Finding your photographic style.

[hommedars]

Many photographers feel you must find your "photographic style" to be successful. I have long struggled with this concept, and argued both sides of the subject. I very much respect people like Ansel, Annie, et al. who have a strong style, but I had perceived myself as a photographic generalist who was happy with any subject matter so long as I produced a technically good image. However...I wasn't really content with that notion and had always felt an underlying guilt that I hadn't found "my style". More recently, I began to struggle with the idea that there was simply nothing special about my photos.

The real problem is, while many people write about the importance of photographic style, no one suggests a way to find it. In fact, some suggest that you don't even know you have one until well after it has developed, because it is an evolutionary process.

I finally decided to go on the offensive. After 38 years, I needed to find out if I have a style, and don't know it, or don't have one and should just put the idea to rest. After a good bit of research, here is what I did.

I put together a web portfolio of my 25 very best photos. I selected 6 people whose judgement I trust. None of them were photographers or artists, because I wanted the opinions based on their gut-level non-technical reactions. I talked to everyone in person so I could be sure they understood what I was looking for. Then, I gave each person the web link and told them to take their time, and respond via email. I didn't want them to feel any pressure from a one-on-one conversation that might cause them to feel a need to justify their responses.

I asked them each the following:

1. Select your 10 favorite photos and rank the top 3.
2. Describe any attributes that are common among those 10 photos. Specifically, are there any common elements that describes them a group.

Here are the collective responses:

- They evoke emotion.
- They have a certain glow.
- Vivid colors.
- Strong contrast in monochromes.
- They display a sense of wonder and peacefulness.
- You see the subject as big.

When I put that information together with my own feelings, it was a synergistic awakening. A tremendous sense of peace and direction came over me. All of sudden, I knew what I was doing, and where I was headed. And it has made the whole photographic experience much more fulfilling and rewarding.

Anyone else struggled with this very elusive topic?

[Mark_Cohran]

Nope. I've never worried about finding my style, I know what I like to shoot, how I like to shoot, and how to please my clients, friends and more importantly myself. I had a friend once who told me that he could always recognize my photos no matter where he saw them - I guess that's the definition of style.

[rdenney]

Nope. I've never worried about finding my style, I know what I like to shoot, how I like to shoot, and how to please my clients, friends and more importantly myself. I had a friend once who told me that he could always recognize my photos no matter where he saw them - I guess that's the definition of style.

I would like to identify with these words.

Other people see my style, but all I see are my subjects, from my own point of view.

Rick "who doesn't always see clearly" Denney

[DocFrankenstein]

I think once you shoot long enough your pictures have a signature look to them.

This comes from your educational experience, your approach to subjects and to an extent the equipment you use. Once you've gotten "comfortable" with the way you shoot, you start producing work in a certain style. Your photographs have a "signature look" which is yours and yours alone.

And when I say "comfortable" with the medium, I don't mean to label one a one trick pony... there is still art in every project you do, but your approach to the photographic medium has become consistent enough to reflect in all your work.

I think the closest comparison is the cuisine of different countries and regions. National kitchens start out with just what's available geographically, and then are combined using the tools available. That alone, makes for a "signature" meals, like the greeks with the mediterranean triad of wine, olive and wheat based their whole diet on it.