If a potential client asks me this question, I respond immediately with, “What kind of photography do you need?”
But for the vast majority of family, friends, fans, and followers of photography, when asking this same question, they are typically seeking to understand your specialty or focus within the broad field of photography. They may want to know what subjects you primarily photograph, what techniques you use, or what style you prefer. This question gives you an opportunity to describe your unique approach to photography and highlight the specific types of images you create. Your response could encompass various aspects such as portrait photography, landscape photography, street photography, wildlife photography, or even more niche areas like macro photography or still life photography. Essentially, they’re interested in learning about your photographic interests, expertise, and the type of imagery you produce.
In short, most want to know…
• What subjects and genres you would consider yourself an expert in?
• What specific style do you use to shoot those subjects and genres?
• What camera do you use?
In my tiny universe, since I exclusively shoot with iPhone cameras, and have been doing so since 2011, when asked this question,” What Kind Of Photography Do You Do?”, I tend to focus on Subject and Style.
Subject matter most often refers to the content of what I shoot-the WHAT.
Style most often refers to the context of what I shoot-the HOW.
Every photograph needs some combination of WHAT and HOW.
If you tend to have more WHAT in your photography, the chances are good you are more of a documentarian photographer.
If you tend to have more HOW in your photography, the chances are good you are more of an art photographer.
I shot these photos of Cape Cod, over a couple days, in the biting cold of winter.
They represent, for those that have eyes to see, both the WHAT and HOW of my coastal photography love.
“A lot of people seem to think that art or photography is about the way things look, or the surface of things. They don’t understand that it’s not about a style or a look or a setup. It’s about emotional obsession and empathy.”
Nan Goldin
Jack
