Different Kinds of Photography and What You Need to Know

Like any other art form, photography has many different aspects and mediums. This post is just to help you get a basic grasp on a few of these different types of photography and some of the important things you need to know about them.

1. Portraits

Portraits are a way to show ourselves to the world.

When people think of photography, generally the first thing they will think of is portraiture. Portraits are important because they are a way to show who we are and who others are. Here are some important things to know about taking portraits.

Know Your Subject

You have to know your subject to be able to capture their personality

Portraits are photographs of people, so in order to take a really good portrait you have to know your subject. Meeting with them before your photo shoot allows you to get comfortable with each other. If your subject isn’t comfortable with you the photos will not be successful.

Light

Even lighting and catch lights make a portrait really appealing.

Another important aspect of photography is light. Light can make or break your photo. There are so many different ways to use light to create your photograph. Natural light, a studio setup, on and off camera flash! How can you ever figure it all out?

If you are just getting started natural light is a good place to begin, and my personal favorite. You want to make sure that your subject is well lit and that they don’t have any weird shadows on their face. Catch lights are crucial to a good portrait. Catch light is just making sure that you can see light reflected in the eyes of your subject, and it will really make your portrait look amazing.

Focus on the Eyes

When taking portraits, the eyes should always be your focus.

The eyes are the window to the soul. And because portraiture is all about people, you really want to try and capture the essence of people. To help you do this, one of the most important things you can do is make sure you focus on the eyes.

There are technical as well as creative reasons for this. Humans are drawn to eyes. When you look at a photo of a person almost always the first thing you will look at are the eyes. If your subject’s eyes are too dark or out of focus people will lose interest in the photograph. Tell a story with their eyes.

2. Landscape

There are landscapes all around us waiting to be photographed.

We live in a beautiful world filled with breathtaking landscapes. Who wouldn’t want to create a photograph of the magnificence around us? These are some basic things you should know about landscape photography.

Tripods

A tripod will help you achieve the really spectacular photos you are looking for.

Tripods will become your best friend. Camera shake is when external sources, such as the hands holding the camera, cause the camera to shake and the image to be blurred. A tripod takes away the majority of your risk of camera shake. While there are other reasons tripods are the best, this alone is a good enough reason to invest in a good sturdy tripod!

Rule of Third

Following the rule of thirds will make all your photos more interesting and appealing to look at.

Yes, the rule of thirds still applies in landscape photography. You may be thinking to yourself, how do I use the rule of thirds in a photograph of a landscape? There is no subject! Well I am here to tell you that the rule of thirds is alive and well! And that you most certainly do have a subject. The subject of your photo is merely where you want the focus of your photo to be. Also, and probably the most important part, don’t compose your image so that the horizon is right through the middle of your photograph. Which leads to the next point.

Change Your Perspective

Changing your perspective could put a whole new twist on the same old story.

In order to avoid a horizon smack dab through the middle of your photo, change your perspective! When everything is shot from the same level the photos all start to look the same. But if you can find ways to mix it up and change the perspective of your image it will look interesting and exciting!

3. Wildlife

Wildlife photography is not easy! But it is definitely doable with lots of patience and practice.

On this beautiful planet we live on there are also amazing animals to be found. The list of things you should know to really succeed at wildlife photography is very long, so here are just a few things to help you get started.

Use the Right Lens

The lens you pick will have a huge impact on the outcome of your photograph.

Using the right lens is so important! There are two main kinds of lenses people generally use for wildlife. Telephoto and macro. Telephoto lenses are those that let you stay really far away but still have a fairly up close and personal photograph. People who photograph more dangerous animals such as a lion, might want a telephoto lens. Macro lenses are those used for taking really up close photos. So if you want to take photos of the really cool insects in your backyard, macro is the lens for you.

Know Your Subject

You have to know behavior patterns of the animals you want to photograph so that you know what you are looking for.

Just like portraiture, you need to know your subject. But since you can’t just walk up to the bird you want to photograph and ask for their life story you’ll have to do your research. Utilize the internet and see what scientists and other experts say about the behavior patterns of the animal you want to photograph. Observation is also really important. Be patient and observe how your subject behaves and what you need to keep an eye out for while taking photos of them.

Practice at the Zoo

Practicing your wildlife photography at a zoo can help you begin to feel comfortable photographing animals.

The zoo is a really great place to practice your wildlife photography skills before testing them out for real. The zoo is full of exotic but also domestic animals and is a safe place for you to begin to practice. But soon enough you’ll be off to Africa to photograph the giraffe of your dreams.

These are just three of the most common kinds of photography, but there are so many others! So get out there and discover your favorite type of photography!

What kind of photography are you most interested in?