Once a hobby for most, photography has evolved into a profession. Photographers breathe life into moments, yet the journey of an accomplished photographer begins with mastering a genre. From product photography to weddings and portraits, there are endless genres and subgenres in photography. Here are three of them every photographer should give a “shot” before zeroing down to one.
But first, let’s understand the different types of photography better.
Genres in photography refer to photography styles or categories defined by the image's subject or purpose. Each genre is next divided into multiple subgenres, each correlating to different aspects of the subject. Here is a quick breakdown for you to understand:
Genre: Subgenre
So, while there are numerous photography types, here’s a comprehensive list of the top 3 genres.
Almost all eCommerce stores and printing presses for catalogs and brochures know a thing or so about product photography. Product photography focuses on capturing high-quality images of objects that are usually used in sales and marketing material.
The goal? To position the product in the most appealing way possible. Product photography helps potential buyers get an idea of its looks, features, or even value conveyed through the images.
Here are some commonly found places where product photography plays a dominant role:
eCommerce stores like Amazon and Shopify extensively use product photography to sell their products. Not only does it add to the website's aesthetics, but it also plays a key role in reducing returns and building trust - a hard-to-replicate feat with poor images. On top of it, good quality features help sellers rank better than their competitors on the eCommerce platforms and hence are non-negotiable these days.
Also read:Our Amazon product photography guide on outselling competitors with high-quality images.
One of the exciting aspects of product photography is that it is not limited to users with high-end equipment. Today, an individual with a good-quality camera and decent photography skills can click professional-grade images, making smartphone photography the go-to type of photographic style among budding photographers.
But here’s the thing: editing images of products that meet benchmarks can get challenging at times. For instance, inbuilt or third-party smartphone applications aren’t designed for product photography. And that’s when Dresma steps in. Dresma’s DoMyShoot app helps you leverage your smartphone to get high-resolution, professional-quality images. These photographs not only meet international standards, but are created or edited all in seconds. Exciting, isn’t it?
Whether you are shooting for a brand or a passport, know that you are in the middle of a photography session. The type of photography style we are referring to here is called portrait photography - a wildly popular photography type, with hundreds of thousands of practitioners. This massive surge in numbers is attributed to the rising number of social media users and improved camera quality.
But here’s the thing: one finds applications of portrait photography in eCommerce, too. For instance, AI female models from Dresma have proven to be more cost-effective, faster, and better than their human counterparts.
Some of its key features include:
When it comes to photography, there are different photography styles for different situations. One such application is photographs that are primarily clicked for business purposes. This photograph types are usually referred to as commercial photographs and the genre, commercial photography.
Commercial photographs are broadly used to promote, advertise, or sell a product, service, or brand. However, the intent behind commercial photography is not simply to improve the aesthetic appeal of a product; instead, it is used to drive conversions, create brand recalls, and ultimately support marketing efforts of the brands.
Here are some popular types of photography under the genre, commercial photography.
Gone are the days when travel TV shows allowed chefs to hop restaurant. Today, Instagram is flooded with creators busy eating or preparing delicious drinks and serving food.
The best part?
Restaurant owners are willing to pay a premium for professional food photography services or pay influencers to go live at their place. These creatives are then used as Meta ads or on menus, brochures, etc., as part of promotional activities.
But here’s the thing: food photography isn’t just pretty pictures. Here’s why I say so:
The rise in remote shopping has forced brands to be creative. Brands now consider their websites and eCommerce platforms as their digital showrooms, where the right photo does not just sell a product but rather builds an experience.
Consider IKEA, for instance. Instead of showing a chair stacked against a white background, IKEA smartly styles a complete room. A space with rugs, plants, and books that reflect a lived-in vibe!
From the raw edge of street styles to the polished drama of a couture shoot, fashion photography transforms fabric into emotionally charged visuals. This art is not just about photographing clothes but rather capturing attitude, identity, and aspirations in a single frame.
But here’s the thing, challenges in fashion photography are no exception. Here are some common mistakes most beginners make when photographing fashion accessories:
Whether you are hooked to the rich textures of a plated dish or impressed by a fashion shoot, each genre or subgenre demands its own set of tools and skills. Mastering any of these three genres opens up immense financial opportunities and sharpens your ability to tell stories through visuals. So just start!
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