We collected the 44 of our favourite photography websites online right now. Take a look at these portfolios to find new ideas for showcasing the very best of your photography work.

Best Photography Websites

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or checking out the competition, photography websites are the best resource.

You can see all the best work photographers have to offer, allowing you to feed your creativity. Browsing the galleries of these fantastic professionals will have you eager to pick up your camera and start shooting. 

You’ll also get a good idea of what a professional photography website should look like. This will help you if you interested in building your own to display your best photography work. 

In the section below, we’re looking at the best photography websites of established professionals. If you’re looking to build your own photography website, you need to see our articles on the best website builders and best web hosting services. 

Tom Hull

Tom Hull is a landscape and advertising photographer based in the UK. Many of his photographs involve people who are not professional models. This way, his shots are spontaneous and showcase true emotions.

Tom worked with clients such as Google, Nike and The Tate. What we like about his website are the options to see his work as individual images and also as thumbnails in a grid.

Amelia Allen

Amelia Allen is a lifestyle, documentary and portrait photographer from Somerset. She lives and works now in London. Amelia started her career as a fashion photographer and developed an iconic style.

She turned to documentary photography later on. One of her projects is about exploring women’s role in society. She worked with clients like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Daily Mail and Forbes.

Her site showcases her images in a stylish grid that you can easily flick through.

Adam Bird

Adam Bird is a wedding, fine-art and fashion photographer based in Birmingham. His clients’ list includes Disney, Adobe and Panasonic.

Besides his work for his clients, he also has a Harry Potter-themed series. His photography website looks like a fairy tale book. Take a look for yourself!

Haris Nukem

Haris Nukem is a fashion and commercial photographer based in London. He was born in Bosnia and arrived in the UK as a young asylum seeker. He finds inspiration in how the world and our environment shapes our personalities.

In 2019, Nukem had an exhibition called ‘Faith’ in London’s Soho. He asked for a ‘pay what you can afford’ entrance fee and all the money went to the charity Help Refugees.

His images are often provocative and unusual. This is the way he wants to convey his messages. His photography website has a colorful slider gallery, showing only one or two photos at a time.

Anya Anti

Anya Anti is a New York-based photographer and visual artist. Originally from Ukraine, Anya’s work combines portraiture and digital manipulation to create truly original and thought-provoking images. 

Using a soft, slightly cold color pallet, her images are etherial and dreamlike. There’s a sense of mystery and magic that encourages the viewer’s imagination to play and explore places they may never have ventured before. 

Often using self-portrait photography as a means of self-exploration, her work is always personal and honest. We see the artist’s vulnerability through her work, which only make her work more enticing. 

We were lucky enough to work with Anya on our collaborative project, Creative Portrait Concepts. In this fabulous ebook, she shares her secrets and gives the inside story of some of her most celebrated works. 

Mathieu Stern

Matheu Stern is a professional photographer and filmmaker born in Paris, France.

He has a passion for vintage lenses and for experimenting with photography techniques. You can find Stern’s work on platforms like Peta Pixel, Adobe News and F Stoppers.

Mathieu has a YouTube channel which focuses on photographic experimentation. He is also a photography and photoshop teacher in three Parisian design schools. His images are often surreal results of different techniques.

Alexis Julia

Alexis Julia is a portrait and wedding photographer from Texas. She shares lots of personal info about herself on her photography website. She focuses on getting to know her clients and be part of the big moments of their life.

Her photography website has a unique style and conveys a friendly atmosphere. When you look at it, it feels like you get to know her as a person, not only as a photographer.

Emanuel Satolli

An Italian photographer based in Istanbul, Emanuel Satolli is one of the world’s leading photojournalists. His work has been published in prestigious publications such as TIME, Rolling Stone, and the Washington Post. 

As an intrepid photojournalist, Satolli has documented some of major socio-political events of the last decade. Whether it’s Libya, Palestine, or the Ukraine, he has been in amongst the action, capturing the events in real time. 

His website isn’t for the squeamish. The images are harrowing and heart-wrenching. But they are also honest, which is why Emanuel has become one of the eminent photojournalists of our time. 

Pedro Oliveira

Pedro Oliveira is a photographer from Brazil who moved to the US at the age of 22. Photography was his hobby that evolved into a true passion.

Pedro won several awards for his work and held many exhibitions. He takes portraits, lifestyle and travel photographs. His photography website is clear and easy to navigate.

Sanz Lena

Sanz Lena is a fashion and beauty photographer from Paris. Thanks to his travels around the world, he developed a different artistic look. He likes to experiment with new artistic concepts and techniques.

He takes beauty, fashion, editorial and still life photographs. His website is very classy and minimalistic, allowing his work to stay in focus.

Carianne Older

Carianne Older has blazed a trail in the photography world over the last few years. Her unique, attention-grabbing style is fabulous, kitsch, and unashamedly sexy. She doesn’t hold back, and her images have an intensity that grabs you by the balls. 

Costumes, set styling, and interesting themes are all important ingredients in a recipe that produces vibrant images alive with style, humour, and sexual energy. Older has a more-is-more approach, but every detail is well-considered and fits perfectly in whatever she’s doing. 

Carianne used to shoot exclusively on film, as her old moniker of PeggyShootFilm suggests. Now she works in analog and digital, but her work is no less dazzling. 

Her client list is impressive and still growing as more brands and celebs reach out to her. Her top clients include Christina Aguilera, Playboy, Puma, and Luna Magazine. She’s also worked as a tour photographer, following Charlie Puth on his North American Tour. 

Ariana Jordan

Ariana Jordan is a professional photographer from Kentucky. She likes to tell love stories with her wedding and portrait photography.

Her website has a beautiful design, and her portfolio includes rich, bold and moody photos. When you take a look at her website, you see colors, emotions and stories.

Cassandra Ladru

Cassandra Ladru is a wedding and lifestyle photographer, working in Australia. She has a timeless and honest photography style. Cassandra likes to create visual stories and focus on unseen details.

Her creative work has been published in magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Her website has a journalistic atmosphere, allowing us to see intimate and detailed moments.

Jason Cox

Jason Cox is a creative photographer from Boston. He has a background in live music, sports, creative portraiture and wedding photography. Jason is always open to new challenges and keeps improving his photography style.

His clients include Nike, English Premier League, Converse and Jack Daniels. His photography website showcases his diverse talent.

Rosie Matheson

Rosie Matheson is one of the hottest young portrait photographers working right now. Hailing from London, UK, she made her name by producing exquisite portraits on film. 

Matheson’s portraits are intimate and warm. They are colorful but muted, edgy without being overtly in your face. Looking at her portraits, you feel like your chilling with a friend. Nothing feels posed or overproduced. 

She’s a master of exposure. That might sound silly as all pros can expose their images properly, but just look at her gallery to see what I mean. There’s a softness, especially in the skin tones, that gives the portraits a relaxed, laid-back air. 

Julia and Gil

Julia and Gil are “wedding photographers for couples who don’t want a wedding photographer“. The couple has a different approach to wedding photography. Their “anti-cliché” approach makes their photos atmospheric, honest, lively, and truly original.

They aim to capture the real connection between couples. Their photography avoids clichés to show the true moments of weddings. They also have a blog where you can check their work and read a bit about the background of certain weddings they captured.

Cass Bird

Cass Bird is one of this generation’s top fashion photographers. Her photographs have blessed to covers and pages of iconic publications like Vogue and Wall Street Journal. 

Bird has an elegant style but isn’t afraid to push boundaries and press buttons. Her images are fun and playful but always elegant.

Her sleek and stylish photography website is the perfect host for her portfolio, which demonstrates her blend of modern and classic styles. Cass is quickly becoming a living legend in the world of fashion photography. 

Gray Malin

Gray Malin is a fine art photographer and author from the US. He is known for his iconic pastel photos and aerial pictures. He sells his prints online and has 410 000 Instagram followers. He captured photographs from all around the world.

His website is like looking at dreamy postcards from beautiful destinations. Perfect place for daydreamers who miss traveling in 2021.

The Hearnes

One of our favourite photography websites belongs to The Hearnes. They are a couple who takes adventure wedding and elopement photography.

They believe that a couple’s wedding day is their biggest adventure. But it can happen at more extreme locations than a ballroom.

Their website shows great examples of the long and epic days they have with their clients. Their whole life is an adventure, and they offer not only a photoshoot but a lifetime experience.

Their photography is the perfect combination of adventure and romance.

Will Bremridge

Will Bremridge is a commercial and editorial photographer from London. He is shooting for magazines, agencies and brands. Thanks to his assignments, he has traveled a lot.

He has a vibrant and colorful style that appear all around his website. His work was published in magazines like British GQ, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times Magazine.

Diane Villadsen

Diane Villadsen is a fashion and portrait photographer from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has one of the most cheerful and colorful photography websites. Her photos have cinematic perspectives and dream-like tones.

Diane likes to teach and inspire others through her photography. Her website and photographs make you feel like living the California dream.

Grace Chuang

Grace Chuang is a photographer, designer, storyteller, biologist and engineer. She carved her own path and likes to focus on the mystery and wonder of in-betweens.

Her photography focuses on love, heartbreak, failure and triumph. She creates wedding, lifestyle and adventure photography.

Her website is like an album of her diverse and exciting life. You only see one photograph at a time which allows the picture to speak for itself.

Brandon Keith

Brandon Keith is a fashion and lifestyle photographer from Kentucky.

His goal is to make beautiful photos and capture real photos that people can enjoy for the rest of their lives. Brandon is a self-taught photographer who keeps improving his skills.

His gallery flows from left to right, allowing us to flick through his pictures as we would do with fashion magazines.

Jenna Mahr

Jenna Mahr is a professional photographer combining wedding and fashion photography. She is based in Minneapolis but available worldwide.

Her photography website is matching her clear and minimalistic photography style.

Griffith Imaging

Griffith Imaging is specialising in lifestyle, commercial, product and real-estate photography. Their clients include US Weekly, Forever21 and People magazine.

Their photography website looks like a magazine. It is fresh, colorful and clean. It’s also easy to navigate between sections, and every image has a consistent style.

Liselotte Fleur

Liselotte Fleur is a portrait and fashion photographer. She works for designers, brands, stores and magazines. She creates editorial and campaign photography for her clients.

Fleur likes to tell a story about fashion and her models. Her photography website is clear and classy. You can click on her projects and see the photos showcased in a creative arrangement.

Pat Kay

Pat Kay is an award-winning freelance photographer based in Sydney, Australia. He has a passion for travel and adventure. His photographs explore the contrast between nature and urban.

He worked with clients like Nike, Adidas, Samsung and Toyota. His photography website is simple, and the white background highlight his beautiful travel images.

Chris Zielecki

Chris Zielecki is a photographer based in Hamburg, Germany. He creates nature, wedding and portrait photography. Many of his photos are moody and show the roughness of nature.

His website is designed as if we were going through his travel diaries. Once you click on the cover picture, you see a lot more photos from his specific adventures.

Lauren Naylor

Lauren Naylor is a photographer, creative director and cinematographer based in Los Angeles, USA.

Her photographs have moody undertones and dreamy landscapes. Lauren considers herself a visual creator with a strong emphasis on expressive storytelling.

Her clients include Prada, British Vogue and Levi’s. Her work is showcased in a creative grid.

Dory Younes

Dory Younes is a travel photographer and videographer born in Beirut, Lebanon. Her style evolved throughout the years, from creative conceptual work to more life-like photographs.

Her photography website is quite dynamic, and the pictures are changing from time to time. It even has an interactive chat pop-up in the right corner. It’s a great source of inspiration if you’re looking for something different.

Tayler Smith

Tayler Smith is a professional photographer based in New York City. She takes dog portraits, product, still life and beauty photographs. She worked with clients covering a wide range of industries.

Her photography website is colorful and fun to look at. There are always two pictures occupying the whole screen, showing off her vivid style.

Deanie Chen

Deanie Chen is a freelance photographer based in New York City. She has one of the most stylish photography websites in any genre. 

Her photos were published by People Magazine, Spotify and Billboard. On her photography website, she has a section dedicated to her 35mm work. She also takes live music and portrait photographs.

Her photographs are showcased in a simple yet effective grid layout.

Brandon Woelfel

Brandon Woelfel is a photographer based in New York. Many of his photos have surreal or dreamy effects. His website is quite informative and a great source of inspiration.

There is a useful section about the gear he uses and a Before/After section where you can check how he edited his photos.

Luke Bateman

Luke Bateman is a photographer and cinematographer from England. He specialises in brand and concert photography. His photography career started with a 35mm camera and evolved into digital photography.

Luke likes to capture the energy and emotions of a concert or a gig. His photography website showcases his work in a simple grid layout that allows the photos to pop out from the white background.

Danilo and Sharon

Danilo and Sharon are another power couple who shoot wedding and editorial photography. They claim to be “aesthetically and holistically conscious wedding photography artists“. They create images that aren’t traditional and that provoke convention.

Their photography style is influenced by Eastern European heritage and their background in fashion and advertising.

Danilo and Sharon are available for travel, and their wedding photographs are often inspired by the destinations.

Sean McCoy

Seam McCoy is a commercial and documentary photographer and filmmaker from the US. He worked with clients like Banana Republic, Henri Bendel and the New York Fashion Week.

His aim is to create a platform of expression and storytelling for voices underrepresented in the media. His photography website highlights how diverse his talent it. It has sections of editorial, event, portrait and travel photography.

Dolly Ave

Dolly Ave is an award-winning photographer and meditative musician. She worked with brands like Red Bull, Nike, Adidas and Converse.

Her photography website lets her pictures talk for themselves, without too many written words. When you check her portfolio, you see either a full-screen photograph or two pictures filling out the frame. Simple yet effective.

Alessandro Casagrande

Alessandro Casagrande is an Italian artist based in Los Angeles. He is also the founder and the editor in chief of BACCALA Magazine.

His photography website reminds us of the old times when we were looking at developed photographs. You can choose a photo from the collection, and it appears in the middle of the website.

As you click on the arrow, pictures keep appearing on top of each other. As if you were putting down physical photographs on each other.

James Tye

James Tye is a travel and lifestyle photographer based in London. He won several awards, and his clients include Berlitz, Sunday Times Travel and National Geographic Traveller.

We like how his photography website shows one big photograph at a time. In the right corner, you also have the option to look at the photos in a grid layout.

Mike Kelley

Mike Kelley is an architectural photographer based in Los Angeles. He received many awards and worked with brands like Tesla Motors, Herman Miller and BBC.

His website is clear, simple and puts his fantastic architecture photography in the spotlight.

Giles Clement

Giles Clement is a portrait artist and photographer based in New York. He is always looking for new partners and new faces to conquer new territories.

Giles has worked with clients like Red Bull, Vanity Fair and W Magazine. His website is like looking through a photostream, and you can spend a lot of time admiring his photographs.

Emilee McGovern

Emilee McGovern is a Florida-based photojournalist and editorial photographer. She found harmony between these two very different genres and uses them to express herself and the truth.

Her photography website is divided into photojournalism and editorial sections. You will notice in both sections that Emilee puts a great emphasis on connecting with her subjects.

Levon Biss

Levon Biss is a British photographer from London. During his career, he experimented in various photography genres. His background includes portraiture, documentary and sports photography.

One of his most famous series Microscuplture takes macro photography to the next level. He created unreal magnifications of tiny insects, combining art and science.

Bobby Bandz

Bobby Bandz is an award-winning wedding photographer and videographer located in Washington DC. He also shoots portrait, fashion and street photography. Bobby also captures travel and lifestyle photos.

His website is simple and easy to navigate. It lists the different genres, and you can look at individual photographs or smaller pictures in a grid layout.

Conclusion

We chose these photography websites for two reasons. Because they belong to talented photographers and because they have a creative layout or simple design.

These photography websites are great sources of inspiration. You can find new ideas and techniques. They also make you realise that many successful photographers experiment in various genres.

Moreover, they provide an overview of different website lookouts that you can choose for yourself.

There’s never been a more competitive time to build a photography following. Our Social Success Strategies eBook helps you do just that!

You might not be aware of the important role photojournalism plays in our lives. Whether you’re a TIME magazine subscriber or read your news online, you’ll see some of the finest examples of photojournalism. 

Photojournalists are brave, adventurous, and have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. They are also masters of their cameras, being able to capture stunning images in some of the most heated situations in the world. They cover war zones and conflicts, social issues, and politics, and they do it with skill, bravery, and empathy. 

Famous Photojournalists in 2024

Below, we’re showcasing the work of some of the finest contemporary photojournalists. All these artists are active today, covering all the hot topics from around the globe. 

Be warned, much of their work is not easy on the eye. With topics as extreme as war, civil disobedience, and destruction of habitat, you have to brace yourself for extreme, unfiltered imagery.

But that’s the key to great photojournalism: not turning away when the heat is on. 

Our list of famous photojournalists is arranged in no particular order, so you can browse their work to see the images that truly inspire you. Click the links to see the photographers’ websites and Instagram pages. 

Anastasia Taylor-Lind

Anastasia Taylor-Lind is an English-Swedish photojournalist with decades of experience. She has spent years photographing issues related to population, women, and war.

Her analog photos are intimate and raw. Despite their candid nature, they’re always emotive and well-lit. She writes powerful stories for The New York Times, TIME, and National Geographic.

One of Anastasia’s most recent projects, At what cost? The brutal math of caring for children in America, is a must-see for fans of photojournalism. 

Instagram: @anastasiatl

Gabriele Galimberti

Gabriele Galimberti is an Italian documentary photographer who works for National Geographic. He focuses on long-term photography projects. Most of his projects and short stories have been made into books.

Gabriele’s images are friendly and straightforward. He often photographs people and their prized possessions. His latest project features children from around the world and their toys.

Instagram: @gabrielegalimbertiphoto

Rena Effendi

Rena Effendi is an award-winning social documentary photographer. Her documentary photography has appeared in TIME, Vogue, and National Geographic.

In her photography, Rena focuses on stories that are either well-known or underrated. Her images feature notable women and wildlife conservation.

Some of her famous images follow people trying to reconnect with their families. Her entire gallery is hopeful, graceful, and authentic.

Instagram: @renaeffendiphoto

Gillian Laub

Gillian Laub is a New York-based photographer and director. She’s known for her documentary Southern Rites and her life-changing photo projects. In her documentary, she focuses on a Georgian community that has segregated proms.

Gillian also photographs women in the military, her own family, and isolated tribes from the world’s remaining wildernesses.

Instagram: @gigilaub

Matthieu Paley

Matthieu Paley is a National Geographic and TIME photographer based in Portugal. His latest project focuses on one of the hottest cities in the world, Jacobabad.

His gallery includes intimate portraits and majestic landscapes. His unique perspective makes his work both relatable and approachable.

Matthieu also leads National Geographic workshops. On his Instagram, you’ll find photos of families, third world countries, and people in need.

Instagram: @paleyphoto

Dina Litovsky

Dina Litovsky is a Ukrainian contemporary photographer living in America.

She uses elements of psychology and social change to take stunning photos of people. Her subjects range from famous celebrities to villagers.

Dina’s background living in a foreign country gives her photos an original style. She’s grown up as an outsider looking in, giving her a unique perspective that give her images a satirical edge. 

Instagram: @dina_litovsky

Stuart Palley

Stuart Palley is a writer, speaker, and photojournalist based in Southern California. He mainly photographs wildfires all over the US. He started by taking photos of droughts and ended up becoming a climate change activist.

Stuart has published a book featuring over one-hundred long exposure photos of wildfires.

This American photographer has also worked for National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, and TIME magazine.

Instagram: @stuartpalley

Nora Lorek

Nora Lorek is a German photojournalist and documentary photographer. She’s based in Gothenburg, Sweden, but her work documents peoples and issues from Western Europe to Sudan. 

A photographer with a focus on human rights, emigration, and other political issues, she doesn’t shy away from the big issues. Her images show the bleak reality of being a refugee. The humanity in her work helps the viewer understand the plight of the homeless and displaced. 

Instagram: @noralorek

Krisanne Johnson

Krisanne Johnson is an American photojournalist who takes documentary and fashion photos. Her personal projects focus on young women and HID/AIDS in Swaziland.

Most of Krisanne’s images are black & white. This emphasises the emotions and movements in her photographs. Every image is candid, filled with life, and perfectly timed.

This famous photojournalists work has been exhibited all over the world. Her images have appeared in publications like The New Yorker, TIME, and Vanity Fair (Italy).

Instagram: @kirsannejohnson

Marcus Yam

Marcus Yam is a Pulitzer Prize winner, photojournalist, and Los Angeles Times staff photographer. He left his career as an aerospace engineer to pursue photography and storytelling.

His short feature film, The Home Front, won an Emmy award.

Marcus’s Malaysian roots give him a fearless voice. His images focus on dangerous and heartbreaking events in the US and Hong Kong, among others.

Instagram: @yamphoto

Acacia Johnson

Acacia Johnson is an Alaskan writer, photographer, and expedition guide. She focuses on the relationship between people and nature in her work.

Acacia’s photos are visually stunning, showcasing the incredible landscapes and wildlife of the great northern regions.

In her gallery is a harmonious melting pot of people, landscapes, and animals. TIME, National Geographic, and others have featured her graceful yet breathtaking images.

The Anchorage Museum and the Smithsonian Museum of American History house her photography.

Instagram: @acacia.johnson

William Daniels

William Daniels is a French documentary photographer and National Geographic contributor. His photos focus on social issues in vulnerable communities.

William has photographed the effects of illnesses and disasters all around the world. No matter where or when he shoots, he never compromises the quality of his photos. All of his images are perfectly lit and composed.

He has been featured by TIME, Newsweek, and Le Monde, among others. He has won the World Press Photo awards, Pictures of the Year International awards, and a Visa d’Or.

Instagram: @williamdaniels

Daniella Zalcman

Daniella Zalcman is a Vietnamese-American documentary photographer and the founder of Women Photograph. This is an organization that seeks to support independent female photojournalists.

She’s the grantee of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the National Geographic Society.

Daniella focuses on themes like identity, homophobia, and cultural differences in her work. She gives all of her subjects, especially ones in minorities, a powerful voice.

Instagram: @dzalcman

Sebastiao Salgado

Sebastiao Salgado is has been one of the most influential photojournalist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. He’s worked in every continent on Earth, covering mine workers in Africa and rain forest destruction in central and south America. 

Salgado has had one of the loudest, most powerful voices in the movement against climate change and the destruction of our natural world. He was covering climate change long before it became trendy, providing some intense images that have stuck in the public consciousness.

He was a a member of Magnum, before starting his own photography agency. Salgado has been featured in all the top magazines and journals, but his work goes beyond photography. He’s been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2001. 

Instagram: @sebastiaosalgadooficial

Benjamin Lowy

Ben Lowy is an American photographer who made his name covering conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lybia. He produced some of the most striking and harrowing images from the US involvement in Iraq, but the life under fire took it’s toll on him. 

Lowy refers to himself as a “recovering conflict photographer” and now focuses on less violent subject matter. He covers US politics but mainly dedicates himself to ocean wildlife. 

His wildlife photography is breathtaking, and his portrait work is also impressive. But his best work remains the images of war. He’s a photojournalist who has genuinely earned his stripes. 

Instagram: @benlowy

Andrea Hernandez Briceño

A native of Venezuela, Andrea Hernandez grew up in a tumultuous environment. This tumult has become the main focus of her photography, but her work is far from chaotic. Her intimate understanding of the country, the people, and the politics gives her work warmth, empathy, and meaning. 

Hernandez is the co-founder of Ayun Fotografas, an all-woman collective uniting artists from across Latin America. Her work with Ojo Pelao, a charitable foundation, also brings photography to those who would not otherwise have access. 

Instagram: @andrernandez

Saiyna Bashir

Saiyna Bashir is a Pakistani photographer based in her native country. She’s covered assignments for international publication like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and National Geographic. Her work is also used by NGOs such as Unicef, WHO, and UNHCR. 

Vibrant and energetic yet sorrowful and empathetic, her work is an intimate document of a country she clearly cares deeply for. But she isn’t limited to Pakistan. She has also covered US politics and riots in America. 

Instagram: @saiynabashirphoto

Emanuele Satolli

Emanuele Satolli is one of the biggest names in contemporary war reportage. Covering conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine, he’s never been afraid to get to the heart of the action. 

Although his work has graced the pages of TIME magazine on several occasions, the images are not for the faint-hearted. Raw, real, and often harrowing, Satolli shows the reality of modern warfare, especially amongst civilians and non-conscripted combatants. 

Instagram: @Emanuelesatolli

Ruddy Roye

Radcliffe “Ruddy” Roy is a Jamaican photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. He’s a photojournalist and documentary photographer who combines candid images and environmental portraits to show the people, atmosphere, and culture of grass-roots movements. 

Civil rights and grass-roots politics are threads that run through his photography, as he captures the lives of black Americans on the front line. He hasn’t forgotten his own roots, and much of his work explores culture in his native Jamaica. 

Instagram: @ruddyroye

Nina Riggio

It’s hard to say if Nina Riggio is an adventurer first and photographer second or the other way around. Either way, both feed into each other, and her adventurous spirit is clear in her work. 

The relationship between humans and nature is at the heart of her photojournalism. And her focus is usually on the areas of conflict within that relationship. The narratives explore sustainability, wildlife destruction, and corporate overstep. 

Her work has been published in publications as wide-reaching as National Geographic, TIME, and Wired magazine. 

Instagram: @ninareeg

Conclusion

These famous photojournalists have given us some of the most breathtaking, harrowing, and inspiring images of the last decade or more. From war zones to remote wildernesses, they venture far and wide to capture the true essence of a story. 

We hope the work of these incredible photojournalists inspires you. Now it’s time to grab your camera, head out the door, and find the interesting stories near you. 

Good street photographers can see through the chaos to find the scene within the scene. Bringing details into focus, they find meaning and beauty in a busy, random world. 

If you are looking for street photography inspiration, you’ll love this list of the best contemporary street photographers. This is not necessarily a list of the most famous street photographers of all time, but they are some of the most influential artists working today. 

What Makes the Best Street Photography?

Street photography is a genre where the photographer takes pictures in public places. It’s often without people noticing that they are being photographed, and the majority of street images are candid rather than poses or set up.

You don’t necessarily have to include people in your images. Playing with colours, shadows, lights, buildings, and abstract shapes can also make great street photographs.

Street photographers have to always be aware of their surroundings. They train their eyes to see the unusual in the usual, the brilliant in the banal.

Some street photographers interact with the people around them. They might ask specific individuals if they can take their portrait. Or they might be confronted by a suspicious bystander. But generally, street photographers blend into their surrounding, avoid attention as best they can. 

Who Are The Most Influential Street Photographers?

Let’s take a look at the work of 27 of our favourite contemporary street photographers. If you like the image examples in this article, click the links to see their websites or Instagram pages. 

Joel Meyerowitz

Joel Meyerowitz is a true legend. He is an American street photographer who has already published over 30 books, and he’s planning more. His work has appeared in more than 350 exhibitions around the world and he has won several prestigious awards.

He lives in the USA and Italy, which brings great versatility to his photo series. His work is timeless, and it’s surprising how he manages to capture casual scenes to appear unique.  He also manages to find a voice with the newer generations which is partly due to his amazing personality.

Instagram: @joel_meyerowitz

Brandon Stanton

Brandon Stanton became world-famous due to his project, called Humans Of New York. He was planning to make a catalogue of New York’s inhabitants so they started taking portraits on the streets. The project took off and now millions are following it on social media.

He doesn’t only take portraits of people on the streets, but he also writes their stories next to them after asking simple questions. His work is worth to follow. He can open people’s mind in a beautiful way and he makes us more open to the people around us.

Instagram: @humansofny

Phil Penman

Phil Penman was born in the UK but raised in New York. He’s been documenting the ever-changing life of the city for more than 25 years. Besides being a street photographer, he photographed celebrities. Also, he followed historical events like 9/11.

He has won several awards and he had several exhibitions and he is named among the 52 Most Influential Street Photographers. If it weren’t enough, he is also a published author at MOMA.

Instagram: @philpenman

Zun Lee

Zun Lee is a self-taught German photographer (and physician) who currently lives in Canada. He started Father Figure, his first famous project in 2011. His work is not strictly street photography, more like documentary photography, and he is a master of visual storytelling.

He observes and introduces the everyday life of Black communities. His images show intimacy, struggles and joy and other fundamental feelings and aspects of life.

Instagram: @zunleephoto

Todd Gross

Tood Gross is a New Yorker with a rye, cynical eye. He perfectly shapes the sights, figures, shapes, and oddities of the city he’s called his home his entire life. 

His street photography bright, sharp, and inherently eye-catching. It’s clear he has an innate understanding of the city and how it flows. There’s an underlying humour, but also an appreciation. He loves New York, the people, and all its idiosyncrasies.

Instagram: @todd_gross 

Joshua K. Jackson

The London-based Joshua K. Jackson is a street photographer, whose work focuses on the connection people have with their surroundings. He can perfectly capture small interactions between people as well.

He uses colour and lights to enhance the atmosphere an everyday scene can have. A lot of his images are shot at night when people are going home, sitting in bars or talking with each other. His perfectly composed images express love, loneliness and intimacy.

Instagram: @joshkjack

Girma Berta

Girma Berta is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is a self-taught street photographer who composes his images in a really unique way, creating contrast using strong and harsh colours.

His work guides the viewer through the everyday life of African people not in a documentary, but more like in a fine art style. His work has been featured in different publications, and exhibitions internationally and received several awards.

Instagram: @gboxcreative

Michael McIlvaney

Michael McIlvaney, a UK-based photographer, shows harmony and also contrasts between different subjects of the streets. He is a street photographer, who adores taking images where people are interacting with the structure of their surroundings.

He aims for candid shots. He waits, then captures the decisive moment professionally. His work consists of both digital and analog shots, and he received the LensCulture Street Photography Awards 2020.

Instagram: @mikemcstreet

Haluk Safi

The Turkish street photographer, Haluk Safi‘s motto is “Looking for improvisation music on the streets.” and his work reflects this.

He captures unlikely scenes, in an almost surreal way. He notices the appulse of different people and subjects, and he composes his images in a way where everything seems to be connected to everything.

Instagram: @haluksafi

Monaris | Paola M Franqui

Paola Franqui, who is also known as Monaris, was born in Puerto Rico and now is living in the USA. Being a curious soul, she loves capturing people while thinking about what might they go through and what their lives can be like.

Her images show people doing their usual routine, going to work or using public transport or even document protests. Her subjects seem lonely and silent, although they are usually at really crowded and noisy places.

Instagram: @monaris_

Mike Chudley

Mike Chudley is a British photographer with a strong eye for composition, capturing knock-out images wherever he goes. Bright, bold colors play a big part in his street photography, setting him apart from more traditional street photographer who like black and white. 

Mike likes to mix things up, shooting in both digital and film. Either way, he has a knack for capturing dynamic shots. He’s also a photography vlogger, so you can catch a glimpse into his process on his YouTube channel.

Instagram: @mikechudley

Michelle Rick

Michelle Rick is a native New Yorker. Her images have been exhibited and featured in renowned places and magazines. Also, she is a member of the NYC Street Photography Collective.

Her work carries a documentary character, and she is a master of catching moments where the subjects in her frame interact in exciting ways. This is what makes her a great visual storyteller.

Instagram: @villagegirl

Dimpy Bhalotia

Dimpy Bhalotia is a fine art street photographer, who completed her studies in Bombay and now is based in London. She won a lot of different awards globally and different magazines and exhibitions have featured her work.

She was even named as the Best Street Photographer of 2019. She plays professionally with shadows, silhouettes and shapes in her black and white images. She also seems to never miss the decisive moment.

Instagram: @dimpy.bhalotia

Marcin Ryczek

Marcin Ryczek is a Polish photographer, who is most known for his minimalist and symbolic style. He uses geometry to create contrast and patterns in his images. His work has been presented in several countries, and he received numerous awards internationally.

Huffington Post has named his photo, “A man feeding swans in the snow” one of the best 5 in the world in 2013. That same image is on the cover of the “100 Great Street Photographs” book by David Gibson.

Instagram: @marcinryczek_photography

Navin Kumar Vatsa

Navin Vatsa is a photographer from India with a breathtaking style. Photography is more than a hobby or profession for him, “Photography is my meditation, my stress buster.”.

This is visible in his images, and we can feel it too by looking at them. His images are street, travel and documentary photos, all connected by an incredible atmosphere. No wonder he has been awarded and recognised internationally.

Instagram: @navinvatsa

Efi Longinou

Efi Longinou is a Berlin-based actress from Greece, who started photographing in her home country. It started as an artistic expression but soon became her passion.

Her work has been featured several times in the media, and she participated in group exhibitions. She is a member of Burn My Eye and interCollective. She considers the streets as a stage, and she always seems to be prepared to perfectly capture what she observes.

Instagram: @efi_o

Alan Schaller

Allan Schaller is a master of black and white photography. He lives in London and his images are characterised by geometry, contrast, shadows, lights, a bit of surrealism, and humans.

His work has been featured in a lot of famous magazines, and he co-founded the Street Photography International Collective (SPi), the largest dedicated street photography resource. Besides being a photographer, he is a musician and he also wrote articles on humanitarian issues.

Instagram: @alan_schaller

Peter Turnley

Peter Turnley is an award-winning and internationally exhibited American photojournalist and street photographer who is well known for documenting historical events.

He has beautiful street photographs and photo essays, my favourite is “French Kiss – A Love Letter to Paris“. All his images reflect how openly he observes the world. He is not only documenting huge events, but he pays attention to the small momentums as well.

Instagram: @peterturnley

David Turnley

The names are not a coincidence, David Turnley and Peter are twins. David is a photojournalist and street photographer too.

He won the Pulitzer Prize, two World Press Photos of the Year and the Robert Capa Award for Courage. He is shooting almost solely in black and white. He is sensitive to his surroundings, and always spots the small gestures as well as the dramatic ones.

Instagram: @davidturnley

Charalampos Kydonakis

Charalampos Kydonakis or Dirty Harrry is a Greek photographer and architect, living in Crete. He has a unique, sometimes shocking style and he shows the world in a way what makes you question what is real.

He is a member of iN-PUBLiC, a street photography collective and his work has been featured in several books and publications.

Instagram: @dirtyharrrry

Angelo Ferrillo

Angelo Ferrilo is a photographer from Italy. He joined AFIP International (Associazione Internazionale Fotografi Professionisti / International Association of Professional Photographers) in 2014.

He is not only a great photographer who has amazing street photos, but he also teaches photography. His images are mainly everyday scenes, captured in different public places in a way he shows connections between his subjects in his frame.

Instagram: @pherrillo

Melissa O’Shaughnessy

Melissa O’Shaughnessy is an American photographer with a degree in journalism. She is based in New York, and her work has been featured in various publications and exhibitions.

She is a member of UP Photographers, and she got her book, Perfect Strangers: New York City Street Photographs published in 2020. Her images show the everyday life of New Yorkers, and she definitely has the eye for finding uniqueness in the most usual scenes.

Instagram: @melissaoshaughnessy

Steven John Irby

Steven John Irby (or Steve Sweatpants) is a New York-based self-taught street photographer. He is a co-founder and director of Street Dreams Magazine which features upcoming photographers.

Most of his work shows the streets of New York, and he also takes documentary images. One of his latest works, in which he documented the BLM movement was even featured places like the New Yorker.

Instagram: @stevesweatpants

Jasper Tejano

Jasper Tejano started with trying out different genres of photography. He needed time to find himself in street photography and how fortunate he did. His work has been recognised internationally and his images appeared both in print and online, several places around the world.

He started approaching this genre from the documentary side, but now his images are more subjective, they sometimes seem almost surreal. He plays with shadow and reflections, and he always manages to capture something interesting, even in the most casual venues.

Instagram: @jaspertejano

Donato Di Camillo

Donato Di Camillo is a self-taught photographer, who was born in New York, from Italian parents. Photography started to interest him while he was in prison in Virginia, and he eventually started photographing while he was on home confinement.

He started with capturing everything he had access to at home. Now his work consists mostly of portraits of different characters. He has a great eye for spotting the interesting moments and people around him.

Instagram: @donato_ducamillo

Clarissa Bonet

Clarissa Bonet is a Chicago-based artist, who aims to explore urban spaces. Her work has been published in several famous magazines such as The Guardian or The Wall Street Journal. Also, her work is in the collections, for example, the Museum of Contemporary Photography.

Her work is diverse. She has street and urban photographs and also amazing editorial images. Geometry and colours dominate her street photographs and she visualises the connection between people and their surroundings, by placing them in frames, made by buildings.

Instagram: @clarissabonet

Rui Palha

Rui Palha is a street and humanist photographer from Portugal. He is based in Lisbon and he has devoted a lot of time to street photography for the last 20 years. He has had more than 20 individual exhibitions and his work was exhibited in several collectives.

His almost dream-like street photographs, mostly shot in black and white, got him several well-deserved awards and publications. 

Instagram: @rui_palha

Conclusion

It’s always a good idea to seek some inspiration from other artists work. Writing this article made me want to go out and capture everything around me, and hopefully, you’ll feel the same.

Do you agree with our list? Drop us a comment with your favourite street photographers under this post!

This article looks at all the best social media for photographers, examining all the most popular apps to help you find the one that works before with your business strategies. Keep reading to find all the best social media apps for photographers. 

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11 Best Social Media for Photographers

Here are the top 11 social media sites we recommend for photographers. You can showcase your talent, connect with like-minded individuals, and reach a wider audience.

1. Instagram

Brand	Brand Meta
Number of Users	Number of Users 2.4 Billion
Key Features	Key Features Hashtag categorization, wide user-base, multiple image posting, post stories and reels
Best	Best For any photographer or artist looking for more exposure and inspiration

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Instagram

Instagram

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Instagram was among the first to allow photo-sharing exclusively on phones. And today, it remains among the most popular social media sites globally. 

The sleek yet simple interface is one of the main reasons for its popularity. Everything is well presented, which makes people work look even better.

Photographers do have a problem with the square display boxes because most photographs are either landscape or portrait, no square. This means it will crop the images slightly unless you place them on a white square background. 

Instagram is the best social media platform if you want exposure. With 2.4 billion users, there’s a lot of potential to generate a solid followership and find inspiration from other Instagram photographers.  

Using hashtags (#) is a good way to get your work seen by the right people. All 2.4 billion people won’t be interested in you work, so you need to use hashtags so like-minded people will find your images. 

Another problem with the app having so many users is that there’s plenty of competition. There are a lot of photographers, and they all want more followers, more likes, and more eyes on their work. There’s no denying it’s becoming an over-saturated marketplace. 

That’s not the only problem with Instagram. In an effort to compete with TikTok, Instagram now favors video content. Still images are getting less and less engagement, so users are having to do more stories and reels to maintain their viewership. That’s not ideal for photographers. 

The app also has a serious bot problem. There are what-seems-like millions of fake accounts being created all the time. They try to entice you with saucy images of young women and comment irrelevant stuff on your posts. It’s a plague, and Instagram seems to be doing nothing about it. 

2. Plates

Brand	Brand Plates
Number of Users	Number of Users +300k
Key Features	Key Features Landscape viewing mode, Hashtag features, No algorithm recommendations
Best	Best Photography dedicated social media platform

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Plates

Plates

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Plates is a social media app specifically designed for photographers. Instagram is plagued with adverts, influencers, and unannounced algorithm changes. But Plates offers a new, clean space for photographers to display their work.

The Plates team has created a positive online environment where all photographers can share their work and look for new inspiration. You can categorize your work using labels and tags. And you can even create themed catalogs, displaying your best shots of different genres.

This labeling and categorization system makes finding fantastic photos from other photographers easy. You simply search for the types of photography you want to see, and the app shows you all the best examples.

Customizing your feed allows you to control what you see. If you want more examples of wildlife photography, you can save that recommendation. If you don’t want landscapes in your feed, it’s another one-click operation.

It’s also a chronological feed. There’s no dodgy algorithm dictating what you see and suggesting off-topic accounts and products. 

Being part of a healthy, positive, and enthusiastic community is an under-appreciated part of photographer development. And that’s exactly the community Plates has created.

You aren’t competing for attention in the same way as Instagram. And people who want to find your kind of photography will find it.

Of course, there are far fewer users on Plates compared to Instagram, so the potential for exposure isn’t the same. But Plates is becoming the hottest social media platform for photographers and photography fans.

3. Behance

Brand	Brand Adobe
Number of Users	Number of Users +50 Million
Key Features	Key Features Professional portfolios and image displays, human-curated galleries, private messaging with clients and other users
Best	Best Social media for multi-media creators

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Behance

Behance

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This Adobe-owned platform is one of the best photography networking sites available today.

In essence, Behance is an online portfolio site and app that lets you post some of your best works. It isn’t a dedicated photography app. Instead, it host artists of every ilk. 

What makes it different is that it also allows other users to share and interact with your content. After you post your work on your site, other users and potential clients can see and comment on it.

You can also use the work of other users for inspiration, building moodboards from your favorite picks. An internal private message system also allows you to connect with other creatives on the app. 

Behance functions like Linkedin for creatives. The only difference is that it focuses more on graphic design and photography.

Like other social media sites, Behance lets people like and comment on your work. But it mostly acts as a portfolio where you can show your work to your colleagues and the general public.

You not only get generic comments. You’ll also see a lot of technical critiques from professionals, which can help immensely in your growth. There is a free seven-day trial with Adobe’s Photography Plan.

4. Exposure

Brand	Brand Exposure
Number of Users	Number of Users +1 Million
Key Features	Key Features Blog building tools, clean and professional design, embed photos and videos, personal domain name
Best	Best Photographers who also write

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Exposure

Exposure

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Want a platform that lets you tell stories behind your photography? Exposure is one of the best platforms for photographers to mix photos with text.

Reading stories on Exposure almost feels like browsing through an online magazine. The pictures are big, and the fonts are easy on the eyes.

The layout doesn’t only look clean. It also appears professional. So if the amount of Instagram space for captions isn’t satisfying, get on Exposure to tell the longer version of your story.

The free version of Exposure lets you post up to three stories. But to unlock the rest of the features, you must choose a monthly or yearly subscription. It also offers extra perks for businesses that include customizable templates and fonts.

Whether you’re a travel photographer or photojournalist, Exposure is the perfect social media for combing photography and the written word. 

5. Flickr

Brand	Brand Flickr
Number of Users	Number of Users 60 million
Key Features	Key Features High-level online storage
Best	Best For storing and displaying images online

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Flickr

Flickr

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Flickr was already around before “social media” became a buzzword. You may think that Flickr is so 2004. But it’s still the best place to store all your photos online.

Sure, Instagram may get you all the fun social media interaction. But you can’t use it to keep your high-resolution files safe and, at the same time, let people enjoy your photos.

Flickr has changed a lot over the years. Its free version now has a limit of 1,000 photos. But you can still use all its features without signing up for a pro account. 

The best part? You can even store high-resolution photos (up to 200 MB) without paying any fees. You can’t say the same with Instagram. And Flickr’s Pro account offers unlimited storage and a 6K display option.

It won’t get you the same exposure as Instagram and it isn’t as slick and modern as Plates. But it’s still a great place to show off your work and find inspiration from other photographers. 

6. Facebook

Brand	Brand Meta
Number of Users	Number of Users 2.9 billion
Key Features	Key Features Create professional pages and groups, commenting on images and posts
Best	Best social media platform for people over 35

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Facebook

Facebook

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You may not associate this popular social media platform with photography. But having a professional Facebook page is still beneficial to building your business, especially if you want to connect with people over 35 years old.

Facebook was the hottest platform among teens and young people. But while the younger generations have move to other platforms, older users still love Facebook.

One of the best things about older users is that they interact more with the things they like. They write comments and have conversations with other users about the things they like. This is a great way to get feedback on your work. And it improves the word-of-mouth promotion of your business. 

It also means interactions are more likely to lead to more work and paid gigs. If an older Facebook user is looking for a photographer in their area, they are probably looking with the intent of hiring someone. 

Take the time to create your Facebook photography page and update it regularly. Facebook is one of the most accessible platforms, so you need to take advantage of it. 

After all, promoting your photography through Facebook ads can be beneficial. Apart from its reach, it also lets you target specific demographics most likely to hire you.

7. YouPic

Brand	Brand YouPic
Number of Users	Number of Users 3.7 million
Key Features	Key Features Free and paid versions, thematic catalogs, contributor leaderboard, images include EXIF data
Best	Best Paid pro plans

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YouPic

YouPic

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If you want a social media platform with high-quality content, YouPic is perfect for you. But don’t just take our word for it.

This app’s tagline is “Find your home among the world’s best photographers.” And it has photography icons such as Joel Meyerowitz and Steve McCurry to back it up.

YouPic is not only a social media platform for photographers. It also has a lot of regular social media aspects to it. Other people can share and interact with your work, like you can with theirs. 

What distinguishes it from regular websites is that it caters more to professionals than to amateurs. It is a conduit for exchanging ideas with fellow photographers and future clients.

It’s full of nuggets. Even the photos themselves include technical information such as EXIF data and geotags.

There are three sign-up options with a limited free version. The most affordable paid plan is Premium for $9.99 monthly. Or there’s a Pro account for $29.99. It may not be the cheapest app you can buy. But the perks you get from it make it worthwhile.

Apart from sharing photos, it gives you access to tutorials from the best in the business. You can also earn from the app by selling your work or services by opening a shop.

8. Vero Social

Brand	Brand Vero
Number of Users	Number of Users 6 million
Key Features	Key Features HD image display, no image compression
Best	Best Multimedia platform

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Vero Social

Vero

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Launched in 2015, this social media platform’s mission was to beat Facebook and Instagram at their own game. Vero may not be exclusive to photographers per se. But its user interface is quite refreshing.

But what makes Vero Social perfect for photographers? It displays your photos in HD (high definition). And it doesn’t compress photos like Instagram or Facebook. So people can see the real beauty of your work. It also has a clean feed that lets you look at full-screen images.

But the best reason to try Vero Social is that it’s for everyone. Vero Social not only caters to social media photographers. It also serves music lovers, movie lovers, or anyone tired of traditional social media platforms.

People with different interests will get to enjoy your work as well. And when non-photographers also get to see your work, there’s a chance some of them may hire you.

So as you get more exposure, your chances of succeeding in your business improve. After all, you won’t get any clients if you focus only on social media platforms exclusive to photographers.

9. Pinterest

Brand	Brand Pinterest
Number of Users	Number of Users 518 million
Key Features	Key Features Advanced backlinking,
Best	Best platform for syncing with your photography website

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Pinterest

Pinterest

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Want to boost your photography business? Then sign up on Pinterest and start posting your work on this popular social media site. It may not look as exciting as other social media for photographers, but it serves a real purpose for professionals.

Unlike other social media sites, Pinterest doesn’t focus on how many likes you get. Instead, it showcases photographers to potential clients through backlinks.

When you post your photos on the platform, you lead other users to your website and discover your services. And it’s also a great way to find inspiration and glimpse the newest trends in the industry.

Many people looking for wedding and event photographers use this site to look for the best services. So don’t miss out! Post work that will connect potential clients to you.

10. Tumblr

Brand	Brand Automattic
Number of Users	Number of Users 520 million users
Key Features	Key Features One-click re-blogging, thematic image tagging
Best	Best For photography bloggers

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Tumblr

Tumblr

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This microblogging site was the first to show the real power of photos in the age of social media. Tumblr lets photographers share content people can re-blog with a single click.

Tumblr photography feels much more youthful and experimental than the other social media sites for photographers. Because of this, it appeals to a lot of budding enthusiasts and young photographers trying to make a name for themselves.

Not to mention that many people find out about your work through this platform. That’s why it has served as one of the best free social media sites for photographers for years.

Tumblr may be over 15 years old, but it remains popular among younger demographics and older millennials. To this day, it still features many fantastic photography gems you won’t find anywhere else. And Tumblr is one of the best platforms for creating your first free portfolio.

11. Lomography Community

Brand	Brand Lomography
Number of Users	Number of Users +200k
Key Features	Key Features Dedicated film photography platform, search by film stocks, positive, non-competitive community
Best	Best Social media for film photography enthusiasts

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Lomography Community

Lomography

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Lomography is a style of analog photography, a film brand, a magazine, and an online community of film photography lovers. And the Lomography Community is the best social media for film photographers. 

It’s completely free to join the community. There are no ads or distracting suggested posts. You can browse the gallery at your leisure. 

You can use tags to help attract viewers. And you can create albums based on themes, styles, or different films or cameras you use. 

It’s a great resource if you’re curious about different film stocks. You can search by film stock and see dozens of fabulous examples of that film. And it’s not just Lomography rolls. You can search for any film stock, including out-of-issue films. 

The community admins post a photo of the day. It’s a special feeling if your work gets selected, and it also brings more eyes to your photography, which is always a bonus.

It also shows the admins are engaged with their users, making you feel like you are part of an active, appreciative community. This social media for photographers isn’t a capitalist hellhole run by robots like Instagram. 

Conclusion: Best Social Media for Photographers

Whether you like it or not, social media for photographers is crucial. But don’t limit yourself to only one platform. You’ll increase your reach if you sign up for a few more and showcase your work.

Each platform offers different services. So choose the best options that work for you. And don’t forget to update your content regularly. It may seem like a lot of work initially. But it will pay off in the long run.

Are you eager to learn how to take your social media to the next level? Why not check out our Social Success Strategies eBook?

When it comes to portrait photography, capturing the beauty and essence of women is an art form. It combines creativity and technique. So we delve into various female poses that celebrate the natural grace of the subjects.

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• Master professional portrait photography
• Learn how to make a living shooting portraits
• Add new dimensions to your portraits with advanced lighting techniques

38 Best Female Poses for Portrait Photography

Here are 38 of our best female poses and photography tips to teach you how to pose models effectively.

We’ve split the list up into three sections, looking separately at standing, sitting, and lying down poses. This will give you a huge amount of variety, so you can pose female models of all types in any situation.

You can also read our post on how to pose fashion models for more ideas! We also have flattering bikini poses and saucy boudoir poses if you’re looking for something a bit different 

Standing Female Poses

This section looks at the best standing poses for female portraits. The great thing about standing poses is that you don’t need any props or extra equipment. You can do nearly all of them in any location, whether inside or outside. 

1. Hands in the Air

Create a dynamic and captivating portrait by having your model raise her hands. She can close her eyes, clasp one wrist, or gaze skyward for added touches.

This pose can also transform into a slow dance or be used in a seated position, offering versatility in expression. And you can capture the moment against natural light for a dreamy effect.

2. Flip Hair

Channel simplicity and movement with the timeless hair flip. Have your model close her eyes and avoid any awkward facial expressions. This is a very common female pose. But it’s still something you can include in a few of your photoshoots.

You can play around with shutter speeds. Use a fast shutter speed to capture sharp portraits. Or use a slower shutter speed for a more abstract shot with blur. Embrace the fluidity of the motion.

3. Lean on a Wall

Embrace a casual vibe by positioning your model against a wall. Encourage her to lean her head against it. She can stand straight or arch her back a little.

But this must be subtle so the pose looks as natural as possible. Sunglasses or other accessories can be added to this laid-back pose for a distinctive touch.

4. Look Over the Shoulder

Harness confidence and empowerment with this very common female pose in portrait photography. She can stand or be seated as she looks over her shoulder.

This classic pose exudes a feeling of strength and superiority. It’s adaptable to various locations and lighting setups.

5. One Hand on Hip

Have your model place one hand confidently on her hip. The other hand can hold an accessory or rest on her leg. This is one of the most empowering female poses out there. It accentuates her form and radiates cool confidence.

6. Hands in Pockets

Embrace casual chic with this casual standing pose. Encourage your model to slip her hands into her pockets for an effortlessly stylish look.

It’s perfect for lifestyle photography. This pose adds character to the shot and prevents your subject from standing awkwardly in front of the camera.

7. Squat Pose (Baddie Squat)

You may have seen this pose on social media. The “baddie squat” is a hit on platforms like Instagram, loved by celebrities like Kylie Jenner.

To nail this pose, have your model squat while leaning on one leg and extending the other. This creates a balanced stance. It accentuates her figure and gives the portrait a trendy, edgy vibe. Modify it to a simple, powerful squat pose if she struggles with the extended leg.

8. The Cosy Pose

For autumn and winter shoots, consider a “cozy embrace.” In this pose, your model crosses her arms as if giving herself a warm hug. Encourage her to close her eyes slightly and lift her head to achieve a relaxed and inviting look.

But it’s not limited to just those seasons. It can also work as an expression of self-acceptance.

9. Hands in Hair

Mastered by models and beginners alike, this pose radiates confidence. Instruct your model to place both hands in her hair with a subtle chin lift for added self-assuredness.

This versatile pose flatters all body types. You can use it in photoshoots with beginners. And it works wonders in building a model’s portfolio.

10. Stretch a Hand Out

This is a great female pose for creative portrait photography. This is an easy way to make your photos stand out without much fuss. It’s also a very easy pose for all kinds of models.

All your model has to do is stretch her arm out toward your lens. She can hold something, like a cup, as she does this or make a gesture. Use a wide aperture and focus on the model’s face. This will keep her in focus but artfully blur her hand and background.

11. One Leg in Front of the Other

This popular standing pose accentuates outlines. And it adds a touch of elegance to any female model’s stance.

Ask your model to put one leg in front of the other. She can lean on her back leg and raise her front leg a little bit. Or she can put both hands on her hips for a power pose.

12. Hands on the Cheeks

This is a great female pose for captivating portrait photography close-ups. It highlights symmetry and draws attention to the model’s facial features.

Ask your model to place her hands on her cheeks. Encourage a gentle touch to avoid any undue pressure on the face. This helps avoid unflattering marks from appearing.

13. Hands By the Mouth

This is a subtle variation of the previous pose. It exudes contemplation and allure.

In this pose, your model should gently place one or both hands near her mouth. She can touch her lips with her fingers, rest her chin on her hand, or bite her nails.

There are many possibilities for an interesting headshot. She can also tilt her head and slightly open her mouth. This female pose is great for emphasizing hands, nails, and lips.

14. Take a Few Steps Forward

Having your model walk toward the camera is another common pose in lifestyle portrait photography. Focus on your model and make sure you lock focus. Then ask her to move a few steps forward. And move with her so all of your photos remain sharp.

She can either look at you straight ahead or off to the side. This dynamic approach adds energy and spontaneity to your images. It helps capture her character in motion.

15. Lean Back

Instruct your model to stand sideways to the camera and subtly lean back. She shouldn’t lean on anything. This is a versatile pose that you can combine with other portrait poses. It creates an elegant silhouette that celebrates her form.

16. Hands Behind the Neck

This is a great pose for elegant female photos. As your model gazes at the camera, have her delicately hold her neck with one or both hands.

The result is an alluring and elegant portrait that captures her poise. If you take a close-up photo, try to shoot at eye level to avoid making your model’s face look too large.

17. Hide Behind a Scarf

You can use this to pose and accentuate the color of your model’s eyes or makeup. All she needs to do is playfully hide behind a scarf or colorful fabric. Ideally, it should complement her skin tone and eye color.

Use a zoom or long portrait lens for a comfortable distance. This will help her feel more comfortable experimenting with different expressions. It also helps with creative framing.

18. Sideways Profile

Have your model stand or sit in profile, with her gaze fixed forward. It’s an excellent way to get a close-up side profile shot. But it is can also a good opportunity to get a striking portrait pose for environmental portraits.

Try shooting from a distance to capture the model and her surroundings simultaneously. This composition can add an atmospheric touch to your portraits and create an intriguing narrative.

19. Pull Hair From Both Sides

You’ll love this tip. It adds a touch of playfulness to a female model pose! It works best if your model has medium-length or long hair.

Ask your model to pull her hair from both sides. This infuses energy into the frame. Then experiment with different expressions to capture her dynamic personality.

20. Legs Apart

Standing up straight with the legs apart is a power pose that’s great for female portraits. It strongly implies the sense of stability and self-assuredness. It also casts a big shape, filling the frame for a more dominant portrait. 

It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s confident. You have to use this female pose if you want your women to look powerful and in control. 

Sitting Female Poses

Having a big collection of sitting poses, you can help your model stay relaxed. They might feel less awkward than when stood up. And it allows you to use their body in different ways and create new shapes. 

You can also have powerful sitting poses for women at promote confidence and intensity. 

21. Hands On Cheek, Looking Up

Include this pose in your photoshoot for a tranquil note. Have your model rest her cheek in her hand, her elbow propped on a surface, and her gaze toward the heavens.

This relaxed pose creates a sparkle in her eyes and ensures even lighting on her face. The result is a well-lit, ethereal portrait.

22. Head on a Soft Surface

This is a relaxed photography pose perfect for any model. It can capture the essence of comfort or other emotions.

Have your model sit on or by a comfortable surface. This can be a couch, armchair, or bed. She can rest her head on the couch or a pillow. And she can look into the distance or directly at the camera.

Experiment with shooting angles to convey different emotions. Shoot at eye level for familiarity or a higher angle for a touch of vulnerability.

23. Legs Folded to the Body

Evoke elegance and grace by having your model curl up on a comfortable surface. It’s also an effective female pose for studio portrait photography.

Have your model draw her knees to her chest and rest her head gently on her knees. Then have her place her hands delicately on her feet. Or she can hug her knees. You can have her play with different variations of this.

This pose is particularly captivating for dancers. And it lends itself to creative and conceptual photography. Variations can include legs curled to the side or resting her head on her knees in a sitting pose.

24. Elbows on a Table

Display casual simplicity with this pose. It combines a basic pose and storytelling for a minimalistic lifestyle portrait.

Position your model at a table with elbows resting comfortably on its surface. Then have her tilt her head for a relaxed, engaging expression.

Props like books, drinks, or fruit can be added to enhance the narrative within the frame.

25. Sitting With Toes Pointed

Take a few photos of your model sitting on a chair with toes pointed out. Again, there are several variations and ways to interpret this. She can point her toes out and bend her legs to create a flattering curve in her body.

And she can turn away from the camera to create a sense of mystery. Or it can be a more direct portrait with her looking forward.

26. Side Resting Pose

Encourage your model to lie on her side. She can rest her head on her arm or something comfortable. Or ask her to gaze directly at the camera.

This candid pose exudes an air of relaxation and confidence. This makes it perfect for capturing casual expressions.

27. Crossed Legs While Sitting

You can try this at any point in your photo session as an icebreaker. It’s a simple pose that can make your portrait photos look striking.

Have the female model swing one leg over the other. And then, she can try different poses with her hands. She can put them gently in front. Or she can even put an elbow on the bent knee and gently rest her chin on her hand for a charming look.

28. Reversed Chair

Using a chair backwards is a classic technique for female portraits. By forcing the woman to open her legs, it’s immediately provocative and confident. The model can also straighten one or both legs to create strong, dynamic shapes. 

They can also lean on the back of the chair, allowing them to bring their hands to their face in a natural way.  

29. Legs Apart

You don’t need a backwards chair for a legs-spread pose. You can also sit wit the legs apart when using a normal chair.

This type of pose won’t be for all women, but it’s a great technique if you want a woman to look confident. Of course, it’s sexually suggestive. But confident women are in control of their sexuality. 

30. Lean Forward

This is a less provocative pose that still inspires confidence. Any type of chair will do, so it will become a go-to pose in any shooting location.

The model can have their legs open or closed. You can achieve a deeper lean when the legs are open, but you can position the hands in between to make it less suggestive. This is a good option for less confident women looking for a powerful sitting pose. 

31. Side to Front

By sitting side-to-front, the model creates an interesting shape. It’s slightly disconcerting at first, but it also implies confidence. It tells the viewer that this person in unconventional and does things her own way. 

As with other chair shots, the model can use the chair’s back as a surface to rest their arms. They can bring their hands to their face or lean them on the chair. 

32. Arms to One Side

Draping the arms to one wide creates a casual yet confident look. They should cross their legs or have them lean in one direction while having their arms casually placed in the other. It helps if they have something shoulder-height they can lean one of their arms on. 

Lying Down Female Poses

Lying down poses can be anything from casual to sexy. You can really bring out the elegant shapes of a woman’s body when they’re lying down. And you can play with different camera perspectives to achieve different types of portraits. 

33. Lie on Stomach

This is an easy female pose for indoor portrait photography. Have your model lie on a clean surface like a wooden floor or a bed. She can bend her legs back behind her. This creates a comfortable and laid-back look.

34. Lie on the Edge of a Bed

This is a great pose to add to your list of fun photography poses. It works best if your female model has long hair. But it works with short-haired models too.

Position your model’s head at the edge of the bed, letting her long hair cascade downwards. This dynamic pose accentuates the beauty of flowing locks. And it adds a playful element to your portraits.

35. Lie with Arms Stretched Above Head

Sometimes, simplicity is best for a successful photoshoot. Have your model lie on the floor in a relaxed pose, exuding casual elegance.

Positioning her arms above her head with stretch the torso, creating long lines that accentuate the body. It also slims the midsection, which is great for self-conscious models. 

36. Flat Back Knees Bent

This female pose gives you a strong visual when shot from a side angle. By bringing the knees up to bend the legs, you create a triangle that’s visually pleasing. And by keeping the back flat on the ground and the shoulder back, it slims the belly. 

37. Lying on Side

A woman lying on her side also creates an elegant shape with long sweeping lines. 

Have the model stretch her lower arm out so it’s in line with the rest of her body. This will be more comfortable as she’ll be able to rest her head on her arm. But it also gives you one long connection to the ground. With the arm tucked under, the head with be raised off the ground and the body more hunched. 

38. Hair Fanned Out

If your model has long, luxurious hair, you can use it for this fabulous female pose. Have the model lie flat on the ground and spread their hair out as much as possible. You can let it form natural waves or, if it’s long enough, you can create shapes. 

Use a step ladder to get an overhead shot. You need the elevation to capture their face and all the long, flowing hair. 

Conclusion: Best Female Portrait Poses

Each female pose has its unique charm and purpose. Experimenting with different female poses not only adds variety to your portfolio. It also helps your subjects express themselves authentically.

So don’t hesitate to embrace these female portrait poses in your next photoshoot. And capture the essence of each individual with a touch of artistry and style.

Keep practising, experimenting, and evolving your techniques. This will help your subjects feel at ease and make your portrait photography shine.

The key to success on stock image websites is understanding the market. You need to build your stock photography strategy around knowing what images buyers are looking for. Uploading your favorite random shots simply won’t work. You need to be calculated and clever. 

This article explores some of the hottest stock photography trends right now. All the themes and styles we look at are top trends in the stock image world. This is just an introduction to selling stock images, but it’ll give you a fighting chance in a busy stock photo marketplace. 

Selling Stock Photos

Making money as a photographer is not easy. But it’s not impossible if you have a professional strategy with diverse sources of income. 

One of those income sources has to be selling stock photos. It probably won’t be your main bread-winner because of the low margins. But it is a great way to supplement photoshoots, print sales, and commissioned work. 

There are many excellent stock photo websites you can sign up to. Free sites like Unsplash are great if you’re looking for exposure. But you should opt for a pro-level stock website like ShutterStock if you want to make money selling stock images. 

Selling images should never be taken lightly. You can’t just upload a random selection of your work and hope it sells. You need to have a strategy that incorporated the hottest trends in stock imagery. You need to offer the types of images people want to buy. 

You can read our full article on how to make money with stock photography in this link. Or you can see our full guide to running a photography business here. 

Best Selling Stock Photos

Now we’ll look at the best selling stock photos, looking at themes and styles that are bang-on trend. 

We’ve broken the list down into categories, so you can find a theme that suits your photography. You might find some topics that fit with the work you’re already doing. Or you might find something new that sparks your creativity. 

They also give you insight into what’s happening in the photography and content market at the moment. It’ll give you a better understanding, allowing you to move with the ebbs and flows of market changes in content. 

Lifestyle

Lifestyle has become one of the most in-demand stock photography trends. The rise of influencers means our social media streams are flooded with images of smoothies, bunch, and yoga. 

A clear aesthetic has developed, and companies have been co-opting it for marketing and internal materials. Companies want to be seen to help their employees, and this type of stock imagery lets them tap into the wellness space. 

Healthy Food

More and more, people are becoming conscious about the type of food they eat. Ultra-processed foods are being replaced by healthy alternatives. And we can see this in the type of food photography people are buying.

Good images of fruits and vegetables do quite well on stock websites. But users are looking for more trendy food items, like vegan cakes and smoothies. 

Smoothies are very photogenic, and you can include some of the original whole fruits in the images as well. This allows you to show the ingredients and the final product in one image. 

Healthy food is also more exotic these days. Westerners love to use ingredients and recipes from other parts of the world. Things like quinoa and acai bowls are all the rage with trendy socialites. That’s exactly the type of thing stock photo buyers are looking for. 

Self-Care

Looking after yourself has become an industry in its own right. Led by influencers on social media, it is now fashionable to take time to pamper yourself. It’s true, there’s nothing quite like genuine R&R time to de-stress from our busy lives. 

As with healthy food, this is something companies are trying to tap into. And they need images that exude the self-care aesthetic we’ve all become familiar with. 

Whether it’s a face mask and slices of cucumber or a candle-lit massage, these images promote wellness and contentment. Get that right and buyers will be snapping up your self-care images. 

Yoga

Yoga has become a part of many people’s and companies’ wellness programs. It’s the perfect remedy for a stiff body that’s been stat at a desk day after day. 

Every town and city in the western world now has at least one yoga studio. And for many, yoga has become a full-on way of life. It has its own set of values and an east-meets-west style with a specific set of accessories. This is all photogenic stuff.

Thanks to its popularity, there’s no shortage of potential models. You can snap some picture of their yoga practice, building up your catalog of lifestyle images. 

Yoga is a great subject for photography. With dynamic poses and a positive energy, it’s easy to snap some eye-catching yoga photographs.

You should make them as original as possible. There’s no shortage of yoga images on stock sites, so yours need to stand out from the crowd. 

Meditation

Meditation or mindfulness is a growing trend in the west. It’s similar to yoga as an eastern import, but more and more people are finding a mindfulness practice helps them de-stress and recharge. 

Much of the paraphernalia is also similar to yoga, with lots of Asian artefacts and Buddhist symbols. These are things you should incorporate into your meditation images. It isn’t just about the person meditating, it’s the style and aesthetic that goes with it. That’s what buyers are after.   

Fitness

As wellness becomes more of a priority, more people are joining gyms or hiring personal trainers. That’s why this another area you can exploit for your stock photography collection. 

Gyms are great locations for photoshoots. You have hunky men and women getting in shape, there are fitness classes, and there are plenty of props you can incorporate in your images. 

People use the gym in different ways. Some want to build muscle, while others want to slim down and lose weight. You can explore both with your photography.

And fitness isn’t limited to the gym. Many people work out in public spaces like parks. These are great locations for a photoshoot. 

Home Office

With more companies offering flexible or fully-remote options, the home office is becoming a common feature in people’s lives. That’s why the home office is such an important topic in stock photography. 

Getting your home work environment right is important. You need a space that’s professional but doesn’t feel like a corporate office. It’s should be a blend of comfort and professionalism. 

That’s what you need to achieve with your home office stock photos. You need to show what someone’s home office could potentially look like. 

Family Photos

This theme is more traditional, but good family photos still perform well on stock websites. 

Traditional nuclear families still top the charts, but buyers are looking for less conventional family models too. Images of interracial families or families with same-sex parents are growing in popularity. That could be a lucrative niche to tap into. 

Including grandparents will also broaden the appeal. Three-generation images do very well, as do photos of grandparents with grand children. 

People want photos of happy families. Sad-looking families or families in strife don’t sell. Smiles produce all the money when it comes to family photos. 

Inclusivity

The popularity of images representing inclusivity have shot up in the last few years. Whether they depict the LGBTQ+ community, cultural diversity, models with non-conventional good looks, buyers are snapping them up. 

Plus-Size Models

Plus-size models have become standard, even in the world of high fashion. It’s now common for curvy women and men to grace the covers of prestigious magazines like Vogue. 

Many companies want content that promotes more realistic beauty standards. They need their promotional materials to represent their workforce, which for most companies is a variety of shapes and sizes. 

The era of the size zero is over, so search for a wider variety of body types when model scouting. 

Unconventional Beauty

Similar to plus-size models, we’re seeing a growing demand for images of models with unconventional good looks. They often have features that might previously have been seen as issues. But now people want unique faces with interesting features. 

We’re seeing more images of people with freckles and birthmarks. Sometimes scared faces can also draw a lot of interest. Even unusual haircuts or facial hair can add an element of unconventionality that buyers are looking for in their stock images. 

LGBTQ+ Community

Cultures around the world are more welcoming and accepting of the LGBT+ community than they once were. Things are not perfect, but more people are out and proud than ever before. That’s why stock photos relating to this theme are doing so well. 

Pride celebrations are always vibrant and make for eye-catching stock images. You can also do more personal photo shoots with gay couples or members of the trans community. This links to the topic above. 

Shoot happy, celebratory images, but avoid stereotypes with negative connotations. People are not buying stock images to offend or harass the LGBTQ+ community. The images need to express positivity. 

Multi-racial Communities

Most major cities around the world have become melting pots of different races, ethicities, and cultures. We see it on the high street, in our offices, and in our personal lives. Stock images are also moving in that direction. 

Stock image websites used to be dominated by Caucasian faces. And to be honest, they still are. That’s why a good collection of stock images with multi-ethnic models could improve your sales. 

As with most of these topics, people are looking for positive energy. They want pictures that show harmony and friendship between peoples. Interracial tension and aggression won’t generate any income. 

Photography Styles

Photos of all styles can be used a stock images, as long as they stick within the site’s guidelines. However, there are a few modern trends that are proving particularly popular with buyers. These include drone images, images that use bold colors, and more conceptual photos. 

Flat Lay

Flat lay is a popular photography style with influencers and content creators on social media. Now stock image buyers want to copy that aesthetic for their content. 

The concept is simple. You lay your props out on a flat surface and take an overhead picture. The key is in the choice of props, the arrangement, and the colors.

You can use the flat lay style for many themes, like food or lifestyle photography. It’s ideal for recipe-related content, as you can show ingredients and utensils on your surface. 

Leaving some negative space is a good idea when shooting flat lays for stock websites. This allows buyers to add their own to the image without the image looking cluttered or unprofessional. 

Aerial/Drone Photography

Aerial photography is similar to flat lay, only on a much larger scale. Now drones are readily available (if you have the budget), aerial photography has never been easier. 

You can capture epic overhead or high-elevation landscape shots, which are incredibly popular with corporate buyers. Open spaces and winding roads evoke feelings of exploration, aspiration, and freedom. That’s why people love them. 

You do need the budget to buy a good drone camera, but it will prove a worthy investment if you get some good aerial shots. 

Retro Film Aesthetic

Film photography is all the rage right now, and content producers are jumping on the bandwagon. They are clamoring for grainy film photography images with a retro look. 

You can dust off your old 35mm camera and shoot a few rolls. Or you can use software like Luminar Neo to add a retro film look to your digital images. Most buyers won’t care if the image was actually shot on film. They just want the film look. 

Bold Colors

Using bright, bold colors is a great way to get your work seen on stock photo websites. Often, buyers are looking for images that feature a specific color. They might even use words like “yellow” or “blue” in the keyword search. 

Don’t use too many colors in one image. Use one color and use a lot of it. Try this with a variety of different colors. 

You can mix and match, of course. But stick to just a couple of colors, complementary colors, or a few different tones of the same color. You want colorful images that pop. 

Conceptual Images

Open your mind and make some conceptual images. Stretch your imagination and make images that are wacky and out of the ordinary.

If you were making conceptual images for your own project, the images would have to have a meaning. But that’s not true with conceptual stock images. Buyers are looking for images they can add their own meaning to. 

This can be tricky to get right, but it can be a money spinner if you get it right. 

Street Nightlife

The eerie glow of neon lights is a visual we’re seeing more often in stock libraries. People are looking for moody images of inner-city nightlife. 

Neon signs and flood-lit underpasses are popular visual elements. And the grainy effect of high-ISO images adds to the mystique of the images. 

Busy night spots are also good locations, buzzing with people. You want to capture the sensation of the after-hours experience.  

Locations

Images of specific locations or types of locations have always been popular on stock photography websites. But there are a few trends that set your images apart from the competition. 

Cityscapes

There’s nothing new about cityscape images. But they are still popular with stock image buyers.

The trouble is that people already have stock images of the most famous cities, like New York and Paris. But there is a gap in the market for less iconic cities. And these images are popular because the cities are not iconic. Often, they want a generic-looking city. 

You can shoot classic, broad cityscapes. But also look for new angles and perspectives to make your images original. 

Famous Locations

Images of famous places still do well on stock websites. But we’re all feel a bit jaded by the cliche images of Paris, Rome, or New York. 

You can still use those locations. But find ways to make your shots original. Someone might be creating content about Paris, but they don’t want box-standard image of the Eiffel Tower. You can include the tower, but take the photo from a different angle. 

That goes for any famous location around the world. Look for new perspectives without losing the essence of the place. Buyers will want people to recogniae the location immediately, but they don’t want a shot they’ve seen a million times before. 

Beaches

Beaches might be an obvious location, but beach stock images are always popular. The beach represents vacations, relaxation, and tranquillity. Any holiday-related content will have a picture of a beach on it somewhere, so creators are always looking for original images. 

Aerial beach shots have become very popular. But more traditional shots of yellow sand, blue skies, and turquoise seas are still in demand. 

Tropical beaches are always the first to come to mind. But other types of beaches can prove popular too. Everybody loves the beach. 

Landscape Elements

As well as full-on landscapes, people are looking for elements from landscapes. They are looking for symbols that represent a feeling or an idea.

One common example is palm trees against a blue sky. People are also looking for other images of foliage. Single clouds or interesting cloud formations also fit this category. 

Simple images that evoke feelings of relaxation or freedom. That’s what people are looking for. They should be simple and uncluttered so buyers can add text or other information to them later. 

Conclusion

Selling stock photos can be a good earner for photographers. But you have to get it right. You won’t have much success adding random pictures to your account. You need to have a strategy and upload specific types of images with a high selling potential. 

As we’ve seen, you have plenty of themes and styles you can choose from. Topics within the lifestyle genre are doing very well. But more traditional subjects like families and cityscapes are still popular too. 

The key to selling on stock photo websites is offering images that people want. Get that right by following the stock photography trends, and you’ll see the money rolling in. 

Finding reliable income streams is an essential part of becoming a professional photographer. And while you won’t become a millionaire overnight, you will start to see that money rolling in. 

This article looks at the details of making money from photography. Before looking at pricing details, we explore some of the best revenue streams to get started with. Each section has a link in the text that takes you to a full article on that topic, so click to learn more. 

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How to Make Money with Photography

There are two main avenues open to professional photographers. They can either provide products such as prints or specific images. Or they can provide a service, like being a wedding photographer.

Thankfully, photographers can take both paths to maximize their income. 

You can sell your services as a photographer and you can sell the fruits of your photography. The trouble is finding areas where you can actually make money from photography.

There are plenty of folks out there with a camera, so you need to target clients who are willing to pay you for your work. 

This section covers the best niche markets for making money with photography. We have advice on selling landscape photos, selling prints on Etsy, and selling Lightroom presets. Remember to click the links to find out more. 

Headshot Photography

Headshot photography is one of the best ways to make money as a photographer. Many people are looking for professional headshots.

Actors need a range of headshot portraits to pass to casting agents. And young professionals often need pro-level headshots for applications, resumés, and marketing material. 

You will have some initial out-goings. You’ll need to invest in a good portrait lens, if you don’t have one already. You will also need a lighting setup and a photography backdrop. 

You’ll also need a studio space to work in. You can rent a studio, but this will cost you and increase your outgoings. Another option is to turn an already available space into a photography studio.

It doesn’t even have to be an entire room. You can turn one corner into a photography zone. You don’t need much space for headshot photography. 

Read more about taking professional headshot portraits by clicking this link.

Selling Landscape Photos

Selling landscape photos can be a great way to make money from your photography.

The key is to have a long-term plan and focus your efforts. Research the various ways to sell your photos, such as through stock websites, prints, or commissioned assignments.

Having the right gear is important, but you don’t need to overspend when starting out. A camera with a high-quality lens, sturdy tripod, and filters should be enough.

To get the best landscape images, shoot during early morning or late afternoon light and use a small aperture for greater depth of field.

Keep up with landscape photography trends by exploring the work of photographers you admire.

Spend time promoting yourself and your work through social media, email newsletters, or even local trade shows.

If you’d like to learn more about selling landscape photos, check out the full article. 

Stock Photography

Selling stock photos can be a reliable and steady income source for photographers.

To get started, research what subjects are in demand and plan your shoots around popular concepts like business, technology, and lifestyle. Photograph subjects in new and unique ways to stand out from the competition.

After capturing the images, ruthlessly edit them down to only the best shots. Use programs like Lightroom or Capture One to organize and process your files for optimal quality.

You can even create impossible scenes by combining elements in Photoshop.

To sell your stock photos, you can join a stock agency or market them yourself. Stock agencies handle everything from hosting to sales, but take a percentage of each sale.

Marketing your own photos gives you more control, but requires more work like building a website, finding buyers, and handling transactions.

See our in-depth article to learn more about selling stock photos.

Real Estate Photography

Getting paid to take pictures of houses is a great way to turn your love of photography into a career.

To get started, research your local market to find out what real estate photography jobs cost in your area. You’ll also need to decide if you want to work with interior designers or real estate agents.

Next, create a basic website with sample images and your contact information. Plan out your real estate photography process, including a rate sheet, contract, delivery method, and how to wrap up a project.

Connecting with potential clients is key, so attend in-person social events, spread the word about your services, and use social media to showcase your work.

As you get paid to take pictures of houses, focus on improving your skills and building a steady flow of photo shoots.

With solid research, a professional client process, and visibility online and in person, you’ll be well on your way to a successful real estate photography career.

Travel Photography

Becoming a travel photographer takes hard work and dedication. You need to learn a wide range of photography skills, from landscapes to portraits. Building a strong portfolio of your best travel images is key to attracting clients.

To get started, create a website or blog to showcase your work. You can also sell your images on stock photography sites or as physical prints.

As you travel, look for opportunities to provide photography services to local businesses.

Most importantly, focus on capturing great travel content. The more compelling your photos, the more people will seek out your work.

If you’re passionate about travel photography and willing to put in the effort, you can turn it into a successful career.

To learn more about how to become a travel photographer, check out this in-depth guide.

Selling Prints

Selling photography prints online is a great way to make extra money from your photos. There are many websites that allow you to sell prints, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Squarespace is a popular website platform that is easy to use and works on all devices. Fine Art America is one of the biggest marketplaces for selling prints, but has a lot of competition.

Etsy is well-known for selling art and handmade items, and has over 30 million buyers.

You can also sell prints through your own website using plugins like Envira or platforms like Photoshelter, Format, Zenfolio, and SmugMug. These give you more control over your sales and let you keep more of the profits.

We have more information of how to sell photography prints in this article, so click the link for more.

Selling on Etsy

Selling photos on Etsy is a great way to promote your work and earn money. You can sell physical prints, digital downloads, photography resources, or even photo books.

Before setting up your shop, come up with a plan and choose a creative name that represents your business.

When creating listings, upload high-quality photos that stand out. Write informative descriptions and use relevant keywords to help potential customers find your products. Set fair prices that cover your costs while remaining competitive.

Promote your Etsy shop on social media and your website to attract clients. Encourage friends and family to leave reviews to build trust with potential buyers.

With dedication and time, selling photos on Etsy can become a successful venture.

Selling photos on Etsy is a great way to make money from photography.

Selling Lightroom Presets

Selling Adobe Lightroom presets is a great way for photographers to make money. To get started, create presets that give photos a unique look. Emphasize how easy they are to use by showing before and after photos.

Pricing presets can be tricky since they sell for a wide range of prices. Look at other presets to find a general price range, then price your product competitively but on the high side. You can always add a discount or have a sale later.

Market your presets on social media platforms like Instagram. Post photos edited with your presets and include before and after examples.

Busy professional photographers who have many photos to edit will pay for presets that save them time. Amateur photographers may also buy presets to achieve looks they can’t create on their own.

Selling Lightroom presets can be a profitable way to use your photo editing skills.

NFTs

NFT images are digital tokens that represent unique artwork, photographs, or animations. They’re bought and sold online using cryptocurrency, usually on the Ethereum blockchain.

Photographers can turn their photos into NFTs and sell them to supplement their income. The creator keeps the copyright, but the buyer owns the original NFT. Some NFTs have sold for thousands of dollars.

Listing an NFT isn’t free, so photographers need to be confident their work will sell.

Read our full article to learn more about NFT images.

Price Guide

Photography pricing varies depending on the type of photography, the photographer’s experience, and the client’s needs. Professional photographers typically charge $100 to $300 per hour or $75 to $350 per image in the United States.

Rates can be higher for more experienced photographers and lower for beginners. It’s important to consider your operating costs, including equipment, studio rent, software subscriptions, and travel expenses when setting your prices.

Pricing structures also differ based on the photography genre. Event photographers often charge hourly rates, while commercial photographers may have day rates and licensing fees.

Portrait and wedding photographers frequently offer packages with a set number of hours and photos. Real estate photography is usually priced per listing, and product photography is priced per image.

Read our full tutorial on photography pricing to make sure you’re not over-charging or losing out on earnings. We also have articles on other specific aspects of photography pricing, so keep reading to learn more.

Mini Sessions

Mini sessions are short, preset photo shoots that cost less than a full session. They’re a great way for clients to try out a photographer or get quick seasonal photos. The most common mini sessions are based on seasons, holidays, or events.

To plan a mini session, pick a theme, location, and date. Decide how long each session will be and how many clients you’ll book. Set a price that covers your costs and leaves a profit. Require payment up-front to avoid no-shows.

Your workflow is key to a successful mini session. Use a calendar app to avoid double-booking. Have your lighting and location ready in advance.

Decide how you’ll process the photos and follow up with clients. Market your event through local businesses, newsletters, and social media.

Click here if you’d like to learn more about photography mini sessions.

Portrait Pricing

Figuring out your portrait photography pricing is an important step when starting your business. You need to factor in all your costs, including studio space, equipment, travel fees, and taxes. This will help you determine how much to charge per photoshoot to stay profitable.

There are two main paths in portrait photography: shoot and burn, and boutique/fine art. Shoot and burn photographers provide digital images only, often at a lower price point.

Boutique/fine art photographers sell prints, albums, and other high-quality products, resulting in higher profits per session.

Consider how much you want to work and what makes your business unique. Offering special products or services can set you apart from competitors and keep clients coming back.

Learning the business side of photography is also crucial for success. With proper planning and pricing, portrait studios can be very profitable in the long run.

Portrait photography pricing is a key factor in building a thriving photography business.

Print Pricing

Selling photography prints can be a great way to make money from your images. To get started, research what types of photos sell well as prints, such as beautiful landscapes, iconic cityscapes, or wildlife photography.

Choose only your best images to sell as prints. Make sure they are technically perfect and free of any flaws. Consider offering limited edition prints to add extra value to your photos.

Factor in all your costs when pricing your prints, including printing, shipping, and credit card fees. Add a reasonable profit margin to determine your final print prices.

If you’d like to learn more about how to price photography prints, this article provides helpful tips and strategies to maximize your earnings.

Real Estate Pricing

Setting your real estate photography pricing can be challenging. To ensure you’re charging what your work is worth, research your local market and competition. Find out the starting rates and price range in your area.

Consider the quality of work you deliver compared to your competitors. You can charge more in expensive cities versus rural areas.

Talk to clients to find out what they need most, such as fast turnaround times or extras like video tours.

Decide if you want to focus on quality or quantity. You can do fewer high-end shoots that require more time and editing. Or you can streamline your process to do a large number of standard listings.

Be sure to factor in all your time and costs, including client communication, travel, gear, and post-processing.

Our full guide on real estate photography pricing is the best place to start if you’re looking to turn pro.

Food photography benefits from creative ideas that entice customers with the allure of the food! This guide equips you with practical techniques to photograph various food types. For a deeper understanding of each technique, follow the links in each section for a more detailed exploration. 

Food Photography Ideas

First, we will cover a wide range of the most common food categories in food photography. You can browse this list to find the specific food type you want, or read each one to learn the different techniques. 

If you want to become a food photographer, I suggest you read each section in detail. This will introduce you to several techniques that may be useful as you start your career. You will also see similarities between the different categories. These are the key points to keep in mind in every food photography photoshoot. 

Fruit and Vegetable

Let’s look at some tips for shooting fruit and vegetables. You can try to use the best quality produce you can find. Make sure it’s fresh and free of blemishes.

Lighting is key in food photography. Use backlighting or side lighting to bring out the texture of your subject. Avoid front lighting, which can create unwanted shadows. A spritz of water mixed with glycerin can make fruits and veggies look fresh and juicy. Get close with macro shots to highlight interesting textures. Also, use few props to keep the focus on your subject.

Pattern and repetition can add visual interest to your photos. Choose backdrop colors that complement your subject. A single well-chosen prop can provide context without being distracting. You can try shooting in a dark and moody style for a different look. You can use the “shoot in a box” technique with black cards to create heavy shadows. Telling a story with your photos can engage viewers and trigger their imaginations.

Fruit photography is a great way to practice your skills. If you want to learn more, our fruit photography article has plenty of tips and techniques to explore.

Cake

Natural light is the best option for cake photography, especially if you’re new to the craft. Position your cake near a window and use a diffuser or curtain to soften harsh light and avoid shadows. Experiment with side lighting, backlighting, and side backlighting to create contrast and dimension in your photos.

Keep your cake photography minimal, using only a few props to avoid detracting from the main subject. Choose props carefully, opting for small items in cohesive colors and patterns. Get creative by using props in unconventional ways, like placing cupcakes on a vintage tray or cake stand.

The best camera angle depends on the cake you’re shooting. Frosted layer cakes look best shot straight on, while overhead shots work well for storytelling. Use food styling tricks to enhance your subject, such as adding cardboard layers between cake slices or creating a styrofoam cake for decoration. Shape the light with diffusers and reflectors, and use a smaller aperture for precise focusing. With practice and these tips, you can capture stunning cake photography.

Cupcakes

Let’s now look at some great tips for shooting cupcakes! Try to tell a story with your cupcake photos by conveying a sense of atmosphere. Use props and backdrops with colors and textures that fit the occasion, like pastel for a wedding or dark shades for chocolate cupcakes. Emphasize different textures by lighting from the side, back, or side-back to create dimension and make your cupcakes glow.

Choose your camera angle and orientation wisely to highlight the best features of your cupcakes. Make your images pop with bright, complementary colors, but focus on just a couple to avoid a chaotic look. Use a pastry bag to pipe on frosting in simple or fancy swirls.

Add extra texture and interest with sprinkles or other decorations, but don’t overdo it. Use composition principles like leading lines, repetition, and the rule of odds to create harmony. Take your photos to the next level in post-processing by balancing whites, blacks, shadows and highlights, and tweaking colors.

To learn more about cupcake photography, check out this in-depth guide covering everything from styling to editing techniques.

Ice Cream

Ice cream photography can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can capture mouthwatering photos. Start by setting up your composition and lighting in advance, using a stand-in ice cream to avoid melting. If you’re not shooting for a brand, consider creating fake ice cream using mashed potatoes, corn starch, or frosting mixed with confectioner’s sugar.

Adding human elements like hands holding the cone can make your photos more authentic and engaging. Toppings such as sprinkles, nuts, and whipped cream can add texture and visual appeal to your ice cream pictures.

Use props to tell a story and create a fitting atmosphere, but keep the overall look simple and playful. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and experiment with closeups, unexpected settings, or conceptual photography. With practice, you’ll be able to capture stunning ice cream photos. Dive deeper into the world of ice cream photography, and explore our comprehensive guide.

Chocolate

Chocolate can be tricky to photograph. To make it appealing, prepare the chocolate by removing any bloom or imperfections. Handle it with care to avoid fingerprints.

Use side lighting to bring out the chocolate’s texture. Backlighting can create a nice sheen, but use a bounce card to avoid underexposure. One light source is all you need for beautiful shadows and highlights.

Edit your chocolate images in Photoshop for a smooth, refined look. Use the spot healing brush, clone stamp, and healing brush tools to fix flaws. With a little planning and care, you can take drool-worthy chocolate photography.

Cookie

Cookies are great to photograph. Think about using color theory when choosing props. Cookies are usually warm colors like brown and yellow. Pair them with cool-colored props like blue ceramics for a nice contrast.

Choose the best angle to showcase your cookies. Flat lays work well for decorated cookies. For simple cookies, stack them and shoot from a low angle.

Get creative with styling techniques. Use a syringe to make chocolate drops around the edge of a cookie. Or dip a food ring in chocolate and place the cookie inside the circle. You can also make a swoosh with a spoon and liquid chocolate.

Cookie photography is a fun way to get creative with food photos. Use these tips to take your images to the next level.

Dessert

Capturing delicious dessert photos is all about highlighting the beauty and appeal of sweet treats. Choose relevant props and backgrounds that complement your dessert and help tell its story. Use simple tools like a fine-mesh sifter to sprinkle cocoa or powdered sugar, or a vegetable peeler to create chocolate ribbons.

Soft, natural light is best for dessert photography to keep colors vibrant. Use a diffuser or bounce light back onto your subject with a white card. And don’t forget to set white balance correctly, using a grey card if needed.

Photographing frozen desserts like ice cream can be tricky. Pre-scoop servings and keep them in the freezer until shoot time. Gently blow on edges with a straw to soften, or press the top down for a freshly-scooped look. With some preparation and creative tricks, you can capture dessert photography that looks good enough to eat!

Burger

Here are some great tips for styling and shooting delicious burger photos. You can choose fattier meat for a juicier look and add grill marks for an authentic feel. Also, melt the cheese to get an awesome gooey texture.

Use veggies like tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles to add contrast and color to your burger. Pick props and backdrops that fit the theme, like rustic cutting boards for a pub-style burger. Experiment with different angles, but usually stick to eye-level for the best view of the layers.

Get in close to highlight all the delicious details. Finally, perfect your burger photos in post-processing using Lightroom and Photoshop to clean up imperfections and adjust colors and shadows. With these tips, you’ll be taking mouth-watering burger photography in no time.

Pizza

Pizza photography can be challenging, but with the right tips, you can capture mouth-watering images. Start by choosing the right equipment, like a camera with a full-frame sensor and a 50mm or longer lens. Avoid wide-angle lenses as they can distort your pizza.

Lighting is key to well-lit pizza photos. Use directional, natural light from the side to reduce highlights on the cheese. Style your pizza with simple, relevant props and partially cook the base before adding toppings.

To achieve the perfect cheese pull, use string mozzarella and have an assistant hold the slice while you shoot. Focus stacking can help keep the entire pizza sharp. Edit your photos minimally to maintain a natural look. After some practice, you can master the art of pizza photography.

Drinks

Capturing creative reflections in drinks is a fun way to add interest to your photos. To get started, think about the story you want to tell with your reflection. Cut a shape out of thick paper to use as a template for the reflection.

Arrange your composition with the drink and props that match your story. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady and position it so you can see the surface of the liquid. Set up a soft light source above the drink to create a bright reflection.

Hold the paper template between the light and the drink to create the silhouette reflection. Adjust the sharpness by moving the template closer or further from the drink. If you want to learn more about creative reflection photography, there are many helpful resources available here.

Cocktail

Cocktail photography is all about making your drinks look realistic and appealing. Use garnishes, specialty ice cubes, and fresh ingredients to style your cocktails. You don’t always need real alcohol – water can be a great substitute for vodka in a martini shot.

Fake condensation on the glass adds a cool, authentic look. Mix a 50-50 solution of glycerin and water in a spray bottle and mist it onto the glass. This will last much longer than water alone.

Capturing the beauty of cocktails requires the right cocktail photography techniques. With some creativity and attention to detail, you can create stunning drink photos that will impress your audience.

Indian

Let’s now take a look at some techniques to approach photographing Indian cuisine. Use props like traditional plates and cutlery to create an authentic scene. Combine different textures to make the photo more appealing, such as adding crunchy toppings to creamy dishes.

Create strong contrasts by using complementary colors or presenting a colorful dish on a dark background. Use hard light to create a moody and dramatic atmosphere.

Choose the best angle for each dish to give it depth and highlight its unique features. Pay attention to timing and photograph each item when it looks its best, such as capturing the flames cooking tender meat or the steam rising from a freshly prepared curry.

Indian food photography is also a great opportunity for indian food photography storytelling. Include elements that represent the local culture and culinary habits to make your photos more authentic and engaging.

Steak

Here are some tips for taking better steak photos! Choose high-quality meat from a butcher rather than the supermarket. Keep the meat looking fresh by avoiding piling it up and letting it air out if it was packaged. Trim any ugly parts but leave some fat for texture and flavor.

Use simple, natural backgrounds like wood, butcher paper or marble that complement the red hues of the meat. Side or backlighting helps showcase the texture without making the meat look too shiny or dull. Undercook the meat slightly and brush with oil to maintain a vivid, moist appearance.

Incorporate simple props like knives, herbs, spices, oil and vegetables to enhance the composition. Capturing the preparation process with human elements can turn your photos into a compelling story. Food styling tricks like blowtorching chicken skin or painting on grill marks are fair game too. For more meat photography secrets, dive deeper with our full guide.

Steam

Adding steam to your food photography can make your images look more appealing. Side backlighting is a great way to capture steam. Position your light source between at an angle toward your camera.

Using a dark background is important when photographing steam. Steam is light in color and somewhat transparent, so it won’t show up well unless there is contrast from the backdrop. A tripod is also a must when shooting steam shots, as it frees up your hands to style your scene and quickly place the steam before it evaporates.

When shooting in natural light, use a faster shutter speed of at least 1/200th of a second to freeze the movement of the steam. If you want to photograph steam in more detail, you can learn additional techniques such as using boiling water, a clothing steamer, or even a water-soaked tampon in the microwave.

Cooking

Food action shots make cooking photography dynamic and realistic. To capture impressive shots, use a tripod to avoid camera shake and freeze the movement. Set a fast shutter speed of at least 1/125 or 1/160, and adjust your ISO and aperture accordingly.

Natural light is best for cooking photography to get realistic colors. Avoid using flashes or artificial lights that can create reflections or ruin the food’s appearance. Experiment with the motion by practicing the pouring or sprinkling techniques beforehand, and use manual focus to ensure sharp images.

Shoot in continuous mode or with a self-timer to capture the perfect moment. Choose the right angle that leaves enough space for the motion without creating large empty spaces. With these cooking photography tips, you’ll be able to create mouthwatering action shots that engage your viewers.

Food Photography Environments and Techniques

We will now look at different environments you may find yourself in when taking food photography further. These tips will cover how to act in professional settings and what you should expect when you get to each shoot. 

The techniques we touch on are great for assisting your food photography ideas. These will offer different approaches that will make you stand out from your competition. These aesthetics aren’t for every photographer, but we recommend trying them to see if they suit your photographic style. 

Restaurant

Restaurant photography can be challenging but rewarding. To pull off a successful shoot, ask the client for a shot list so you know exactly what to deliver. Visit the restaurant beforehand to check lighting and plan your setup.

Make it clear that you’re not responsible for food styling – that’s the chef’s job. But bring along a basic styling kit to tidy up plates. Also pack linens, dishes, and props to create the desired look and ambience.

Shooting tethered lets you view images on a larger screen and get client approval on the spot. Involve the chef to coordinate timing of dishes. By putting these tips into practice, you’ll capture images that satisfy everyone. Read out in-depth guide to learn more about the tricks of the trade in restaurant photography.

Commercial

When photographing food for advertising, it’s important to make the food look as appetizing as possible. Use food styling tricks like adding color to soups, painting grilled chicken for a golden skin, and using fake ice cubes that won’t melt. For tricky shots like milkshakes, you can even use instant mashed potatoes with coloring to mimic the look without the mess.

Convey the right message and tell a story with your food photos. Show the product being served or eaten to create an appealing scene. Highlight any unique features or benefits of the product, like if it’s vegan or allergy-friendly.

Get creative and use humor in your shots to grab attention. Include people to make the images more relatable and tap into emotions. Influencers can help expand your reach, but be aware you’ll have less control over the final result. Our extended article contains all you need to know about food photography techniques for advertising.

Christmas

Here are some fun Christmas picture ideas using levitating objects like cookies and sugar. One easy method is to hold and shoot each object separately, then combine them in post-processing. This works well when the objects are not too close together.

Another option is to keep everything in place with thin wires or fishing line. Suspend the objects in the air, take the shot, then remove the supports in editing. You can also add falling sugar or flour for a magical effect.

Arrange your cookies on a plate as the main focus. Glue some to supports like knitting needles or skewers to create a falling effect. Use short shutter speeds to freeze the motion of falling sugar, or longer exposures for streaky paths. Remove the visible supports later in post-processing by layering a “clean” shot. With a few simple tricks, you can capture the wonder of christmas picture idea like levitating treats!

Dark Food

Dark food photography is all about creating moody, dramatic images using minimal lighting and the chiaroscuro technique. Move further away from your light source to reduce the light hitting your subject. Use thick curtains to darken the room, allowing just enough light to illuminate the food.

Backlighting is key for enhancing texture and creating a mysterious atmosphere. Place your light source behind the subject, using diffusers and black fill cards to sculpt the light and produce shadows. Choose muted, non-reflective backgrounds like dark blues, greys, or black, and incorporate textured materials like weathered wood for a rustic feel.

Compose your shots using the Rule of Odds, placing props at intersecting points on the Rule of Thirds grid. Underexpose your photos slightly in-camera to increase contrast without blowing out highlights. Finally, bring your images to life in post-processing by focusing on color treatment and brightening the food while maintaining shadows. Dark food photography allows you to create captivating, emotive images that stand out from the crowd.

Fine Art

Fine art food photography is a creative way to capture the beauty of food. Lighting plays a key role in bringing out the colors and textures of your subject. Side lighting or backlighting are great options, while front lighting can create unwanted shadows.

Composition is also important in guiding the viewer’s eye through the frame. Simple compositions can be very powerful, so avoid having too much going on. Styling and composition go hand-in-hand, so think of ways to add interest to your dishes with garnishes or textures.

When editing your photos, you have more freedom to experiment with color treatment and toning. The HSL panel in Lightroom is a great tool for this. You can also try split toning to give your images a unique look. Fine art food photography is a fun way to practice your lighting skills and create stunning images. Click here to learn more about fine art food photography.

Tilt Shift

Tilt shift lenses are a unique tool for food photography. They allow you to control the plane of focus and create a miniature effect. With a tilt shift lens, you can keep the subject in sharp focus while blurring the background.

These lenses also let you shoot at the most flattering angle. You can include or exclude props and other elements around the subject. This is useful for product shots or magazine covers where text needs to be added.

Tilt shift lenses can be expensive, but they open up a world of possibilities. If you’re interested in learning more about tilt shift food photography, it’s worth renting one to try out. You may find it’s a valuable addition to your kit for certain types of commercial food photography jobs.

Today, we will cover a wide range of advanced composition techniques to show you the multiple approaches you can take in photography. Each technique has different characteristics. We break down each approach in detail to give you a better understanding. If you want more detail, click the link in each section. 

Composition Techniques

Let’s start by looking at simple methods to produce advanced composition techniques. Even though these methods may seem basic, they are tricky to master. We will outline the best ways to get the most out of each of these photoshoot ideas. 

You can try many of these techniques from the comfort of your own home! If that doesn’t inspire you, go for a walk around your town or city. Try to get one image of each composition technique; the more you practice, the better you will get! 

Form

Form photography is all about making subjects stand out as if they’re 3D objects. It creates a line between 2D and 3D by using the right kind of light, angles, colors, and depth.

To take stunning form photos, experiment with side light to emphasize your subject’s shape and textures. Use a large aperture to separate your subject from the background and create depth. If your results don’t look eye-catching enough, try converting them to black and white to add emotion and put the spotlight on specific tones.

Shooting from different angles is key to making your photos look unique. It gives you more creative freedom to capture movements, colors, and textures. With a little imagination and practice, you can use form photography to take outstanding photos of anything. You can read our in-depth article to learn more about form in photography.

Shape

Shape is an important element of photography composition. It can create balance and symmetry or lead the viewer’s eye to the main subject. Photographers can use shape in many ways to make their images more interesting.

Light plays a big role in how shapes look in photos. Front or back lighting will create a flat shape. But side lighting adds shadows, giving the shape a 3D form.

Perspective also changes how shapes appear. A coffee mug from the side is a cylinder, but from above it’s a circle. Shooting straight on shows a flat shape, while angling the camera reveals depth. Using these techniques, photographers can find new ways to capture everyday objects. Learning to see the shapes that make up the world is key to creating powerful compositions. Shape in photography is an essential part of image composition.

Emphasis

Emphasis in photography is all about making your subject stand out. You can use composition techniques to bring focus and attention to your subject, even in a cluttered or busy scene.

One way to emphasize your subject is by using strong contrast. Place your subject in a brightly lit area surrounded by darker tones to make it pop. You can also use a shallow depth of field to blur the background and keep your subject sharp. This is especially useful in portrait photography.

Negative space is another tool for emphasis. By leaving empty space around your subject, you remove distractions and draw the viewer’s eye. Leading lines can also guide attention to your subject, while framing it within the scene adds even more emphasis. Click here to learn more about emphasis in photography.

Geometric

Geometric photography is all about finding and capturing the shapes and lines that make up our world. From the bold lines of a cityscape to the organic curves of nature, geometry is everywhere. Here are some cool ideas to get you started with geometric photography.

Look for repetition in your subjects, like brick walls or tiled floors. The repeating shapes will create a bold, eye-catching pattern in your photos. You can also use color to make your geometric images pop. Bright, contrasting colors will emphasize the shapes and lines in your compositions.

Perspective is another powerful tool for geometric photography. Try shooting from unusual angles, like low to the ground or high above your subject. This will create a unique and engaging point of view. And don’t forget about architecture – buildings are full of geometric shapes and lines that make great subjects for photos.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of geometric photography? There are endless possibilities to explore, from minimalist compositions to abstract designs.

Rhythm

Rhythm in photography brings structure and stability to your images. It’s about visual storytelling and composition building. Rhythm can hold the viewer’s gaze to a steady beat or quicken the pace as their eyes move around the image.

Rhythm is created by elements that repeat or echo throughout the photo. This could be a series of shapes that make a pattern or multiple subjects that appear at different points in the frame.

You’ll find rhythm in many types of photography, from street and architecture to portraits and landscapes. Bringing rhythm into your photos can help you make conscious decisions about composition and how you want the image to flow. Read on to learn more about how to use rhythm in photography, including the different types of rhythm and how to break rhythm for emphasis.

Negative Space

Negative space is the area around your main subject in a photo. It creates a relationship between the subject and background, allowing the subject to stand out. When used well, negative space attracts the viewer and leads their eyes to the main subject.

The space doesn’t have to be empty. Things can be in the negative space, but they should blend into the background and not draw attention. This directs the viewer’s focus to the main subject.

To use negative space, look at the area around your subject. Move around to frame the subject with negative space. Get closer to fill the frame with an interesting pattern, or step back to make the subject smaller. Negative space can improve your compositions in any type of photography. Here are some more tips on negative space in photography.

Juxtaposition

Juxtaposition in photography is all about showing contrast between two or more elements in a scene. This can be done through composition, forced perspectives, or props. Some examples of juxtaposition include animate vs inanimate objects, big vs small subjects, dark vs light colors, and natural vs man-made elements.

Photographers can also create juxtaposition in post-processing by merging different images together. This allows for creative concepts like mixing life and death or showing the contrast between poverty and idealism. Juxtaposition can evoke powerful emotions and make viewers think deeply about the story behind the image.

Finding juxtaposition examples is easy if you look for them in your environment or while juxtaposition examples in street photography. Capturing these contrasts can lead to striking and thought-provoking images that keep viewers engaged.

Advanced Composition Techniques

Now, we will look at more advanced composition techniques. Some of these techniques do not have set framing advice; instead, the content of the photograph holds the composition. 

If you familiarize yourself with these ideas, you will be well on your way to becoming an advanced photographer. The advanced composition techniques below are directed more by storytelling, one of photography’s key benefits. Learning to use storytelling to your advantage will set you apart from other photographers. 

Conceptual

Conceptual photography is all about expressing ideas and themes through symbols and creative editing. To create a great conceptual photo, start with an original idea. Then use editing to bring your vision to life.

You can find inspiration for conceptual photography all around you. Everyday objects can symbolize nature, and water can add emotion and drama to a portrait. Even your childhood dreams can spark ideas for nostalgic photos.

Anonymity is another powerful tool in conceptual photography. Partly hiding a subject’s face can make a concept more relatable. And simple tricks like conceptual photography can turn an ordinary portrait into a mysterious and thought-provoking image.

Symbolism

Symbolism is a powerful tool for photographers to express concepts and ideas beyond what is visible in an image. By using visual cues like color, objects, animals, and placement, photographers can convey deeper meanings and evoke emotions in the viewer.

Throughout history, symbolism has been used in various forms of art, from ancient carvings to Renaissance paintings. In photography, early practitioners adopted symbols to signify intelligence, while iconic images like Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother became symbols of the Great Depression.

Contemporary photographers continue to use symbolism in their work, drawing from both historical and modern symbols. By understanding and incorporating symbolism in their images, photographers can create rich, meaningful experiences for their audience. Symbolism in photography is a fascinating subject that can elevate your work to new levels.

Golden Ratio

The golden ratio is a powerful tool for creating pleasing and balanced compositions in photography. It’s based on a mathematical sequence that appears throughout nature, from nautilus shells to ocean waves. By using the golden ratio in your photos, you can lead the viewer’s eye through the frame in a natural way.

One common way to apply the golden ratio is with the phi grid, which divides the frame into a 1:0.618:1 ratio. This places the subject a bit more centrally compared to the rule of thirds. Another option is the Fibonacci spiral, where you position the main subject in the smallest part of the spiral and arrange other elements along the curve.

To use the golden ratio effectively, consider the scene and choose the method that best fits the subject and any leading lines or curves. Imagine the overlay as you compose the shot, and don’t be afraid to adjust your position to exaggerate lines and angles. With practice, the golden ratio can elevate your compositions from good to excellent. Learning more about the golden ratio in photography can help you master this powerful technique.

Golden Triangle

The golden triangle is a composition technique that uses diagonal lines to form right-angle triangles. These triangles act as a guide for placing the main subject of the photo at the intersection points.

Using the golden triangle can give your photos a more dynamic feel compared to other common composition techniques. To create the golden triangle, draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite corner, then draw perpendicular lines from the other corners to the diagonal line.

Place your point of interest at one of the intersection points and use leading lines that follow the diagonal. Subjects that work well with the golden triangle include portraits with the model sitting or lying down, mountains with a diagonal horizon line, and roads that cut through the frame diagonally. Golden triangle in photography is a great way to experiment with composition and create visually interesting images.

Triptych

Triptych photography is a creative technique that tells a story using three photos. Experiment with different formats like square or circle to make your triptychs stand out. Capture a series of movements using burst mode to create exciting action shots.

Themes can make your triptychs more meaningful. Love, nature, and symmetry are common choices. You can also split one image into three parts or put a spotlight on details that usually go unnoticed.

Triptychs are a great way to improve your photography skills. Work on a long-term photo series to document a subject’s progress over time. Or photograph different parts of an event to tell a more complete story. As you explore triptych photography, you’ll find a style that works for you and triptych photography will help you think outside the box.

Decisive Movement

Capturing the decisive moment in photography is about being in the right place at the right time and knowing how to take the shot. It’s not just luck, but also understanding your subjects and predicting their behavior. The more you observe and understand the subject, the better you’ll become at anticipating the perfect moment.

Developing your photographing intuition is key. Trust your gut feeling when you sense something special is about to happen. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to recognize and capture those fleeting moments.

Look for emotional moments, everyday life details, and motion in your scenes. Train your eye to see patterns and the things that disrupt them. If you’d like to learn more about decisive moment in photography, there are great resources available here to dive deeper into this fascinating topic.

Dynamic Tension

Dynamic tension is a powerful tool for creating dramatic photos. It involves using diagonal lines, paths, and body language that move in opposing directions. This creates a sense of tension and pulls the viewer’s eye through the image.

To use dynamic tension, look for multiple diagonal lines moving away from each other, paths that move in opposite directions, or contrasting body language between subjects. The strongest tension comes from the widest angles between intersecting lines, ideally 90 degrees.

Framing and rotation also play a role in emphasizing dynamic tension. Experiment with different angles and compositions to find the most dramatic effect. However, use dynamic tension sparingly in your portfolio to avoid overuse. You can learn more about dynamic tension in photography here.

Figure to Ground

Figure to ground photography is a composition technique that creates stark contrast between the main subject and the background. This contrast can be achieved through differences in lighting or color. The most dramatic example is a silhouette, but there are many other ways to use figure to ground composition.

To create a figure to ground photo, look for scenes where the subject is much lighter or darker than the background. You can also use contrasting colors, even if the lighting is the same. Squint your eyes to blur the details and make it easier to see the contrast.

Extreme contrast isn’t always necessary. Sometimes you may want to keep enough background detail to provide context for your subject. In these cases, aim for a more subtle contrast that still draws the viewer’s eye to the main subject. Figure to ground photography is a powerful way to create depth and visual interest in your photos.

Composition Principles

The composition principles section is crucial for advanced composition. These ideas guide us on what works and what doesn’t work in photography. These principles are formed from years of photographic experience, so it’s wise to take advice from their lessons. 

These principles range from simple points to consider in every photo to more niche concepts that may only be relevant to some styles of photography. Read more about each below, and make sure you try them out for yourself!

Value

Value in photography describes the range of light in your image. Altering the light is how you create contrast. Photographers group tones into blacks, shadows, midtones, highlights, and whites.

A histogram maps the tonal values with darker tones on the left and lighter tones on the right. The higher the peaks, the more of that tone is found in the scene. Most photographers avoid extreme tones, but you decide if you want to include pure black and white.

Understanding value will help create an emotional response to your images. High contrast images are bold and dynamic, while low contrast images are calmer and more mysterious. Value in photography is an important concept to learn to capture stunning photos.

Art and Design in Photography

The seven principles of art and design are balance, rhythm, pattern, emphasis, contrast, unity, and movement. These principles help photographers create compelling compositions and engaging images.

Balance refers to the visual weight of an image, while rhythm is about the recurring distribution of visual elements. Patterns are repetitions of art and design elements that work together in a single frame.

Emphasis shapes the center of interest in a photo through color, space, texture, and line. Contrast is created by including opposing elements like light and dark or different textures. Unity describes the visual relationship between elements in an image, helping create a cohesive look. Movement guides the viewer’s eye through the photograph using lines, colors, and other elements.

By understanding and applying these principles of art, photographers can take greater control of their images and create more impactful photographs.

Fine Art

Fine art photography is a creative area of image capturing that relies on the photographer’s ideas and vision. These works are meant to be wall art, either for a private client or a gallery. Fine art images can resemble some meaning or be as abstract as the photographer desires.

Fine art photography contrasts with representational photography, such as photojournalism. It combines photography and conceptual ideas as a process where the artist tries to express their perceptions and emotions, which are then shared with others. While both fine art and commercial photography produce saleable images, fine art photography is not commissioned like commercial photography is.

Inspiration for fine art photography can come from many sources, such as movies, visual art, and reading. By using topics that interest them, photographers can work harder and stay focused longer. Famous fine art photographers to look to for inspiration include Damiano Errico and Brassaï, who blurred the lines between street photography and fine art with his images of Paris at night. Click here to learn more about fine art photography, including tips for getting started and avoiding common mistakes.

Gestalt Principles

The Gestalt principles are a set of rules that help photographers create more appealing and powerful images. By understanding how the human mind perceives visual elements, you can organize your compositions in a way that makes them more engaging and emotionally resonant.

Some of the most important Gestalt principles for photography include proximity, similarity, closure, and segregation. Proximity suggests that objects close to each other are related, while similarity implies that elements with similar characteristics form a cohesive group. Closure allows the mind to fill in missing information, creating a sense of completeness, and segregation helps the subject stand out from its background.

By applying these principles to your photography, you can create images that are not only visually appealing but also convey a stronger message or story. To learn more about how to effectively use gestalt principles in photography, explore the in-depth article that covers each principle in detail and provides practical examples.

Lead Room Principle

Lead room is the negative space in front of where the subject is facing or moving. This simple composition technique is essential in many types of photography, including portraiture, fashion, and events. By including extra space within the frame, you allow the viewer’s eyes to travel and provide context to understand the narrative.

When you don’t leave enough lead room, it creates a frustrating and uncomfortable feeling for the viewer. People prefer to see where the subject is moving or looking. Too little space makes the image feel suffocating and unappealing.

To apply lead room, shoot wider compositions and leave negative space, which you can always crop later. Experiment with extra-large negative spaces to create striking images that imply movement and freedom. Lead room will improve your compositions in portrait, landscape, sports, and street photography. If you’d like to learn more about lead room, there are great resources available.

Today, we will guide you through a number of different photographic approaches to fashion photography. Understanding how these styles are created will help you create your signature style! 

We will cover different fashion photography genres and look at multiple editing approaches you can take to achieve different styles. Each section has a dedicated article. So, if you want more information on any subject, click the links! 

Fashion Photography Ideas

Fashion photography is a powerful force that not only defines generations but also disrupts its traditions. Striking a balance between the timeless and the contemporary in fashion photography can be a fascinating challenge, one that is enriched by a deep understanding of its history. 

If you are starting out in fashion photography, we recommend you try out every style to see which one you prefer. It is also worth trying out the styles you don’t like, as you may learn techniques that help you create your visual language. 

Editorial

Editorial photography is the staple mark of fashion photography. These are the photoshoots that exist in fashion magazines and online websites. It is important to know what has been done previously so you can bring your new and fresh ideas to the table. Let’s look at some key points to consider when shooting editorial fashion photography. 

Start with a clear idea for your fashion editorial photoshoot. Write down keywords and find photos for inspiration. This will keep your photos consistent.

You should also collaborate with a team of talented make-up artists, stylists, and hairstylists. Guide them so everyone’s on the same page during the photoshoot.

Find 1-2 locations that fit your theme and won’t distract from the model. Many fashion editorials are shot in studios, beaches, or parks.

Also, use different angles and poses to keep your photos exciting. Take your model’s advice on poses they feel confident doing. Break photography rules to develop your own style.

To learn more about the creative process behind editorial fashion photography, check out this in-depth article.

Runway

Runway photography is an exciting way to capture the latest fashion trends. To get started, attend small, local fashion shows and observe how they operate. Bring a camera that’s allowed, such as a point-and-shoot with zoom if professional gear isn’t permitted.

Choose a fast lens with a wide aperture like f/1.8 for low light and blurred backgrounds. Set your camera to Aperture Priority mode and use an ISO between 500-800. Focus on the models’ eyes and include details of the outfits to highlight the atmosphere.

Move around to photograph from multiple angles when possible. As you gain experience, build a portfolio and contact event organizers to get a media pass. Runway photography takes practice, but with these tips, you’ll be mingling with the pros in no time.

High Fashion

High fashion photography captures the essence of luxury and glamour. It’s all about creating beautiful, dreamlike images that showcase high-end style.

To shoot high fashion, you’ll need to understand the different genres and styles. Editorial photography tells a story through a series of images, often revolving around a theme. Beauty editorials focus on the face and top half of the model to highlight jewelry, hairstyles, and makeup.

Catalog shots are simple, with minimal styling and plain backgrounds to bring focus to the outfit. Lookbooks combine catalog and lifestyle photography to show different ways to wear clothes in everyday situations.

Click here if you want to learn more about high fashion photography.

Vintage

Vintage photography is making a comeback. To create your own vintage photos, study the limitations of old film cameras and lenses. They produced soft images with grain and little contrast.

Choose a theme for your photoshoot, like 19th century portraits or 1920s group shots. Shoot with classic compositions using the rule of thirds. Pose your subjects in a rigid, static way or have them be silly and spontaneous.

Imperfections make vintage photos authentic. Don’t fix light leaks, dust, or grain in editing. Instead, use programs like Photoshop or free alternatives to lower contrast, desaturate colors, or add a sepia tone. Stage your scene with vintage clothing, props, and locations while avoiding anything modern. Vintage photography is a time machine to the past.

Lookbook

A fashion lookbook is a great way to showcase clothing in a lifestyle setting. Unlike catalogs with plain backgrounds, lookbooks feature models in real-life backdrops.

To create a lookbook on a budget, ask friends to model or use websites like Model Mayhem to find beginners who need portfolio work.

Make the most of props you already have to complement the clothing and create different styles. Keep things simple to avoid overpowering the featured product.

Find backdrops that match the vibe of the clothes, like urban areas for streetwear or cozy cafes for a relaxed feel. Stick to clean backgrounds with few distractions.

Use natural light during the golden hour for a beautiful glow, or shoot under bright artificial lights at night.

Keep poses simple, with the model standing casually or interacting with the environment. Lookbook photography is a great way to learn fashion photography without the intimidation of editorials.

Artistic

Let’s now take a look at how we can create more artistic fashion photoshoots. You should use your location to find unique angles and perspectives. Shoot from high up or down low to show a point of view people don’t usually see. Try the dutch tilt by shifting your frame sideways for an edgy look.

Experiment with vintage film lenses for unusual effects like soft focus or beautiful bokeh. Prisms can also create kaleidoscopic effects, soft focus, and glints. Use color gels on your lights to enhance the mood of your photos.

Capture motion with long exposures or combine multiple exposures for creative results. Selective coloring can highlight the model’s clothes. And don’t forget about the classic, nostalgic look of black and white.

To learn more, read this in-depth guide on artistic fashion photography.

Black & White

Black and white fashion photography is a timeless art form that can create striking and emotive images. By removing color, the photographer can focus on the subject’s expressions, textures, and the interplay of light and shadow. This creates a raw and honest perspective that draws the viewer into the photograph.

To capture the best black and white portraits, it’s important to plan your shoot carefully. Consider the lighting, location, and your model’s posing to create the mood and story you want to convey.

Experiment with different apertures and ISO settings to create separation between your subject and the background, and to add dramatic grain to your images.

When editing your black and white portraits, you can use tools like filters, curves, and clarity to deepen shadows, brighten highlights, and add contrast to your photos.

You can also add subtle grain or scratch textures for a vintage film effect. With practice and experimentation, you can learn black and white portrait photography and create stunning, soulful images that capture the essence of your subject.

Low Key

Low key black and white photography creates moody, atmospheric images. It’s often used for portraits and fine art nudes. The key is controlling the light to produce deep shadows and highlights.

Use a single main light considerably brighter than the ambient light. Carefully position the light and subject to reveal or hide details with the shadows. Remember, your camera captures a narrower dynamic range than your eyes see.

When editing, darken the shadows to eliminate unwanted detail captured by your camera. Adjust contrast, blacks, whites, and highlights to exaggerate the low key effect. Be careful not to overdo the adjustments, which can degrade image quality.

Low key black and white photography requires precise exposure and thoughtful editing to achieve the signature high contrast look.

High Key

High key portraits with a tight frame, high contrast, shadows on the cheeks, and a white background are the hallmarks of the Platon photography style. While you may not be photographing celebrities, you can still create stunning portraits using this technique.

To achieve this look, you’ll need a couple of flash guns, light stands, and a small umbrella. Position the main light slightly above and in front of the model for a butterfly lighting effect. Use flags on either side of the model to deepen the shadows on their cheeks.

When editing the portrait, crop tightly, convert to black and white, and whiten the background. Adjust the brightness and contrast, and dodge and sharpen the eyes. Experiment with different angles and props to add your own creative touch to this classic portrait style.

To dive deeper into creating platon photography portraits, we have a comprehensive guide that covers everything from gear to editing.