There are many different types of photography style out there. It can be overwhelming when you are trying to develop your own groove as a photographer, and you feel like you need to find or mimic a specific style immediately. I would encourage you to stay far away from that mind set however. There are a few pointers I would say are helpful in the exploration process for your photography style.

One of the main ones I would say is to ignore what everyone else is doing. It is so easy to find a photographer and say, “I want to shoot just like them” instead you should look at what aspects of their photography you are particularly drawn to. You don’t want to develop a style by copying someone else exactly. One, that is not actually flattery for the photographer you are copying, and two it will probably just drive you mad because your stuff will never look exactly like the photographer you are copying.

It is also very important to make sure you are practicing and developing your style daily. Now this can be a tough one because we are all busy and it can be hard to make time for explorative photography daily; however, I would highly encourage it. Even if it is just a quick five-minute experiment. Every little thing, every time you pick up a camera and shoot helps to develop your style.

Having said all of that, it is important to decide what aspects of photography you are drawn to. When you find a photographer you like, figure out why. Is it their subject matter? Maybe they photograph plants and you realize that that is why you are so drawn to their work is because you love plants. Or maybe it is the way they use and manipulate light, or their cropping, or shooting angle. Or maybe it has nothing to do with that and is more editing done in post-production that you are drawn to. Once you define what parts of the equation you gravitate towards it will be easier for you to narrow that down and use it for your own work.

Lastly, I would say that it is important for you to make sure that what you are doing is intentional. It is easy to try and pass off an out of focus image as something you were “trying out” or “going for”. There is no excuse for bad photography. It is important to know the rules so that you can break them, don’t just break rules and try to cover it up. Own your mistakes and learn from them. As a photographer you are constantly learning new things and finding out what works and what doesn’t. Each time you photograph will be a different experience and you should revel in that and use it to your advantage.