Finding Inspiration for your photography style
The first step in developing a photography style is to define how it will look, and you can only do that by observing others for inspiration.
In this post, you’ll learn:
Why it’s not only ok to copy other photographers’ work - but absolutely essential.
What you need to take into account when looking for mentors.
why finding mentors is so essential
If you want a photography style (a type of photo that others recognise you by), you’ll need to find photographers who create images you would love to call your own - and try to copy them 1:1. To accomplish this you may need to learn new skills and also re-think your processes.
Disclaimer: copying someone’s 1:1 is ONLY ok if you don’t publish it on the internet claiming it to be the original.
The most famous artists, regardless of genre, whether musicians, painters, writers, or sculptors, were all once inspired by others and acquired their skill set by imitating the artworks of their idols. From there, they put their own spin on the imitations and went on to create their own pieces by blending the originals together in their unique way—nowadays, THEY are the ones influencing the artists who are a few steps behind them.
Paul Gauguin influenced Vincent Van Gogh.
Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker influenced the Rolling Stones.
Edgar Allan Poe influenced Stephen King.
David Bowie, undoubtedly one of the most unique and influential musicians of our time once said in a Rolling Stone magazine interview:
“When I heard someone say something intelligent. I used it later as if it were my own. When I saw a quality in someone that I liked. I took it. I still do that. All the time.”
Photographers, conversely, feel they must reinvent the wheel—all on their own—from scratch. Some feel they don’t deserve to call themselves photographers and restrain themselves from excelling. When really anyone who puts their mind to it can become a fantastic photographer. Everyone who has invested in a good camera and is enthusiastic about photography has the right to develop a unique style.
Almost all professional photographers nowadays are self-taught.
Finding the right mentors
To take the first step in developing a photography style, you have to define how it is destined to look. I would begin by putting together a mood board with around 100 photos that you feel connected to.
One thing you must try to avoid when looking for photography mentors is believing that every good photo you like and are impressed by should influence your style - you would very quickly become overwhelmed.
Make sure:
you have regualr access to similar subjects and settings seen in their photos
you have a long think as to whether you would enjoy the process of capturing the photos
You probably already have a few photographers who you avidly follow on Instagram and whose work you enjoy looking at. Who are the first five that instantly come to mind? Don’t forget to add some of their photos to your mood board.
Study their techniques
Look at your moodboard and analyse the techniques used to capture the photos.
A few simple questions you could ask yourself are:
Do most of the images include a main subject? Where are they usually positioned in the image? How much space do they take up?
Are you seeing repetitive colours?
Do the photographers use special techniques for their photos?
Of course a style can be made up of many different methods woven into one. I hope this post has inspired you to begin the process.
Source: David Bowie interview