Photography is a hobby and a passion for many, but for those who are not so keen or passionate about photography, it can often be a difficult choice as to which photography genres you would like to specialize in. For those who have already taken up the hobby or the passion, they are likely to know which photography subjects interest them and what types of photographs they enjoy making. For those just starting out on their hobby, it is important to identify those types of photographs that they find appealing and these will then become the templates upon which they can build their photography careers.
So what are these different photography themes that are available to choose from?
Portrait Photography – this type of photography involves taking portrait photographs of family members, friends, loved ones or colleagues. It has been around since the early twentieth century and is one of the most popular types of photography subjects today. The popularity of portrait photography is likely due to the fact that it is an expression of the photographer’s feelings towards his or her subject, which is very human and natural. Portraits can take many different forms, including formal portraits where the photographer has the person at the head of a large photo sheet, shots captured while the person is seated or lying down, informal portrait photography where the person is only asked to smile or do a simple pose, and romantic portrait photography where the subject is asked to smile and look at the camera.
Landscape Photography – this is another popular style of photography that is popular with amateur and professional photographers alike. Landscape photography includes photos of parks, buildings and other prominent places. Most landscape photographs are meant to be advertisements for a product or service or just a snapshot of a location that is special to the photographer. Depending on the type of lens used and the size of the camera, landscape photography can be challenging and the templates for these types of photos are very specific.
Close-up photography – this type of photography often requires the use of a flash, although there are different ways to use the flash in this genre of photography. For instance, some close-up photographs use flash so the subject is highlighted in the photo as a separate color, such as a red apple. Others may use a silhouette to emphasize the subject as well. This style of photography may also require the photographer to use different lighting conditions to create the desired effect, sometimes using a silhouette or black and white against a light background. There are various templates for this type of photography.
Fashion Photography – this category of photography usually includes images of women and often involves photographing a woman for a publication or other purpose such as a fashion show. The subjects of fashion photography are almost always models and celebrities who pose for the photographer in a variety of different poses. A common theme in many fashion images is the use of the “look” or style of dress that the model is wearing. These images can be very stylized and many of them will include several different backgrounds.
Landscape Photography – this type of photography is very popular among commercial photographers as it is often required to take photographs of landscapes. Many times, a landscape photograph is required from a different perspective than the one that the subject is posed against. The style of the photo may be as simple as an outdoor scene or it can include a series of images that show the view from a specific point in the landscape. Some landscape images may be used as advertising pieces.
Wedding Photography – this category of photography often includes shots of actual weddings. Some photographers specialize in only this type of photography, while others will take any images that they think will be appropriate for any wedding ceremony. This category of photography can range widely. Some photographers will only take certain types of photographs depending on the theme of the wedding. Others will capture anything and everything that they happen to see at any time during the day.
These are just a few examples of the different types of photography that professional photographers can specialize in. There are many more genres for professional photographers to choose from depending on their skill level. There are many other reasons that people hire professional photographers. Some of them include being unable to create the photos that they want, not being able to handle difficult situations, or being unable to find ways to make pictures look better. No matter what the reason for wanting to hire a professional photographer, you should be aware of the different types of photography so that you will know what to expect when you hire one.
As long as you are prepared for the genres in which you plan to hire them, you will be able to impress your potential photographer with the photos that you will produce during their photography session.
