Chapter 04: Different types of photography
Street photography captures real life as it happens, people walking, interesting buildings, small moments, and everyday scenes. It is not staged, it is spontaneous.
Street photography is not about “perfect” photos and more about storytelling. A street photo might show a “unscripted” funny moment, a dramatic shadow, a colourful street scene or a person lost in thought.
People love it because every walk becomes an adventure and you start noticing details you normally ignore. It is also unpredictable and exciting.
Some beginner tips are start in busy areas where interesting things happen and keep your camera ready as moments disappear fast. Don’t overthink; shoot first, evaluate later. Sometimes you must be very patient. If you are planning to take pictures of a mural you might have to wait until no one are in your frame. And a word of caution; not everyone like a picture taken of them, so be cautious about where you are and who you take picture of.
Portrait Photography
Portrait photography can also be a part of studio photography and focuses on capturing people, their expressions, personality, and mood. It can be as simple as taking a photo of a friend or as elaborate as a studio setup with lights and backdrops.
Portraits can be done in a studio or elsewhere depending on how you want your pictures to be. If you are doing portraits for å a company, it is natural to do the pictures in some kind of office setting. And portraits are not just pictures of faces. They’re about telling a story about a person. A portrait can be:
Serious or playful
Posed or candid
Indoors or outdoors
Close-up or full body
People love it because you get to connect with your subject, you learn how light shapes a face and you can experiment endlessly with backgrounds and poses.
Some beginner tips are to use natural light from a window as it is flattering and easy. Focus on the eyes; they’re the emotional anchor. And keep the background simple so the person stands out.
Still life photography
Still life photography could be somewhere in between street photography, studio photography and portrait photography. It involves arranging objects and photographing them creatively. It’s common in food photography, product photography, and artistic compositions. In still life photography you control everything, the objects, the lighting, the background and the mood.
People love it because it is perfect for experimenting, you can practice anytime and basically everywhere, and it teaches composition and lighting skills. Some beginner's tips include to use a simple background, try side lighting for depth and arrange objects in groups of three.