As we advance in our photographic hobby, we discover the different photographic genres . When we start, we usually know four or five, always the same, and in a similar way. We are fascinated by portraiture, landscape, street photography or travel photography, am I wrong?
In general, it is so, they are the genres or photographic disciplines that we usually have more at hand and with which we feel more comfortable at the beginning.
However, as we immerse ourselves in photography, we discover that there is an immense world to explore, also photographically speaking, and although it is good to specialize in something to focus all the efforts and energies, my personal opinion is that you should never abandon the rest.
I mean, everything you learn in photography enriches you in one way or another. Feeding creativity, learning new techniques, forcing yourself out of your comfort zone, is basic to not get stuck, not get bored (or not bore others ?).
For this reason, I invite you to learn about the number of photographic genres, or types of photography that you can get to practice in photography. And not only that, I will link you to our articles on each of these disciplines where you can go deeper. In some cases we have prepared a mega guide so that you have all the information you need, with tricks, tips and lots of inspiration. So be sure to click on the links of the topics that most attract you (and leave it in favorites to always have it at hand).
Are you coming?
WHAT PHOTOGRAPHIC GENRES EXIST IN PHOTOGRAPHY?
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
This is probably one of the most classic photographic genres and one that any photography lover goes through at some point in their life.
Portrait photography is captivating because although it can be infinitely complicated, it is close, it has millions of possibilities and because finding models is usually relatively easy. Above all, because it allows us to delve into the depths of the human being (or at least that is my feeling).
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Sports photography may sound impossible to achieve. You think of that person with the camera chasing Messi or Ronaldo, or covering F1, and you look the other way looking for another hobby. ring a bell? ?
But the truth is that there are many sports, much closer and with many photographic possibilities. You can cover your nephew's game, the neighbor's artistic gymnastics, your daughter's basketball or your cousin's athletics.
It may not seem as glamorous to you as the first division, but you will have many more photographic possibilities, less pressure and you will enjoy it more.
Oh, and of course, if you like risk and adventure, you can also start photographing this type of extreme sports .
ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY
You will have seen millions of examples of advertising photography throughout your life. Advertising photography is a very creative photographic genre that aims to publicize and sell a specific product.
Being essential to attract the attention of the viewer and awaken in him the desire to buy. It is usually the work not only of the photography professional, but also includes publicists, graphic designers, models... In short, a complete production team that works together with the photographer.
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
Product photography is another photographic discipline to work with. Product photographs are necessary above all to show products on websites or magazines and, although it might seem like a very complicated job for which you would need a very professional team, the truth is that you can achieve very good results with little investment.
Do not hesitate to do your first steps at home with things that you have on hand, if what you want is to dedicate yourself to photography professionally, this type of photography can come in handy.
STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Closely related to advertising or product photography are the stock photographs that are sold on the internet, in the famous photo banks . They are images of all kinds of general themes that serve as a visual resource for commercial purposes.
It is one of the photographic disciplines that ends up becoming a source of income for those who dedicate time and effort to it.
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
Do you like fashion, lighting, are you a super creative person, do you enjoy locating, do you like directing, do you have empathy and do you easily connect with people...? Maybe yours is fashion photography . Have you thought about it?
Fashion photography is a photographic genre with more possibilities than you can imagine: catalogues, catwalks, advertising, model books , stock, etc. It doesn't seem like you can get bored with her.
ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY
If your thing is the intangible, the abstract, the emotion or the feeling, you may be interested in delving into the world of artistic photography. Expressing an emotion or feeling that manages to move the viewer beyond a search for reality, is what mainly defines this photographic genre.
Within artistic photography , also known as author photography, you can also find conceptual photography , which is based on transmitting an idea or concept through an image, or abstract photography , which is the representation or subjective interpretation of reality captured. in a photograph.
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY
Another of the most universal photographic genres is travel photography. Few of us would go out without the camera when we are lucky enough to go on a trip, don't you think? (just imagining going out without her gives me anxiety ?).
Travel photography combines a multitude of disciplines in turn: portraits, landscape, street photography or architecture among others. Traveling opens our minds, it broadens our souls, it teaches us to respect other cultures, to love other languages and, what is even better, it teaches us and allows us to practice many types of photography .
ARCHITECTURE PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the photographic genres that you can get into relatively easily is architectural photography.
Simple, because finding architecture around it is not that it is easy, it is that it is impossible not to do it. Relatively, because, like all disciplines, it requires going beyond the first image we come across; To get good architectural images, it takes a lot of practice to get to know the lines, the perspective or the scale.
Even if you don't get overwhelmed, it's nothing you can't get by taking a look at this introductory guide to architectural photography , and lots of practice to train your photographic eye.
DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY
Documentary photography is one of the photographic disciplines that seek to document reality. It tries to explain a story in an image or in a series of them. It usually goes hand in hand with social denunciation, although this is not always the case.
It has an aesthetic and narrative will, that is, it seeks to explain stories, but at the same time it takes care of the aesthetics of the images without manipulating them, of course.
PHOTOJOURNALISM
As with documentary photography, photojournalism aims to show a reality but, in this case, a present reality that is news.
Its purpose is to inform in the most objective way possible, just as a newspaper should, therefore, it usually has a lower dose of aesthetic charge than documentary photography.
LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
It is unthinkable for any fan who loves photography to be in front of a landscape and not want to photograph it, right? Let's go with better or worse equipment for the occasion, it is impossible not to take out the camera, frame and click .
But the truth is that landscape photography is an art, the compositional possibilities, the search for maximum sharpness, the sunrises and sunsets and, above all, enjoying the outdoors, make it one of the photographic genres to which it is impossible to resist.
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Nature lovers also have a place in photography, it would be missing more. You don't have to go to the Serengeti to get wonderful nature photos (although I'm sure you would like to go, right?).
This is one of the most complete photographic genres because it covers fauna (including birds ), landscapes, underwater photography, flowers and plants , etc.
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
Food or gastronomy photography is one of those photographic genres (very interesting, by the way) that you can dedicate yourself to as a hobby or professionally.
It allows you to exercise not only your culinary skills, but also to practice with light, composition, color, aesthetics, etc. Be careful, this is one of the most engaging types of photography ?.
MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
If you've been following us for a while, you probably already know that I find macro photography fascinating. Seeing what others don't see, turning minute details into captivating images, being able to see the life of small insects, the details of a flower or a pupil or whatever else strikes your fancy, seems almost magical to me.
If you haven't delved into this photographic genre yet, I don't know what you are waiting for!
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
For all those who are lovers of heights, you cannot miss the opportunity offered by aerial photography .
Changing the point of view is almost always a success and this photographic discipline allows us to capture images that many of us cannot even dream of.
SOCIAL OR EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Weddings , baptisms and communions that each time leave us with higher level memories because, luckily, photography professionals improve themselves day by day.
You just have to take a look at your parents' wedding photographs (surely very correct, but not very creative) and what a good photographer can achieve today in terms of creativity and technique in social photography .
FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
A new member in the family or the need to treasure beautiful family memories, moves many people when looking for a photographer.
Like the rest of photographic disciplines, the quality and creativity that you can find today in family photography is amazing. And what to say about the photography of babies or children, quite a challenge (most rewarding, yes)!
NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY
Related to the family, newborn photographyhas made its own niche among photographic disciplines. Photographing newborns in their first days of life is an art that requires a lot, a lot, care.
CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY
Another discipline to consider is concert photography . If you are passionate about live music, this is perfect for you. Starting with small spectacles and with a lens as bright as possible, you can get very good results.
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY OR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Another classic that hooks most of those who start in this art is street photography or street photography. Perhaps because it brings together many disciplines in a single genre: portraits, architecture, landscape; or for its millions of creative possibilities, the games of light, the lines, the people...
The truth is that few photographic genres capture as much as this one (or at least it caught me a lot at the time).
NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
I always say that I love photography because it allows you to give yourself body and soul, day, night and combine it with whatever your other hobby is. What do you like plants? Well, macro or landscape photography, what do you like about sports? So sports photography, do you like animals? Well, of fauna... and so on to infinity, including at night, where many of us sleep and think that there is not much to photograph, night photography photographers show us that it is worth spending sleepless nights looking at the sky.
Wonderful photographs of stars, northern lights, the moon, the blue hour or the milky way are waiting for you. Do you dare to try it?
AQUATIC OR UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
Aquatic or underwater photography is another of the most fascinating photographic disciplines since it allows us to obtain images out of the ordinary. Because of the singularity of light underwater and, of course, because of the incredible creatures that inhabit it, because of its colors, its shapes...
Without a doubt, if you like to be below the surface, it is worth taking your camera with you and becoming a fan of the bluest discipline.
NUDE PHOTOGRAPHY
We can not stop talking about nude photography . This discipline combines portraiture, creativity and artistic photography.
Lines, lights and shadows dominate and it is a good companion to black and white.
BOUDOIR PHOTOGRAPHY
Boudoir photography is different from nude photography , although both agree that they require a high level of complicity and that they are very intimate. In boudoir , lingerie and sensuality stand out . The motto is to suggest instead of show.
As you can see, the line between some disciplines or photographic genres is very fine, just as there will be those who distinguish genre from subgenre, or discipline. But I do not intend to make a dictionary, or establish an immovable category, but rather to compile the different types of photography that you can practice, to give you ideas and that you do not lack inspiration.
Please feel free to leave any comments you have below or share this guide with other photography enthusiasts who may be interested. Thank you and see you next time.
AND YOU, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY?
Tell me in the comments below the type of photography or photographic genre that you enjoy the most, so you can give me a clue to prepare content focused on the photography that you would like to practice the most.
