Time for another weekly poll – this time I’m interested to hear what type of photography you do most.
I’ve nominated 9 of the most popular categories from last time we asked this (2 years ago). I know there are many other types of photography so if you do something not in the list please add it as a comment below.
You’re able to vote for as many of the following options as apply to you.
Looking forward to the results on this one.
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81 Responses to “What Type of Photography Do You Do? [POLL]” - Add Yours
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:28 am
Darren – I read your newsletter regularly with interest… but often too busy to actually participate in the contests, etc. However – I am a theater photographer – photography for the performing arts (theater, opera, dance, etc.) Keep up the newsletters – I enjoy them!
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:42 am
I’m a Forensic Specialist by day and take hundreds of crime scene photos; which include Macro-photography, PR Photography, and Portraits. During my off time I like to shoot Ballroom Dancing, Portraits, and Digital Infrared. I don’t seem to really fit in any one category that you’ve listed!
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 am
there should be a choice that says everything, because for people new to photography like me..we’ll pretty much do anything that lets us click away!
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 am
What about Street?
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:06 am
I will shoot anything that “hits my eye.” That is why I call myself an eclectic photographer. My favorite color is red. When I see something red, I will investigate is photographic possibilities. I always look for geometry, real or imagined, to add to my composition. I love shadows and always look for ways to incorporate them into my images. I look for rusty objects because I love to be creative with Photoshop Elements 6 for MAC. I often use “solarize” to create either an abstract or surreal image using rusty objects, flowers, etc. In other words, I’m an eclectic photographer.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 am
isn’t there an ‘other’ LOL. Actors Headshots are not really portraits, but …maybe ….if i HAD to pick one ;-).
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:20 am
None of the above – abstract.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:22 am
Mark me down for product and food :)
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 am
Portrait mostly! I think it’s my favorite cause I like to work with people!
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 am
Kids mostly, but people in general, but not portraits: candids. I like catching a good soccer shot of my daughter, but also her in girl scouts, or just playing school with a friend in her room. I take pictures of my son playing his trumpet at school , but also that funny looking bug he caught on vacation. I guess you could call it documenting life photos? (Photojournalism?)
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:35 am
I selected portrait, landscape, architecture, fashion & live music…
But i also do art, nightlife, urban decay, graffiti, randomness, parties & general trashbaggery
If you saw my photo’s you’d understand what i mean by all that
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:35 am
I also have done time-lapse photos at night of the stars and have attempted to do it with lightening bugs flying by as well.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:37 am
I’ve never had to define my photography beyond, pet photography. I’ve branched out to families and kids (with pets, of course) – it’s not portraits, but I guess that’s the closest choice (or wildlife – LOL).
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:38 am
I wonder should I be focusing in on just one area rather than being a jack of all trades in taking Macro, portraits, landscapes and music ?
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:51 am
Interesting question David…I’ve wondered the same. But I’ve also found that themes, trends and , to a lesser degree, styles tend to find me rather than me finding them. I like trying different things – some to see if I like it. I have a good idea what I do not have an interest in, so that helps thin the list down a bit. As for the multiple types, I think I’m going to stick with Street, Documentary Portrait, Landscape and Architecture – it’s all art in the end, right?
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:54 am
From the list, I frequently shoot portrait, landscape, macro and architecture.
Missing from the list: urban, street photography, abstract and nature.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 am
Also one other kind is the ‘’spotting” :) For people that standing by runways or airports and taking pictures of incoming or outcoming,even those which standing,aircrafts :)
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 am
I’d also request a commercial option – folks who shoot product, etc.
Perhaps also an event option (weddings, concerts, etc).
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:08 am
What Eric said…
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:10 am
I have a journalistic approach to photography. My subject is the story or essence of what I experience.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:17 am
am i the only one who wants to hear more from Ricardo Tomboc? crime scene photographer by day, ballroom dance photographer by night (or is it the other way around?) sounds like the premise for a tv show!
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 am
What about wedding photography? :) that’s a fun one!
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:26 am
I think the most challenging kind of photography is candid street work. I like to catch he unguarded moment that frequently demonstrates the essential quality of being human. Two men playing cards, a mother consoling her child, a street vendor and a customer haggling over price, someone trying to make sense of a work of modern art, a group of giggling school girls, and so on. Even though you might think the sight of a camera might be off-putting, most subjects – or potential subjects – don’t seem to mind. The results are frequently amazing and exciting in that you can catch a glimpse into people’s souls. My favourite photographer is Alfred Eisenstaedt – and with good reason.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:27 am
Unfortunately for most photographers taking shots of most anything is a waste of time. Patience is a virtue and it strongly applies to excellent photography. One must view special subject matter, time of day, shadows, relevance to what’s important to a viewer… otherwise they get lost due to lack of interest.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
I guess I would be primarily weddings, then portraits, then ‘ other stuff’
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 am
I’m with @summerbl4ck, let’s hear more from Ricardo Tomboc! :)
Right now I’m trying to expand my range so I’m trying to do a bit of everything (except sports… not really a sports fan, so that particular branch of photography doesn’t appeal to me as much), depending on my inspiration each day. One thing I shoot pretty consistently is salsa dancing, since I’m getting somewhat involved in that community and I’ve developed a style both they and I enjoy.
Also trying to get over my shyness/sheepishness and trying my hand at street photography.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:55 am
I vote for “Everything” as well. I enjoy all kinds of photography, and I’m happy to try most things.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:09 am
I started out doing floral, but migrated to wildlife – mainly butterflies and shore birds. Recently I started doing portrait work. The big difference that I’ve noticed is that with wildlife you wait all day to get just the perfect pose and perfect light, while with portrait work you have to create that light and pose.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 am
I’d have definitely checked Wedding/Events if it was there.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 am
street candids
hdr
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
“Walkabout”! Anything that catches my eye.
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:43 am
I TAKE PHOTOS TO EVERYTHING :D
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 am
I shoot mostly performing arts – specifically theater. I also try to do live music.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:04 am
My passion is caves, but i love shooting at random the things I see during my day, if i see some kind of spark in a view, ill shoot it, Sherri and are new to the buisness side of this field, but we both have been shooting since we were teens, Sherri’s passion is bats, she also has a nack for macro.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
I photograph People (Dance, Weddings, Family Portraits). and for something inanimate Cars and Motorcycles
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:33 am
Urban Street Art, which can include graffiti (NOT tags), murals and sundry things that city people either cast off, hoard, alter, decorate, or value.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:32 am
I shot a lot of florals and still lifes.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 am
Darren! Conduct an interview with Ricardo Tomboc. Please :)
That’s one kind of photographer you never hear about. Some details of his techniques could be an awesome article for your site. And btw, thank you very much for a awesome site. Been a reader for almost a year now :)
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I thought you missed quite a few options on this. I mostly take photos of protests and events so would fall under photojournalism mostly.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 am
street mostly
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 am
Actually, I’m a bit of all these types, so nothing specially or focus on it.
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Hi Darren,
I am a first time contributor and have read with interest a lot of different articles over the past few months. This particular section caught my attention as I fell into photography quite unexpectedly. I do food photograhy for a dining guide. I use a light box for consistency of the shots and also shoot some shots in Macro. I study all the food photography articles you present with interest.
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Even though I take photos of everything alive -or not- I specialize in human rights photography.
Regards,
JC
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I mostly shoot : In order of most to least
1) Night Photography
2) Landscape
3) Still Life
4) Macro
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Mine are mainly landscape and architecture: i follow the moajority (at least in the moment of my vote), but I think mine are slightly different form the “classical” landscapes and architecture.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I second for an interview with a forensic specialist (a real one, not the one you see on tv that can retrieve meaningful pixels from a misty fog of nothingness)!
I picked portrait but I would like to add “candid portrait” mostly (but not only in the streets ;-) ).
I sometimes do weddings but it is not my cup of tea.
D.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Group photography, is my greatest challenge but I really love to catch people in that once in a million shot that can never be replayed nor repeated
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xIujm7Df_Dw/SoCXmqCFDaI/AAAAAAAAB50/c2u8Yc2K38I/s1600-h/1531+Evergreen+Road2.jpg
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Trees and more trees ….at the moment. Combination of different colour leaves….awesome.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Live Music Baby!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Yeah, where was ’street photography’. My favourite type.
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I’m a generalist. I like to shoot a little but of everything. Of the types listed though I would say I’ve had the most fun doing sports photography.
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Food! :)
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
pretty much all of them. I didn’t check about three of them. I’d have checked street/candid photography if it had been available
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Architecture, most definitely. I’m fascinated with buildings, especially old factories and textile mills. They have such a sense of history about them, even when abandoned. I’d love to try my hand at sports but don’t have the camera or knowledge for something like that.
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I used to do almost anything – just to learn photography. It’s only in recent years that I’ve been more focused on just a few particular items. I checked off Landscape, Macro, Architecture and Travel – but I really feel that what I do is more a combination of all of those at the same time (except perhaps Macro). My interest is really in man-made spaces, and I like to focus on the details: A hand crafted gate, the subtle expression of an observer of public art, paving patterns in a widely used park. So I’m not sure my work would fit entirely into any specific category here.
Then again, I think most photographers would be hard pressed to find one specific label for their work. We are artists, after all, so it’s all about breaking boundaries.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I mostly just grab my camera and go out and shoot what catches my interest. Love to be outdoors.
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Weddings! and some portraiture
October 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I love taking candid/street snaps – and I love looking at my garden and taking snaps of the lil animals/birds that hop in, and of our garden itself!
Ang agree with Travis above. Its kinda my style too (photographing things that are unique)
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Until recently, just about anything.
Now I’m finding myself lean more and more towards Portraits.
I’m starting up a local business, and helping a lot of local families get good priced Portraits without having to go into the larger towns.
But when I’m not working, I like to shoot whatever captures my fancy.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 am
Street (peopled or not)
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 am
Mostly Nature/Bird Photography. But what I didn’t see up there was news type photography. I carry my camera with me at all times just in case I come across a house fire of storm damage…One day I hope to get a classic twister image….shhh don’t tell my wife…;)
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:30 am
I’m relatively new to photography… learning A LOT and loving it.
What I need is more people to learn with!
October 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 am
Most of my work gravitates around landscape. I live on the plains, with lots of natural prairie around. But I also love to photograph my twin grandsons interacting with each other, the goats at the petting zoo, and anywhere else they happen to be.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:59 am
I started out by doing nature and wild life, shooting herons and deer and flowers and the like. I’ve done a couple of weddings so far, I’m trying to get into the business but working a crummy job that doesn’t pay much keeps me from getting my own gear out of my own pocket. I’m stuck in that light and I’m also caught between wanting to do more weddings but not wanting to cheapen my work either. As much as I hate to say it, I don’t want to shoot for someone “cheap” in the sense that they don’t appreciate the work it takes. For example, an former best friend of mine and former band mate came to me through facebook because he wants family portraits. But he just wants me to take a few shots and hand them over so he can order his own prints, because he “doesn’t want to pay a fortune for something he can do himself, if he didn’t have to run be in the picture.” He said this in first person. Then his wife, whom I am also friends with, was asking me about it also through facebook and said that they want to go somewhere cheaper than what they got last year.
But that has nothing to do with the poll.
I checked portraits, macro, landscape, wildlife, live music. (I love the energy at concerts and love photographing them more than anything). But I don’t think I can make a living as a concert photographer.
And for the person above- be bold, get fast glass and a camera that does well with high ISO performance, and just go. Have fun. Permission might help, so if you know a band, that in might do you well.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 am
As a journalist I have, at one time or another, found myself shooting “everything”. My camera has taken me many places, some wonderous, some mundane and some I’d prefer to never see again. Always in conditions that I have no control over. When other photographers ask me about things such as light, I reply, “Never use it.”
There comes, I think, a time when you stop being a picture taker and begin to become a photographer. At that point, you begin to “see” photos, everywhere you go.
These days I shoot mainly sports, the greatest challenge for photographers, and I love it. I’m learning, with the help of DPS, to shoot landscapes. I think it’s a matter of opposites. I make my living shooting action and get a personal pleasure in shooting unmoving things.
Ricardo, I would absolutely love to hear more from you and about your experiences both at work and in the ballroom.
Darren, thanks again for creating this community.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
I photography about anything. My most enjoyable photos are weddings and I own a classic 57 chevy so I do lots of Cruise Ins and car shows.
October 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
How come food photography is not listed? I photograph everything. Macro photography is something I have yet to venture into.
October 3rd, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Flowers, plants, gardens, trees, bulbs, roots, twigs, leaves, bark, lawn, seeds, and oh well, anything that belongs to something plantlike. Photography – for me – is a natural extension of my obsession with plants . . .
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Hallo,
First I like to tell you, that I like your digital-photography-school very much. We are from the Netherlands, but we live in China to work with Orphanage children. Therefore I like to take pictures from all this children to build for every child a foto book. Only what not was standing in the boxes above was take pictures from the daily life, or the live in the streets. I like it very much to take pictures from the daily live of the Chinese people. I like to make a book of it. It’s also that China is changing, most of the time we are to late if we don’t do it now, what is normal in the life of China, is tomorrow away, greetings Hans van Veelen.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Here’s another niche market that I haven’t seen mentioned..spa photography. This is one area that I have started to specialize in recently. Anyone else shoots spas?
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I have enjoyed photography as a hobby for 50+years. I own a Canon 20D and am a Scott Kelby fan. He is a great photoshop expert, yet emphasizes the importance of getting the best possible shot when taking the picture, to make your time in photoshop more enjoyable.The information here is incredible…Thanks a lot…
October 4th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I voted Landscape, but I run a close second with macro – mostly of bugs, flowers, or whatever catches my interest. I also love doing candid shots of people & animals. But, I also want to do more portrait & to expand my borders on other areas.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I am passionate about black and white-after spending 4 years in the art school darkroom doing black and white it was hard to change to colour after I went digital in 98- I photograph 1.things that look like fish eg the shape but obviously are not fish…2.interesting/quirky juxtapositions in the street…3.the backs of buildings (unseen forgotten spaces) and the backs of people in public -incorporating industrial decay and depersonalisation/public private space…and I am also working on the poltical and the personal (contrasts/similiarities) photographing images from the TV and popular media…one thing I have can’t photograph are people-portraits-so admire those people that can…
October 4th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Darren:
I like to do shootings: “playing with a perspective”. Please, I expecting your advices about this theme.
Thankss a lot-
Alex
October 4th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Aviation. With an emphasis on antiques and WWII warbirds. Railroad locomotives, again with an emphasis on the old steam engines that are still being kept alive by volunteers much like the old aircraft. Occasionally I’ll also do architecture (skyscrapers and old, heavily ornamented art deco buildings) and landscapes. All of the above I stitch into large format photos of 100-300 megapixels in order to capture the details.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I just starting to focus on Landscape & Portraits…I do Still Life more though…
October 6th, 2009 at 12:44 am
…keenly intersted in realistic photography.. i mean street photogrphy , workinh people photography , emotions n much more.! help me working on these.. n the must Do’s for the same !
October 6th, 2009 at 1:07 am
Boudoir Portraits was not on the list, I thought portraits is too broad for this type. Mostly Artistic Photography, not the normal headshots. But like that other guy said us newbies shoot everything!
October 7th, 2009 at 8:10 am
There’s one very popular option missing: food photography! :D
October 11th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I like to shoot a variety of things too but my favorite is food photography, and I do a lot of generic commercial stock photo stuff too.
I love taking… errr trying to take landscape shots but so far I’m not so hot at that :)
October 28th, 2009 at 12:39 am
I do a little of a few things: nature, macro, landscape, travel, promotional, abstract. In terms of offering services, I’m drawn to commercial/promotional/product photograpy. I’m not real comfortable with the idea of things like weddings or potrait photography, though I would give them a try if asked. I prefer some distance from my subjects. Still life is my favorite.
When I’m just shooting on my own or looking for possible prints to sell, I like drama, visual interest, good use of color/strong color presence. I have done very little black and white photography. I really don’t enjoy it all that much.
Jen M.
JenniferLynn Productions, LLC
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