Finding Your Vision | 4 Tips for Developing Your Photography Style

As people, we are always changing, growing, and seeing things just a little bit differently as the experiences and relationships of life shape our perspective. As photographers and artists, this is no less true. The way I photograph things today is not the same as the way I photographed things last year, last month, last week.

So in a constantly changing world, how do you find your vision and define your style as a photographer? This is a question not just for new photographers starting out–trying to figure out what they want to do–but this is also a question that the most seasoned pro must consider as they attempt to stay true to who they are while constantly improving and adapting as they grow.

I was asked this question recently by a friend who is a growing photographer, so I thought I would attempt to answer it more fully here (as best I can!). I came up with four tips I thought may help you find your vision and define your style as a photographer.

1. Always remember your first love. Why did you decide to pick up a camera? What was it that drew you to photography? Was it people? Interesting compositions? Connections you saw? Little details you noticed? Don’t abandon that first love that sparked your interest.

2. Be curious. When you are curious about the world and the faces in it, you will desire to discover and reveal its truths in your work. Only you can see the world through your own two eyes. Show everyone else what that feels like. When you are curious, you are asking questions…why…how…where…when… and you’re looking for answers. Use your camera to document those answers.

3. Choose your influences wisely. It’s only human to be influenced by others. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. We can be inspired to greater heights in our work by the power in someone else’s photos. But we can also quickly loose our unique vision when we try to emulate another’s work. I see a lot of photography websites with very similar looking photos, as though the photographers are each following a simple formulaic approach. There is no curiosity in the images, just bland, boring, see-that-exact-photo-somewhere-else. So be wise when you choose what blogs, websites, and twitter accounts you’re going to follow. Even better, look for influences that are non-photography related to inspire you.

4. Learn the rules first, then break them. Being creative doesn’t mean producing sloppy work. When you are new to photography, you are passionate, curious, and excited–this is wonderful. But the bad thing is that you likely don’t know much about good composition and exposure. It’s tempting to excuse that poor work as “creative,” but in reality it’s just bad. Truly creative work can only be produced when you know the rules first and then know when to break them. That’s true creative freedom.

As a case in point, I’m going to use myself as an example. The work I’m creating today is different than the work I was producing two years ago. While I see common ground in it–the core things I was drawn to two years ago are the same as today–my technique and style have developed and changed. I have a better grasp of good composition. I see light differently. In short, I’m a much better photographer today than I was two years ago.

This was an engagement session with a dog I photographed in March 2009. There’s nothing bad about it. I know my couple loved their photos. But in my honest opinion, many people could have taken those shots. They aren’t particularly unique.

This was an engagement session with a dog I photographed a couple weeks ago in March 2011. I see some similarities…but my use of light and composition is vastly different. I’m not trying to be prideful, but I honestly don’t think just anyone would have made those compositions I did.

So how did I get from point A to B? Well, for starters I have taken literally tens of thousands of photos between those two sessions. I have followed my curiosity, I have taken steps to learn the rules before breaking them, I have carefully selected influences that only inspire me, and I have tried to hold onto my first love and create images that are meaningful to me.

If you’re a photographer trying to find your vision and style, I would encourage you to follow those four tips to get you started.