When it comes to Photo Blogging, the process of reaching individually shaped consistency in aesthetic and subject, and finding a personal style that will set your photographs apart will take some time.
It requires patience, practice, some experimenting, and learning from your own mistakes. For many photographers, the road to reaching this ultimate goal isn’t easy, but the feeling of accomplishment you’ll be award with if you power through this process will be amazing, and well worth the time and effort you invested.
Although the journey towards your personal photography style is individual, there are several things you can do to make sure you are going in the right direction. These few pieces of advice can help you develop a distinctive, recognizable style that reflects your interests and sensibility, so make sure to check and try them all.
1. Observe and explore
When it comes to exploring the other photographers’ work, opinions are divided. Some believe that a lot can be learned from studying the works of others and analyzing their techniques, while others strongly suggest that considering other photographers is limiting and, therefore, advise avoiding it altogether.
This situation might leave you feeling surprised and unsure what to do, but remember that each person is different, and what works well for someone else might not work for you, and vice versa.
If you are anything like me, you will find the power of reference really liberating, rather than limiting. If done the right way, exploring other photographers and their work can bring you inspiration and give you ideas that can drive you further, pushing you to start experimenting with your own work.
Copying another photographer’s work and calling it your own is definitely wrong; however, in photography, just as in many other disciplines, if you are a beginner, a little bit of imitating can be one of the best ways to learn.
2. Shoot what inspires you
The stunning world of photography covers so many aspects of human existence, and this amazing fact is something you should use well.
Finding the subjects, situations, and setups that inspire you and shooting them daily can make miracles in the long run. In case you are not sure whether you are more inclined to shoot portraits, nature, architectural pieces, street life, or children, try a little bit of everything first. Soon enough, you will learn to recognize what makes you keen and involved the most.
If you find it difficult to wear a ton of gear every time you leave your house, even the photographs you can make with your smartphone will do. Explore angles, light, and subjects, to be able to use them optimally when you gear up for a more serious shooting session.
3. Learn the rules
They say the rules are meant to be broken, but to be able to do that, make sure you got the hang of them first.
Knowing how to make a solid composition and a good focus, make the most out of different types of day and night light, and develop an understanding of shapes, colors and textures are essential, so make sure not to skip this “schooling” part of your photography practice.
Learning about those aspects will surely drive you to try out new solutions, some of which you might decide to keep as signature traits of your photography.
4. Break the rules
Once you have learned, tried out and understood the basic rules for making good photos, it’s time to try something different. Tilt your camera, try breaking composition rules, don’t shy away from shooting poorly lighted scenes, try out different cropping possibilities.
Simply breaking the rules will not make you a good photographer, but it may take you to a new direction, making you see things in a fresh, new way. And who knows – maybe this is the way to your individual style.
5. Consistency or variety?
Many photographers prefer consistency to variety when it comes to their personal style. Some of them are recognizable by shooting expressive portraits in dim light, some enjoy producing photographs of vividly colored landscapes, while some others tend to experiment with specific photo processing techniques to get the results that make them distinguishable.
Although this is the commonly chosen way to set your photography style, some photographers prefer to keep their options open, in terms of the subject, approach, and processing. As you learn and grow on your road to finding your own style, you will be able to decide which approach feels more natural to you and make it work in your photography.
6. Let the professionals help
If at any point of your journey you happen to feel like you got stuck, don’t be ashamed to look for help. From topic-related YouTube videos and a whole variety of blog posts to photography webinars and workshops, you can surely find the professional assistance you need to move on.
Consider the expert GradeMiners, assignment help, paperwritingpro.com, Careers Booster, essayontime.com, and proessaywriting.com creators as well. A written word can also prove to be very useful in your learning days.
Conclusion
Developing your personal photography style is a process that will prove to be demanding and even frustrating at times. It takes dedication, concentration, and hard work, but with the help of the advice mentioned above, you are sure to start this journey the right way. Give them a try, and you are sure to have a lot of fun along the way!
Do you want to take better pictures at night? Check out our guide to night sky photography.
Watch this space for regular updates in the Photography category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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