May 20, 2015 / Beginner

Identifying Your Photographic Inspiration and Style

Your muse will reveal itself to you, if you take the time to listen. Let your camera be your compass.

Photo: <a href="http://threebirds.blog" target="none">Jen Hooks</a>.

Today’s technology makes the creation of a photograph a trivial thing. With the rapid improvement of cameras within mobile devices in the last decade, we are rarely without the ability to take photographs of the minutiae of our daily lives. We can share images with others with the tap of a button, and the feedback in the form of likes and comments is addictive. With the trivialization of photography in an age of selfies, latte art, sunsets, and vintage color filters (all of which I love, if I’m being honest), some of the heart and art of the craft seems to be getting lost. As a photographer, do you take the time to identify and understand what really excites you when you find it in front of your lens? If not, do you wish to start?

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

Have your camera with you whenever possible, and don’t wait.

When my first daughter was a little over a year old, there was a beautiful field of soybeans that we passed every day on the way home from her daycare. It shone like bronze in the early evening light, and it would be easy and safe for me to take a few photos of her there. I stalled for a few weeks, never making the time to prioritize it, even though I thought about it every single day as we drove past. I finally managed to take her there one evening in late October, and I got some lovely shots of her in the glowing early sunset light. She also had a ball.

A photo of a toddler in a soybean field in the fall. Photo by Jen Hooks.

Don’t stall on taking that shot that you’ve been fantasizing about. The opportunity may not last. Photo: Jen Hooks.

Two days later, the field was harvested, and gone. I’d almost missed the opportunity. To date, the photos my daughter and I captured that day remain some of my favorites. Photography captures moments, and moments don’t keep. Be ready.

Be persistent.

One of the many benefits of digital photography is the ability to take multiple photos of the same subject, with little to no additional cost. My favorite and most commonly photographed subject is my children, and frequently, for every ten mediocre photos I take of them, I get one that is particularly touching, funny, or charming. Persistence is key; don’t stop until you’ve got the image you want. An added benefit of shooting a lot is that occasionally, a rare gem will appear when you weren’t expecting it.

Out of the 186 shots of my girls that I took on this summer afternoon, this quirky photo was one that I originally considered to be an outtake, and is now my favorite. Photo: Jen Hooks.

Out of the 186 shots (yes, really) of my girls that I took on this summer afternoon, this quirky photo was one that I originally considered to be an outtake, and is now my favorite from the day. Photo: Jen Hooks.

What makes you happy?

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” ― Anaïs Nin

When I got my first DSLR camera in 2006, all I wanted to do was take macro shots of flowers. I was fascinated with how detailed the images were — almost like the camera was acting as a microscope. Eventually, I moved toward photographing people, and in 2010, I started my own photography business. I devoured countless articles about how a professional portfolio should be focused, concise, and should only include images that are demonstrative of the product that you’re trying to sell. That by all means, you should never include personal photography with your professional work. I felt like the value of the countless beautiful flower photos I’d taken previously had been diminished, yet I still heeded the advice. I scaled back on photographing plants in favor of photographing people, and I felt a distinct creative void in doing so.

Shoot what you love, no matter what. Photo: Jen Hooks.

Shoot what you love, no matter what. Photo: Jen Hooks.

Now, I photograph whatever moves me and excites me, and if it doesn’t fit inside of anyone else’s box, so be it. Your photography is exactly that: yours. If your repertoire includes kitten portraits and monster truck event photography, do your thing. Perhaps you’re only interested in taking candid street photography. Maybe you love a good flower macro as much as I do, or you’re beginning a new love affair with wedding photography. Your muse will reveal itself to you, if you take the time to listen. Let your camera be your compass.

“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.” – Yousuf Karsh

Have a clear vision.

When your shutter snaps, are you creating a photo that has an intention? Are you taking a photo of something, or about something? Knowing the story that you’re trying to tell with the image will help you create a better photograph. Perhaps you will take photos both of and about your subjects. Maybe you discover that you prefer your photos to tell stories exclusively. What excites you?

A photo of a subject is expository and descriptive, likely with a shallow depth of field, and simply composed. Photo: Jen Hooks.

A photo of a subject is expository and descriptive, likely with a shallow depth of field, and simply composed. Photo: Jen Hooks.

A photo about a subject compels the viewer to want to know more, and sparks the imagination. Photo: Jen Hooks.

A photo about a subject compels the viewer to want to know more, and ignites the imagination. Photo: Jen Hooks.

Look at the delicious brownies in the top photo above. Photos of a subject expose details and are inherently descriptive in nature. The detailed texture of the brownie and simplicity of the composition make the viewer feel as though they can almost smell the cocoa, taste the gooey chocolate, or remember their favorite aunt’s famous recipe.

The bottom photo tells a story. On the evening I took this, my children had spent a full day on the sand, in the sun. We had dinner in a restaurant overlooking the beach, and I spent most of the night managing the needs of an overtired one-month-old. My oldest had a considerable amount of ketchup on her new white gauze blouse. There were tantrums, and there was whining. Everyone was sweaty and sunburned, and no children wanted to eat the food we’d ordered. Other diners were obviously (and rightfully) annoyed. It was the kind of chaos that only comes with having three kids under four years old. But the sunset that evening was too good to pass up; it was cotton candy on a perfect canvas. So we went to the sand after dinner, and my previously cantankerous three-year-old metamorphosed into a quiet little mermaid, breathing in the salt and calm of the sea. This image, for me, evokes the relief and peace that we all felt in that moment. It tells a story.

Stop the comparison.

“Comparison is the death of joy.” – Mark Twain

I’m guilty of it. With the internet serving as a worldwide photo gallery, it is difficult to resist looking at others’ work and thinking, “I’ll never be as good as them.” Pinterest is awash with board after board of photography inspiration, posing ideas for portraiture, and camera advice; even I have one. Seasoned photobloggers with stunning image after image in their portfolio can be a tempting example to aspire to. But photography style is as individual as the person pressing the shutter, and comparing oneself to a different photographer serves no purpose other than to derail creativity. Experience is, by its very nature, something that comes only with time. If you find yourself more hindered than helped by viewing another photographer’s work, consider disconnecting from them temporarily. Instead, get behind your camera and find who you are as an artist. Your images will eventually show you.

The question of "Who am I, as an artist?" is answered by the images you create. Photo: Jen Hooks.

The question of “Who am I, as an artist?” is answered by the images you create. Photo: Jen Hooks.

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  2. What a nice post! It felt like you had just read my mind about photography! I carry my pocket Leica everywhere: taking pictures often is the best way to improve ourselves…and it is so much fun!

    Liked by 4 people

  3. very nice photos. I always wish to capture the moods of my baby. but almost every time I just miss the right moment.
    I very much agreed with you nowadays taking photo is easy but heart and art is missing.

    Liked by 3 people

  4. What a beautiful read & fantastic blog. Just started making my Photography get noticed as before i used to think i wasnt very good & lacked confidence in myself, still working on this but i loved reading this & agree with every word. Well written. Im new to blogging just today in fact so i have alot to learn but this is fab. Great job. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  8. I love this post! I’ve always been interested in Photography, took the photo 101 class, but it has kinda fallen by the wayside and i don’t think about it except on my phone. This post has since inspired me to keep on clickin’ at everything I find photoworthy. I like taking pictures of flowers and nature, too. thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

  9. I am currently learning photography in school and it is frustrating for me because the pictures my classmates take seem to be ten times better than those I do. I do not own my own DSLR so even using one is difficult for me.
    That is why I like your article. It is really encouraging. My lecturer picks out ‘the best photos’ which makes me compare mine with those of others and that makes me feel like abandoning photography altogether.
    However, I have a few questions. How do photographers take pictures of people they don’t know (for example on the street)? Or do they only take pictures of people they know? If you only take pictures of objects and family members, doesn’t that confine photography to capturing memories? I have always felt uneasy taking pictures of strangers.

    Liked by 3 people

  17. Fantastic write up… especially the part about comparison. I look at what some other bloggers do and wish I was as good as them… reading a post like this reminds me that I am an artist in my own right!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Thanks for such a nicely Summed up article.. with those wonderful quotes.
    I was doubting my work(Pictures) and was introspecting, you came as a torch bearer for me !! gracias !!

    Like

  22. I have enjoyed photography with my entry level Nikon DSLR camera for a good 2 years now, however, I cannot for the life of me find my photographic style/visual voice and it is driving me crazy.

    I love everything photographic and am in photography overload trying to find my visual voice and writing abilities. I’m heading for photography burn-out….can some-one be my mentor please and lead the way for me.
    I’m on a downward spiral and really need assistance. I need structure and focus with my travel pics.

    Thank you so much.

    Angela Seager

    Like