davis Sanchez

In United States education, a ‘senior’ is a student in the fourth and final year of high school, college or university study.

Senior portrait photography can be lucrative and rewarding, due to the enormous market involved, and senior sessions typically being paid for by the students’ parents!

Smoke Bomb Photography

Credit: Cleyder Duque

Smoke bombs, grenades or flares are becoming increasingly popular to use at photoshoots to add another layer of creativity. As long as you abide by the safety rules, they can be a great way to help your images stand out on social media.

Snow Photography

Capturing images of falling snowflakes, snow-capped mountains or forests with trees heavy-laden with a snow canopy make sound simple, but getting accurate colours is actually rather tricky.

Social Media

Social media photography is a blend of almost every photographic genre – especially mobile photography. Being able to capture and quickly share images on social platforms is now a part of our everyday life. And who can forget a quality selfie complete with filters, effects, stickers and text?

Sports Photography

This is a broad genre that covers so many types of sports performed in every corner of the globe. One thing that stands out with sports photography is the need for cameras that can shoot high-speed bursts along with telephoto lenses.

Star Trails Photography

This is a form of astro-photography that involves capturing a picture of the night sky with multiple lines of stars streaking across it, creating ‘trails’. The two main types of star trails photography are star lines and star circles, depending on the direction you point your lens.

Steel Wool Photography

Now here’s a fun type of light painting, if not slightly dangerous to the uninitiated! Steel wool photography involves setting fire to a lump of steel wool, then spinning it around on a piece of string to create streaks of light that can be captured when shooting at slow shutter speeds.

Still Life Photography

Still life photography is pretty much the same as still life painting – an art form that has been around for centuries.

With this style, you photograph inanimate objects, usually placed in a purposeful and artistic arrangement. Still life photography and fine art photography often blend due to their similarities.

Stock

A great example of stock photography is the imagery used right here in this article. Photographers submit and sell a broad range of image styles to special stock photo sites. The site then allows others to use them – usually for a price – for various applications. You can learn about how to make money with stock photography here.

Street Photography

Street photography is a blend of the candid, architectural and photojournalism genres all rolled into one.

The easiest way to define it is the documentation of people interacting with their world in public places. Taking street photos may seem simple, but capturing subjects up close while remaining candid (and polite!), is actually quite challenging.

Surreal Photography

Credit: Foad Roshan

Get inspired by the work of some of the earliest surreal photographers, including Man Ray, Hannah Hoch and Hans Bellmer. This style will stretch your creativity to the maximum, encouraging experimentation with various techniques including double exposures, deliberate blurring, composites and more.

Tilt-Shift

Tilt-shift photography is a specialist genre and, as such, requires specialised tools such as a tilt-shift lens (see guide). It’s a creative genre that shifts the focal plane to distort perspective and scale. While it’s a lot of fun, the lenses are not cheap.

Time-Lapse

Time-lapse is a little like stop-motion animation. Instead of manipulating the subject, however, you usually let nature take its course. It involves multiple images being taken over a period of time which are then played in sequence – much like a video.

You could use a time-lapse sequence to capture a thunderstorm rolling in or a city becoming dark, for example, only the action is sped up.

Toy Photography

This is a particular type of still life photography, using children’s toys to recreate real-life scenes, often by playing with forced perspective to achieve a ‘miniature-world’ effect.

Toy photography is often popular on social media, especially if scenes are funny or recreate recent events. During COVID, photographing Barbie dolls and action figures in mock weddings was one such example.

Travel Photography

Travel photography is just as it sounds – taking photos of unique and beautiful locations all over the world. Some people get into travel photography as a profession, while the rest of us take holidays pics for fun.

Underwater Photography

Underwater photography creates a window into a world that many of us would otherwise never get to see. Using diving gear and underwater cameras enables you to explore a whole new world. The results are often visually stunning and captivating.

Urban Exploration

There’s something very mystical about urban exploration photography. More often than not, this style plays out around and inside abandoned sites and buildings. It’s an urban style of photographic archaeology with a moody element thrown in.

If you’re looking for types of photography that involve some walking and meeting new people UrbEx is a fun one to get into.

War

This genre is an off-shoot of photojournalism, but in this case, it involves a photographer finding themselves in the middle of war zones.

War or conflict photography is not without its risks, as you document real-life crises unfolding around you. There have been several cases of war photographers being captured or injured while performing their jobs.

Weather

Some people find studying the weather to be a fascinating hobby – and then, of course, some make it a career. Photographing weather patterns, occurrences, and events provide a platform to see nature at its worst and best.

Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is by far one of the most popular genres and photography professions. Wedding shoots are big business, and there’s a tremendous amount of competition in the industry.

Being able to capture a couple’s special day successfully is an exercise in strategic planning, and can lead to a fair amount of stress – wedding photographers certainly earn their money!

Wet Plate Photography

Credit: Markus Hofstätter

If you’ve had enough with the instantness of the digital medium and want to try something a lot slower paced, this could be the genre for you.

Used commonly in the 19th century, the collodion process invovles a lot of chemicals and experimentation, but the results can be highly rewarding.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is another one of those photography pursuits that get you out in nature. This genre exposes you to the absolute beauty of nature and how animals interact within their ecosystem.

The plight of wildlife on earth makes this genre an essential part of the preservation process.

So Many Types of Photography! Final Words

With so many different types of photography to choose from, you should have no shortage of ideas for the subject of your next creative project.

Which styles are most appealing to you? Have you dabbled in any others that aren’t on the list? Let us know in the comments!

Photo shoot styles - the best ideas for shooting in a photo studio and outdoors

Anna Vinkovskaya

Barb.pro expert

Update date: 25-05-2022

Content

1. How to choose an idea for a photo shoot 2. Popular styles of photo shoots

  • Boho
  • Provence
  • Loft
  • Newborn
  • Fantasy
  • Retro (vintage)
  • Pin-up
  • Portrait
  • Rustic
  • Casual
  • Nu
  • street style
  • Watershot
  • Art photo session
  • Fashion or Vogue
  • Steampunk
  • Ethno
  • Eastern
  • Business
  • Glamor
  • Gothic
  • Noir
  • Baroque
  • Vamp
  • Grunge
  • Doll
  • Sports
  • Military
  • Country (or western or cowboy)
  • Empire

3. How much does a photo session cost

In this article we will share ideas for beautiful and unusual photography. They will help you create a colorful portfolio, content for the site, or simply capture the bright moments of life.

How to choose an idea for a photo shoot

First decide on the location. Studio shooting provides more freedom of choice: you can take pictures in winter or choose a room with a suitable interior. Street shooting is carried out in the warm season and requires more careful handling of the rented suit.

If your budget is tight, consider shooting outdoors. City landscapes, parks, the sea coast in the warm season will serve as a beautiful background.

Collect a few reference shots and show to the photographer. If it will be a portrait shoot, send a photo of your face from the front and a profile without makeup. This will help you choose the background, lighting style, and even dress code.

Popular photo shoot styles

Introducing 30 of the most popular styles adapted to studio and street photography. They are useful for both professional portfolio and personal archive.

Boho

The concept of this style is a glamorous fusion of ethnics, vintage and hippie culture. In the boho chic style, single and couple photo shoots are held, including for newlyweds. The best shots are taken in nature, surrounded by themed props.

Provence

Another popular style of a photo shoot in the bosom of nature. Ideally, it is held in lavender fields, but if this is not possible, the countryside will do. Provence is good for single, couple or family photography. Whichever location you choose, don't forget about the main detail - bouquets of lavender or lilac, which enhance the atmosphere of romance and tenderness.

Photo by Anna Kolesnikova (Odessa)

Loft

The highlight of this style is off-season. Loft-style photography is carried out in a specially equipped studio. The characteristic interior of the hall is a design in dark colors, unplastered walls and panoramic windows. This is an ideal backdrop for single, less often paired photo shoots. Loft style is more often chosen for shooting fashionable outfits.

Photo by Yana Tkachenko (Kyiv)

Photo by Ruslan Absurdov

Newborn

This is one of the popular styles of photo shoots in the studio where the model is a newborn. Shooting can be carried out as early as a week after the birth of the baby. A Newborn style photo session is a rather time-consuming process and takes several hours. Accurately correcting the sleeping child’s posture, setting props, maintaining silence and normal temperature in the studio is painstaking and therefore expensive work.

Photo by Ksenia Murga (Kyiv)

Fantasy

One of the most sought after styles for single photography. To fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a fairy tale, you will need the work of a hairdresser and makeup artist, plus a themed outfit. The best location is a forest or a grove. One of the features of a fantasy photo shoot is the ability to hold it in winter: against the backdrop of snow-covered trees, the image of a sorceress or princess looks impressive.

Photo by Andrey Rafalsky

Retro (vintage)

There are a lot of options for transformation here: immersion in the atmosphere of the “roaring 20s”, variations on the theme of the post-war 50s, reincarnation in the images of black and white movie stars. Vintage photo shoots are best done in a studio. Surrounded by antique furniture and props (vinyl records, radiograms, typewriter), the image looks organic. The must-have dress code is an elegant hat with a veil, a mouthpiece, furs and gloves.

Pin-up

This style can also be called vintage, but there is no characteristic elegance and gloss. Pin up is not suitable for couples or family photo shoots: the focus is on a young and flirtatious girl in a sexy outfit. Photography is more often done in the studio, but there are good ideas for outdoor locations - a picnic on the lawn, a bike ride, etc.

Portrait

Universal photo session, which is needed both for personal archives and for business activities (portfolio, content for a personal blog, etc.). Portrait photography is not complete without moderate retouching and color correction. If the model is photographed for a personal archive, flowers or even horses will look great in the frame.

Photos of Liza Myalovskaya (Kyiv)

Photo by Alexei Roshka

Rustic

A versatile idea for photoshoots: perfect for couples, families or just beautiful portraits. You can pose in ethnic costumes or stay in ordinary clothes - simple and comfortable. In the bosom of nature there is no place for glamorous outfits, expensive cars or complicated hairstyles.

Casual

This style is useful for shooting collections of clothes, and for a personal archive. Casual photos are loved by Instagram bloggers who write about fashion or lifestyle. In the frame, everything should be natural and at ease: the camera captures everyday life, albeit in the prism of retouching. The characteristic features of the casual style are a photo in motion, a minimum of staged poses and a slight negligence in the image.

Nude

Nude photography doesn't have to be done in a studio: outdoor shots are just as spectacular. Proper lighting and beautiful poses will adequately emphasize the beauty of the body. Nude photos look great in black and white.

Street style

This style has a casual feel, but with an emphasis on fashion. For street style, they pose in business suits and evening dresses, and the landscape of a modern city is the background. As for a casual photo shoot, here you can mix different styles of clothing in one look.

Photo by Nikolai Gulik

Watershot

One of the most effective styles of a single photo shoot. Shooting is carried out in a pool or bath, and floating flowers or even pieces of fruit serve as decor. The idea requires high-quality preparation - bright and waterproof makeup, the right choice of outfit.

Photo by Anna Kolesnikova (Odessa)

Photo by Anna Baratynskaya


Art photo shoot

This style will appeal to creative people, because in addition to professional shooting, there is retouching and painstaking work in Photoshop. The result - an ordinary photo turns into a surreal picture. You can do without special effects, focusing on makeup and decor.

Photo by Dmitry Thomson

Photo by Victor Vacca

Fashion or Vogue

Emphasized "magazine" style, where the model stands out with an extravagant outfit, hair and makeup. Such a photo session is more often carried out for commercial purposes - for a portfolio, print publications or advertising. If desired, you can organize fashion photography for a personal archive.

Steampunk

A photo shoot in this style will require a considerable investment of money and time: you need specific props, costumes, and the work of a make-up artist. A typical background for a steampunk image is a studio, the territories of abandoned factories and other industrial buildings. The picture in the frame should recreate the fantastic reality of the 19th century, and therefore not every location is suitable for shooting.

Ethno

A photo session in the national style provides complete freedom of imagination: sometimes a few details are enough to create an image. Ethnic costumes are not always required here. Dresses and shirts with embroidery, jewelry made of beads and wood, feathers, bright scarves will come in handy. As a location for filming, a country landscape is more often chosen, sometimes a studio with an appropriate hall design.

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Photo by Alexander Novy

Eastern

In contrast to the ethnic style, for a beautiful shot here you will need both a national costume and a studio with an appropriate interior. To convey the spirit of oriental luxury, you will need bright large jewelry and spectacular makeup with an emphasis on the eyes. Such a photo session is suitable for women for single photo shoots or for makeup artists for a professional portfolio.

Business

Such photography is indispensable when preparing content for the website and social networks of a business company. The classic style of clothing and the office background give the image of a business person seriousness and authority. A photo session is in demand among women and men - and not only managers, but also the rest of the company's team members.

Photo by Valentin Kozlovsky

Glamor

This is a kind of fusion of fashion, boho and vintage styles. A glamorous photo shoot is especially loved by girls, because here the concept of the image is built on evening dresses, spectacular jewelry and bright makeup.

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Gothic

One of the favorite styles not only for single photo shoots, but also for the love story genre. Shooting in the studio and on the street is appropriate here, and also in winter. Light retouching or elements of make-up “like a vampire” emphasize the gloomy mood and mysticism of the image.

Noir

Style for real aesthetes and lovers of black and white photography. The noir concept is a play of chiaroscuro, retro looks and skimpy outfits. A photo session in this style is held in the studio, where models pose against the backdrop of vintage furniture and half-open blinds.

Photo by Alexey Roshka

Baroque

An option for lovers of a beautiful studio photo shoot, which is also suitable for couples in love. There are two options to realize this idea - to completely recreate the atmosphere of the era or to adapt the Baroque style to modern fashion and interiors. In any case, must-have photo shoots are expensive suits with embroidery and lace, large jewelry and luxurious furnishings.

Vamp

One of the most winning styles for female portrait shoots. The vamp style will also organically fit into the shooting of the collection of evening dresses. The main accents of the image are bright makeup and large jewelry.

Grunge

This style is based on the aesthetics of rock culture and conveys a rebellious mood. The image of grunge is complete freedom of expression and the absence of glamour. Such photo shoots are carried out in a studio with a loft design, on the streets and in abandoned places. Dress code - the predominance of black, loose-fitting clothes, jeans and rough boots. Grunge photo shoot is also suitable for the love story genre.

Doll

The task of the photographer is to dress up the model as Barbie, depicting her in a toy setting. This style is suitable for fragile young girls. Make-up and hair should emphasize childish features, and poses should emphasize the plasticity of a large doll.

Sports

This genre is suitable for studio or outdoor shooting. A photo session is useful when you need to capture the best moments of a competition or prepare a catalog of sportswear. Shooting is also organized for a personal blog in order to share the best shots of outdoor activities with subscribers.

Photo by Veronika Goryanskaya

Military

An original solution for photo shoots of clothes stylized as military uniforms. The model poses against the background of the loft interior of the studio or in an open area that imitates a polygon. Military photo shoot is ideal for single shooting.

Photo by Valentin Kozlovsky

Country (or western or cowboy)

An excellent solution for those who love taking pictures in the countryside. The concept of this style is built on the aesthetics of the Wild West. The main mood of the Western photo shoot is freedom and unity with nature. Therefore, horses and tamed birds often appear in the frame. Cowboy style is also suitable for a photo shoot for lovers.

Empire

Photo shoot for those who want to capture themselves in a feminine and romantic way. It requires thorough preparation - the search for a costume in a historical style, the work of a makeup artist and hairdresser, renting a studio. Shooting is also arranged in a park or against the backdrop of an old mansion. The Empire style is also well suited for the love story genre.

How much does a photo session cost

The cost of a photo session depends on the professionalism of the photographer, the complexity of processing, location and props. The price may also increase if you order a large number of images. Additionally, you will need to pay for the work of a stylist and makeup artist-hairdresser. Since to conduct a thematic photo shoot in a strictly seasoned style, a whole team of professionals working on the image is needed. Some photographers and photography studios offer a package that includes:

  • shooting;
  • rental of photography studio and costumes;
  • work on the image.

41 photo shoot styles.

The best styles for photography

Votes:

The variety of styles that exist today, played on photo shoots, allows everyone to find the best option for themselves. We present you a selection of 40 + 1 popular styles, any of which can be used as a basis for creating an original photo story.

Retro . Fashionable outfits of the past, antique pieces of furniture, rare modes of transport as attributes of photography - all these are signs of a retro style.
Glamor . Expensive robes and accessories, luxurious interior items, evening make-up and hairstyle help to bring to life the exquisite image of a secular lady or gentleman.
Thrash . Being the antithesis of glamorous style, he shows models with disheveled hair, casual makeup and unkempt clothes.

Provence . The main emphasis in this provincial style is on simplicity and femininity, which are personified by airy fabrics in clothes and interiors, combined with calm tones.
Country . A photo session in a cozy rustic style can be carried out both in nature and in a real hayloft or a hayloft created from scenery.
Boho . Oversized clothes, a lot of jewelry, stylish bags and hats demonstrate the creative nature of clients who order boho-style photography.

Folk . Depending on the nationality that you want to represent in the photo, traditional costumes with ethnic motifs should be selected.
Hippie . You can convey the spirit of freedom inherent in this style with the help of natural materials, floral motifs, pacifist symbols on clothes.
Baroque . If you see magnificent outfits, sparkling jewelry, elaborate hairstyles, columns and stained-glass windows in the photo, this indicates that the baroque palace style was chosen for the photo session.

Rock . To emphasize the daring and rebellious nature of the rocker style, black leather clothes and accessories are used, catchy makeup is performed, and extraordinary hairstyles are created on the head.
Disco . Anyone who misses the incendiary discos of the 80s can arrange a digression into history by dressing in lurex clothes or banana trousers, while building a voluminous hairdo on their heads.
" Oscar ". To organize a photo session in this style, ladies will suit floor-length dresses, and men - tuxedos, in which they can show off in front of the lenses on an impromptu red carpet, holding the cherished figurines in their hands.

Pin up . The image of a seductive beauty "from the poster" is achieved with the help of a rich make-up, in particular, red lipstick and black arrows, short dresses with bright prints, ribbons and bows as accessories.
Nu . The result of an erotic photo shoot is the most sensual aesthetic pictures that demonstrate the beauty of a naked body.
Eco . A fashion trend with a focus on everything natural is realized in a photo session by placing floral compositions in the frame, creating decor from natural materials, and choosing clothes in soothing colors.

Military . For a military-themed photo shoot, khaki colors are selected and “war paint” is performed on the face.
Eclectic . Thanks to the use of elements from different eras that combine with each other within the framework of one photo shoot, a rather harmonious picture is obtained.
Fashion . In this style, with an emphasis on clothing and accessories, photo shoots for glossy magazines are most often held.

Empire . It can be realized for the time of photography by choosing light high-waisted dresses, wreaths of bay leaves, pottery and other paraphernalia in the Greek style.
Gothic . Here, the predominant color in clothing is black, which can be diluted with red shades, and metal jewelry with skulls, bracelets with spikes, etc. are selected as accessories.
Casual . In front of the camera lens, it is enough for the model to appear in comfortable clothes with casual styling and discreet makeup.

Vamp . The mysterious style involves creating an image of a fatal beauty in the frame with the help of tight dresses, lace underwear, stockings.
Barbie . With the help of doll makeup, pink shades in clothes, various ribbons and bows, you get the most girly look for a photo shoot.
Grunge . In fact, the style combines the incongruous: it uses mostly dark colors, worn jeans and T-shirts, massive shoes, including under dresses.

Western . The cowboy paraphernalia in the photographs reflects the freedom-loving spirit of the inhabitants of the wild prairies and their inherent thirst for adventure.
Horror . What you need for horror fans: torn clothes, loose hair, blood painted on a pale face - and the image for a photo shoot is ready.
Fantasy . Gives you the opportunity to transform into a fabulous elf, mage or sorceress for the time of photography.

Love story . Among the characteristic elements of this style are balloons and pillows in the shape of hearts, assembled into the words “Love”, “Together forever”, three-dimensional letters, identical T-shirts with the inscriptions “He” and “She”, etc.
Fantasy . Metallic overalls, raincoats, gloves, helmets, body painting on the face, unusual hair coloring are welcome in the images.
Denim . It is uncomplicated in implementation, since it does not require the use of specific attributes, but is based on creating an everyday image.

Business . Typically, business portraits are ordered for themselves or their employees by heads of firms in order to form a serious status of the company.
Classic . The style is appropriate for women of any age who want to try on a strict men's suit with a tie or bow tie.
Sport . Suitable for adherents of an active lifestyle and, possibly, those who have some kind of sports hobby, thereby allowing you to demonstrate a toned figure in the photo.

Marine . It is enough for men to put on a striped vest with shorts, and for women - a striped top with a pleated skirt, if desired, complementing the image with a cap, tunic and other elements of a marine theme.
Industrial . As locations for such a photo shoot, you need to choose walls with graffiti, railway bridges, industrial facilities.
Noir . Photographs in this specific and complex style are traditionally done in black and white.

Eastern . It involves the use of Japanese kimonos, Indian saris, Arab harem pants, along with appropriate accessories.
Safari . The main attributes are khaki clothes, jackets with many pockets, shoulder bags, skins of exotic animals in the interior.
Vintage . For photography in this style, things of half a century ago are selected, as if they were taken out of a grandmother's chest.

Chanel .


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