P#21 Q6: Does Everyone Have a Certain Style of Photography?

Finding Your Own Creative Style of Photography

Bryan Peterson: It's a really, really good question. Quite honestly, I have found in looking back at my work over a number of years, that there's a common style of photography that does show up. Did he say how long he's been shooting for?

Audri Lanford: He didn't, no.

Bryan Peterson: I think that if he doesn't see a defined style, it could be because he has not been shooting long enough. That would be one answer, because I am convinced even if it's the worst possible photographer out there, you would at least see that in their style.

You would say, "Yeah, you're just as bad as you were five years ago. I see it in your style."

That's one barometer. I guess he probably hasn't been shooting long enough to be able to determine what his style is, but let's take a moment and define what we mean by style of photography.

"Oh, I recognize your work. I recognize the style." People say, "Oh yeah, that's a Bryan Peterson photograph."

Then the question is what are they really saying? What is it that determines a style? There are several factors, not the least of which is the subject matter. Clearly, if you see a dead bug on the radiator of a truck, style or no style, you'd say, "I know who did that. I have his book. He did a whole book on dead bugs on radiators of trucks at truck stops."

That doesn't necessarily mean though that I have a style. It just means I'm noted for that particular subject. There's a big difference between subject and style of photography. Then it becomes a question of if everybody going out and photographing the same thing. Let's say we're all going to go out and photograph teenagers. The odds are really good that I'm going to photograph quite differently than someone else who has a known style.

If I didn't I would be not holding true to my "style of photography." In that respect, let me say this -- style is a direct result of shooting and shooting and shooting that doesn't often reveal itself perhaps as quickly as you'd like. Number two, style is also determined by point of view and also lens choice. You will see in a person's portfolio for example what they migrate towards.

Besides what we just discussed, the elements of design, I could look at a portfolio and say, "You really like shooting texture a lot and you like doing that with a wide angle lens. You've really mastered that combination, that look, the wide angle with the texture idea. You've done it better than most."

That might be one indication that this person is slowly coming into developing his style. The problem with styles are they're also oftentimes transitory. You may be known as the guy who shoots wide angle lens compositions with emphasis on texture for five or six years. One day for whatever reason you become the guy who shoots nothing but pattern with telephoto.

All of a sudden the style that we once knew is no longer part of you. Again, it's a maturation process and I've got to assume that this person has not been shooting that long.

To Conclude

According to Bryan Peterson, you don't need to worry about never developing your own "style" when it comes to photography. Every single photographer has his or her own style of photography. It's just a matter of shooting long enough to discover it.