Photography can be a very personal hobby and nothing exemplifies that more than finding your own photographic style. I’m thankful that I was able to find ways to help me discover my own style and I wanted to share them with you. These are the steps I followed.
Find Photographers and Styles you Like
Figure Out Why You Like Them
Recreate Those Works
Experiment
Give it Time
Find Photographers and Styles you Like
Spend some time finding styles, and photographers who shoot those styles, that you like.
One of my biggest influences is Peter Coulson. His work with black & white is the main reason I am drawn to his work. I also love that he uses less than ideal settings for some of his images.
Recreate Those Works
Now that you have picked out some photographers and styles you like, spend time recreating those works. It’s OK to replicate other photographers' images while you are learning and trying to develop yourself as a photographer. Eventually you will want to start branching out though, which brings us to my next tip.
Experiment
Your next step should be to start experimenting. There are a variety of ways you can do this, but the important part is that you do so intentionally. A common photography exercise is to spend time shooting with a single focal length. Usually the goal behind this is to help teach you what a specific focal length looks like and how to to get the most out of it. However, this activity can help you narrow down your personal style as well. Here are some more ways you can experiment to help you find your look.
Shoot Styles Other than Boudoir
Combine Different Styles
Shoot Only in Color or Black & White for a Time
Try Different Focal Lengths
Use Various Lighting Methods
Edit in Different Ways
Give it Time
If you are experimenting and shooting as much as you can, then over time your style will develop. You will begin to notice that you always shoot in black & white or vibrant color. You realize that you reach for your 35mm lens over other lenses in your bag. Maybe you always use natural light vs flash. This is what you want. Figuring out these little things are small steps to developing your personal photography style.
Final Thoughts
I do want to say one thing in parting. Your style doesn’t have to be 100% unique. If you enjoy shooting it, that’s what matters. As long as you are getting personal enjoyment out of your photos you are winning the photography game in my opinion.
One last thing. If you are enjoying this blog and wish to support the work I do here, consider using the Buy me a Coffee button at the bottom of the page to make a one time donation to show your appreciation.