How many genres of photography are there?
90 Genres of Photography
We have assembled one of the largest resources, with detailed information and largest list of photography genres! The aim of The Photography Reference is to become instrumental in inspiring anyone that is interested in the art of photography, including new and existing photographers to explore this beautiful art form through the evaluation and experimentation of photographic genres and techniques. The types of photography and genres of photography available to you at The Photography Reference is immense. Browse our selection and learn something new!
It doesn’t matter if you are just beginning your journey in photography, if you are searching for some inspiration for your photography to elevate your online and social media presence, or are just interested in exploring ideas to branch out from your existing genre of professional photography, at The Photography Reference we will something to inspire you!
Learn new photography skills
Use this page to browse through our massive and detailed list of photography genres. Select any of the genres and types of photography listed to explore our invaluable resource of information for each type of photography. Select any photography genre link to learn more about how to go about that type or genre of photography. Come back again as we’re always adding new types of photography at The Photography Reference.
- 35mm Film Photography
Rather than taking hundreds of photos on a digital camera to produce a dozen good ones, using a 35mm film camera will… - 360 and Virtual Tour Photography
Nature, landscape, and adventure photographers use 360 degree photography and 360 degree virtual tours to show the beauty of our world… - Abstract Photography
Due to the subjective nature of abstract photography and abstract art in general, this is one of the fields where beauty is in the eye of the beholder… - Adventure Photography
Use a journalistic style with your adventure photography where you record some information about each photo location in a physical or spoken diary. .. - Advertising and Marketing Photography
The commercial client will attempt to convey their creative vision through a brief, so it is important for you as the photographer to communicate effectively with the client and to understand their vision… - Angel Photography
The term “angel photography” might be unfamiliar to some, but its impact is both profound and far-reaching. It is the sensitive and respectful practice of photographing stillborn babies or infants who have passed away shortly after birth…
- Architectural Photography
Architectural photographs will likely be published online in the architect’s project gallery, in architectural print magazines marketing of the architects’ and builders’ services for years to come… - Astrophotography
The darker the sky the more objects you’ll be able to see both with your eye and your camera. The best place and time to image the night sky is away from the glow of bright city lights and on nights where… - Automotive Photography
Professional automotive photography of new model vehicles is a niche genre where photos must convey not only the vehicle but the lifestyle and emotion of owning one… - Beauty and Makeup Photography
Lighting should be soft to match the gentle curves of the model’s face. Depending on the look you’re trying to achieve you can use either natural light or artificial light… - Birth Photography
Capturing such an intimate and medically sensitive event requires a unique blend of technical skill, emotional sensitivity, and professionalism… - Black and White Photography
Modern black and white photographers to follow are Julia Anna Gospodarou, Carina Hedlund and Noriaki Kimura. Look up each of these photographers and study their compositions and style…
- Boudoir Photography
The reason for seeking a boudoir photography session is usually to boost love, confidence and self empowerment through images that express tenderness and sensuality… - Cake Smash Photography
Cake smash photography is about more than the mess; it captures joy, wonder, and the beauty of early childhood… - Candid Photography
In a professional setting photographers can be engaged to photograph family or corporate events to shoot candid photographs of participants… - Catalogue Fashion Photography
Although the catalogue fashion model is a vital component of the shoot, the focus and brief for the shoot is always the fashion… - Catwalk Photography
Fashion catwalk show photographers are often situated at the prime position of the long end of the catwalk. This gives the catwalk photographer access to the best vantage point from where to photograph the models… - Cityscape Photography
The most beautiful images can be achieved with the twilight effect of dark shadows, bright vibrant colours of the traffic and buildings, coupled with the lighter blues and pinks of a clear or cloudy twilight sky… - Commercial Photography
Photographers that classify themselves as being in the business of commercial photography could expect to have enquiries from any genre of photography…
- Composite Photography
Creative photography: Composite photography is the art of photographing and combining two or more images into a new representation. It requires not only photography but also digital editing using graphic software… - Cosplay Photography
Cosplay refers to dressing up as a character or person – be it fictional or real. Cosplaying is mostly found at theme parties, comic cons, fan meets and interested social groups… - Concert Photography
Commercial photography: Depending on the musicians’ and the photographer usage rights it may come to pass that all rights for photos are retained by the musician in return for payment to the photographer… - Creative Photography
Creative photography: Creative photography is about experimenting and inspiring creative thought processes rather than photographing a specific scene or object in the usual way… - Dance Photography
Commercial photography: Dance is a purposefully selected sequence of movements by one or more persons with symbolic and aesthetic value, and dance photography is the art of visually documenting this beautiful display of movement…
- Documentary Photography
Documentary photography captures life or an event as it occurs in its natural state, without alteration and without interference… - Double Exposure Photography
Double exposure photography differs from multiple exposure photography in that there are usually only two exposures, and it is created in-camera… - Drone Aerial Photography
Before flying check your federal authority for federal aviation rules and regulations and check your local authority for additional local legislation and by-laws that may affect your flight… - Editorial Photography
Editorial photography is a close match with journalism photography, but there are some distinct differences. Editorial photography will accompany an unrushed article whereas journalism photography generally embraces hard news… - Engagement Photography
Professional engagement photography is a meaningful way to document the start of a couple’s journey to marriage. Each session is a unique reflection of the couple’s personalities… - Event Photography
Typical events covered by event photography are trade shows, conferences, corporate occasions and parties, shows and other public events, private birthday parties and private engagement parties…
- Family Portrait Photography
Family portrait photography is a sub-genre of the enormous field of portrait photography. It is concerned with the capture of families and loved ones in either an informal or formal fashion… - Fantasy Photography
It is the creative’s imagination that brings ideas in fantasy photography into existence through imaginative sets and backgrounds, costumes and creative post processing… - Fine Art Photography
The definition of fine art can fluctuate, but the initiating elements of the art will always have an expressive and creative foundation sourced from the artist’s mind… - Fitness Photography
Fitness is about planning, determining, and executing a degree of exercise every day commensurate with a level of strength desired. As a fitness photographer, your job is to capture all of that in pictorial form… - Food Photography
Even though photographs of food have blanketed personal social media accounts over the past decade, the art of commercial food photography is still a great genre for professional photographers to endeavour to succeed in. ..
- Forensic Photography
Forensic photography is one of the most important aspects of crime scene investigation. It is a permanent record of a scene after an event and as such the photographs are a vital part of the evidence chain… - Glamour Photography
Glamour photography is usually considered to be an elegant artistic and sensual extension of portrait photography… - Glass Ball Photography
Glass ball photography is a creative genre of photography where a glass or crystal ball is placed in front of the camera lens and a photograph taken of the view within the ball… - Golden Hour Photography
The golden hour period is perfect for landscape and portrait photography when the scene is bathed in warm tones with less contrast and lighter shadows. The warm colors of golden hour photography are usually unsurpassed in beauty … - Head Portrait Photography
The main aim of head portrait photography is to showcase the personality of the subject in a setting that reflects both the business brand and the end use prerequisite of the client…
- High Dynamic Range HDR Photography
High dynamic range photography (HDR) is a technique where multiple exposures are combined either in camera or during post processing using software to produce a scene with a large range of exposure or contrast… - High Fashion Photography
High fashion photography is at the most artistic edge of all the fashion photography genres. A high fashion photographer could be photographing highly-paid models or well-known actresses or actors in an artistic setting… - High Speed Photography
High speed photography doesn’t necessarily mean the use of a high speed shutter; the circumstances and equipment used during high speed photography will determine the camera settings… - Hotel Resort Photography
Hotel and resort photography can encompass a number of other genres of photography within the same assignment (such as architectural, interior design, lifestyle, commercial portraits and food photography… - Industrial Photography
There are a wide variety of industrial businesses that need photography including transportation, engineering, manufacturing, energy, construction, mining and technology companies. ..
- Infrared Photography
Creative applications of infrared photography is achieved either through the use of specifically adapted camera sensors, 35mm infrared film or filters such as the Hoya Infrared R72 filter… - Interior Design Photography
Interior design photography is a commercial genre associated with the imaging of design elements, furnishings, and artefacts within an architectural space or environment… - Landscape Photography
Our planet is incredibly beautiful. There is an almost endless list of unique places around the world that provide for stunning landscape photography scenes… - Lifestyle Photography
Lifestyle photography is the art of capturing people in real-life events and settings in a visually appealing way… - Light Painting Photography
Enter the world of light painting and discover the abundant ways it offers to express yourself. Your imagination is the only constraint when light painting… - Long Exposure Photography
Long exposure photography is a part of the list of photography genres. It often produces some of the most dramatic and unusual images. From the capture of lightning bolts to night sky star trails, the softening of ocean water as it crashes over rocks…
- Macro Photography
Macro photography is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable genres of photography. If you have the required macro expertise, you can take some beautiful macro photographs… - Maternity Photography
Whether it is a fun shoot with a friend, or a paid commercial session you should have an outcome in your mind that will be conveyed to the client through your photography… - Medical Photography
In this article we explore what medical photography is, how to break into the field, safety considerations in sensitive environments such as surgery rooms, and the industries that depend on this specialised form of photography… - Milk Bath Photography
The objective of milk bath photography is to showcase the sensual side of the model. It is a derivative art form of portrait photography… - Minimalist Photography
The power of this genre of photography is inspired by the concept of minimalism. It is as subjective as any style of art. ..
- Model Photography
Every photographer that wants to break into the profession of model photography will need to make a bold statement about their style… - Monochrome Photography
Taking a photograph of any scene as a coloured image and then post processing it to create a monochrome is the most common way to achieve monochrome images. .. - Motion Photography
Blurring backgrounds is the easiest way to add motion to photographs. Adding a slight blur to the background by panning with the subject will enhance its movement and produce a sense of its speed… - Motor Sport Photography
The entire concept of motor sport photography is to take the best images you can while those vehicles are in motion… - Nature and Wildlife Photography
Nature & wildlife photography is the photography of landscapes, flora and fauna in a natural state, and without extended influence from human intervention…
- Newborn Photography
Newborn photography must be one of the most beautiful genres of photography that captures the cutest subjects in their most aww-some moments!… - Panoramic Photography
Panoramas are usually horizontal and are known to cover a field of vision that is broader than the normal vision of a human eye… - Pet Photography
The pet’s behaviour can influence your shot, and the pet’s own expressions can inspire your imagination for a distinctive shot… - Photojournalism
Photographers provide news agencies with unbiased photographic records of events around the world. They must operate sometimes in dangerous locations and in places where the public would have no access to be able to document the events… - Photomicrography
Photomicrography bridges the gap between the microscopic and the macroscopic, uncovering a world of intricate structures and patterns. From biological research to industrial quality control, the applications are numerous and diverse… - Portrait Photography
Portrait photography is a major category on our list of photography genres. It encompasses a wide range of photographic genres in both studio and non-studio environments…
- Product Photography
As you gain experience in the genre of product photography, the importance of high-quality equipment will become increasingly apparent… - Real Estate Photography
A good real estate agent will utilise a professional photographer to capture the property in its best light and composition… - Retro and Vintage Photography
Retro and vintage photography is about creating an old-time vibe in the pictures you take. It could include models wearing old vintage clothes and it could include actual antique items and locations in the shoot… - Scientific Photography
Scientific photography is used in areas where a lot of pictorial data or records are required to be stored for commercial applications and scientific study purposes… - School Portrait Photography
With dedication and creativity, school portrait photography can become both a fulfilling art form and a lucrative business venture. - Senior Photography
Senior photography, or senior portraits as it may be known, documents an important stage in life of a late teen…
- Silhouette Photography
By manipulating the method of playing with dark shadows and bright light in photography we can create an entirely new genre of photography, silhouette photography… - Social Influencer Photography
Social influencers tap into different communities or niches of their own. They continually post and create content based on these niches and have captured a hold over their own set of social consumers… - Social Media Photography
Specifically used for advertisement and brand awareness purposes, product photography involves photographing interesting images of any kind of product that is to be sold through the medium of social media… - Sports Photography
Sports photography is literally a combination of two of most of our favourite things – sports and photography… - Still Life Photography
The art of still life photography encourages creativity and motivates photographers to experiment with different techniques…
- Stock Photography
To earn a successful income from creating stock photography, you must always keep up to date with new and emerging trends and provide excellent quality images… - Street Photography
Street photography is photographing any particular element that you would find on the street such as bikes, animals, streetlights, roadside trees, shops, and even dustbins… - Studio Portrait Photography
As photographers, many of us dream of owning our own studio where we can create beautiful portraits in a controlled lighting environment… - Surprise Engagement Photography
Surprise engagement photography has become a treasured way to document one of life’s most emotional and exciting events, the proposal… - Surrealist Photography
Surrealist photography gives you complete liberty to explore the artistic depths of your imagination… - Time Lapse Photography
To capture the true essence of the hustle and bustle of city light or the stars crossing the sky, then time lapse will help you capture the dynamic movement…
- Travel Photography
Travel Photography, is the skill and art of capturing any travel destination through the photographer’s eyes… - Underwater Photography
Underwater photography includes a lot of elements that can easily become great obstacles such as stability, equipment waterproofing, subjects, clarity, and a lot more… - Urban Exploration Urbex Photography
Popularly known as urbex photography, urban exploration photography can be considered a subtype of travel and street photography… - War Photography
War photography conveys the essence of war in a way that words alone cannot, encapsulating tragedy, resilience, and the profound effects on individuals and societies… - Weather and Storm Photography
Some of the most dramatic storm and weather photographs are taken at dawn, at dusk or in the dark of night… - Wedding Photography
Our massive 25-chapter wedding photography guide probably has everything you need to start and run a professional wedding photography business…
Photography is a visual art
One of the best ways to advance your photography skills in any genre of photography is to learn new photography techniques from other seemingly unrelated genres of photography! We’ve assembled this massive list of photography genres along with detailed notes and ideas so that you can improve your creative ability to become one of the best in your field of photography.
Photography is a creative art, but you can also earn an income from photography if you are skilled enough. From abstract photography to commercial, studio and storm photography, each genre of photography requires different skills and a passion for this create art. so no matter which stage you are at with photography, whether it be a beginner with an iPhone to a professional with the most advanced gear, browse the massive list of photography genres here to find what will peak your interest and drive your passion further.
We are all influenced by our visual surroundings. Photography provides a means for us to record all that we see. If we can record our surroundings in a pleasing and visually stimulating way then we are on our way to getting our photography noticed.
It allows us to see the world from multiple perspectives. It can be a means to document important world-changing events, to raise our understanding of our natural environment and the human-induced events that are affecting our living conditions and our changing climate. It has shaped our interpretation of how we arrived where we are in world history, and is an indelible record of our existence and our place in the universe!
The list of photography genres at The Photography Reference provides you with an incredible springboard to advance your photography skills by learning new techniques.
Have fun learning about all of the genres of photography
There is so much to read and learn at The Photography Reference, with over 80 detailed descriptions in our list of photography genres, there will be many to suit you!