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15 types of photography genres you

can pursue as a professional
photographer
Boaz Eapen on Nov 28, 2018 ,   9 min read

Which type of photography should I master? That is probably the most challenging decision to make when
you are starting your pursuit of photography as a career. When you think of all of the various subjects
there are to capture, and all of the different ways to create the image, the eld of photography really is
dynamic and varied. There is something for everyone in photography, and the types of photography jobs
are just as exciting. 

We have compiled the most popular 15 genres of photography. Of course, this list is not all-inclusive, since
there are many careers made in various niches within our industry. And there are also many careers that
are not related directly to photography that require good photographic skills to complete. In today's social
media connected world, many workers are taking photographs and sharing their experiences as part of
their jobs.

We have also included examples of best portfolio websites built on Pixpa of each type of photography.

Create your photography portfolio website on Pixpa in minutes. No coding required. Take a free trial.

Here are the 15 types of photography genres you can pursue as a

professional photographer:

#1 - Wedding Photography 

The rst type of photography job involves weddings and events. Many people go their entire lives and only
pay for professional photography once, but nearly everyone hires a photographer for their wedding.

Chelsea Cara Photography

As a job, being a wedding photographer involves an exciting mix of portraiture and event photography in a
wide variety of settings and groups. Wedding photography is pretty intense, with an element of getting the
best shot you can on the rst try and not really getting a second chance in some situations. Wedding
photographers have to be quick on their feet, moving around during the reception and ceremony, and there
are substantial sales and customer service components to their jobs. They also have to be adaptable,
ready to shoot outdoors on a sunny day and indoors for dimly lit receptions and dances. Couples will
expect the direction from the photographer for posing shots and settings, so the photographer must be
con dent and communicate well with the bride and groom.

The great wedding photographers are the ones who love their jobs. Many beginning photographers start
shooting weddings because, as they say, “that’s where the money is.” But this mindset will ultimately lead
to a disappointing business model if the photographer’s heart isn’t in their work.

#2 - Event Photography

In the same vein, event photography is a dynamic and fast-paced way to make a buck with your camera.
Whether your beat is corporate events or wild and crazy rock concerts, event photographers work in a
variety of settings. Event photography styles often involve a mixture of photojournalistic documentary
work and portraiture. Some organizations use their event photos for publicity purposes, while other use
party photos as souvenirs or keepsakes.

#3 - Portrait Photography

Frank Langeweg Photography

Portraiture is one of the most common types of photographer that we think of when we consider career
options. The kinds of photography that can be included in portraits is astounding. Retail customers seek
out portrait photographers for every phase of life: maternity and newborns, school photos, senior photos,
and general family photos. Corporate portraits are also commonly needed as employees update their
headshots for websites and publicity materials. Furthermore, aspiring and professional models are in
constant need of updated portfolios with a catalog of current shots to market themselves for agencies and
jobs.

Portrait photography is a great place to start out as a photographer. Building a great portfolio of quality
shots can lead to more business. It can often lead to more work for families and weddings as word of
mouth marketing does its magic. It can also lead to fashion and product photography gigs.

#4 - Product Photography

Autografyja

More speci c than working in advertising, product photography is a great specialization. Think about all of
the products you have recently shopped for: everything needs to be photographed. The photos are used for
online and print catalogs, as well as for labels and packaging. Most product photography is studio based,
with careful control of backgrounds, shadows, and lighting.

Product photography covers a lot of ground. Food photography is a specialized niche, and restaurants
need to advertise their meals and create their menus. Jewelry is another favorite type of product
photography since this requires the perfect balance of light and preparation. While some product shoots
might involve models, many times you will be working solo in a studio doing still life photographs of small
objects.

#5 - Fine Art Photography

Ben Livne Weitzman

Of all of the types of photography, this is the one with no rules. Fine art photographers create art. They
display their work in galleries and at art shows, and generally, they sell a nished, framed print product to
their customers. Fine art photography can be of any subject at all, but landscape and portrait artists are
probably the most common. Fine art images are about capturing emotional responses and
communicating with the audience.

#6 - Fashion Photography 

Harriet Esther Muntean

Fashion photography is one of the more glamorous and more di cult to enter photography jobs. From
cover shots of the top fashion magazines to documenting the latest styles and trends on the runway,
fashion photographers work in the design districts of New York, Paris, and Milan. Runway shoots require
an element of documentary photography, while posed shoots on location demand one-on-one work with
the model.

Catalog and magazine shoots might also occur on location, from tropical beaches to subway. In this style
of glamour photography, the look of the photographs is everything. Lighting must be perfect. This is a job
that is also focused on the model, so a majority of the photographers time is spent posing and directing
models and scenes to get the look desired from the publication.

Fashion shoots are all about teamwork, and they are done by a group of people. The photographer is just
one cog in the wheel. Stylists, wardrobe specialists, makeup artists, art directors, and others make up a
team that keeps the shoot on track and make the magic happen.

#7 - Architectural Photography 

Clementine Roy

While many nd taking pictures of buildings to be a fun hobby, many specialized photographers make
careers out of it. Employed by architectural agencies or working as freelancers, these photographers
capture the essence of buildings from inception to completion. Details captured include the exteriors and
interiors, and subtle details that make the building's design unique. Architectural photography requires
some special techniques and equipment to minimize distortion and perspective problems that become
apparent on a building’s many right angles.

A subdivision is real estate photography. Realtors always need excellent photographs, especially in today's
market where many customers view many properties online before deciding to go see them. High-quality
architectural pictures are di cult to get right, and realtors will pay for professional photos especially in the
high-end market.

#8 - Travel Photography 

Do you love to travel? Would you like to get paid for it? Who doesn’t? Travel photography allows you to do
just that while having fun with your camera in dynamic settings. Travel photography blends many
different types of photography into one. On one trip you might want to focus on the people and the
lifestyles present in a place, while also capturing the landscapes and the natural world in which it’s
located. Macro details and wildlife photography might be included too. Be it on the beaches of Bali or the
ice elds of Antartica, the job of a travel photographer is to transport their audience to that place without
them having to leave home.

#9 - Advertising or Lifestyle Photography 

Everywhere we go we are surrounded by photography. Photography is on billboards, street signs, magazine

ads, even in our pockets on our smartphones. Captivating photography makes the advertising world tick,
and photography has never been more in demand than it is right now.

Advertising photography can include a range of subjects, like street photography, lifestyle photography,
fashion photography, or product photography. Advertising photographers can work as freelancers, selling
images on a project-by-project basis, or they might work directly for major ad agencies. Either way, this is a
dynamic eld where you may be shooting for a print ads campaign one day and shooting internet ads the
next, always with a new subject.

#10 - Photojournalism 

Ali Kaveh

Whether it be in war zones, political rallies, natural disasters, or community celebrations, photojournalists
cover breaking news. Newspapers, magazines, and online publications are all in need of still photographs
to help tell their stories. Photojournalism is one of the documentary types of photography, and the goal of
a photojournalist is to document the events as they unfold. While there may be some portraiture, the
majority of work is done candidly and as unobtrusively as possible. The photos tell a story of events that
are happening all over the world.

#11 - Pet Photography 

If your perfect subject is a furry friend, then pet photography might be for you. This is a growing sector and
is very similar in working conditions and type of styles to portraiture; only your subjects may require treats
when they are good. If you love animals, then there is no better job as a photographer. Pet photography
involves a fun mix of studio sessions and outdoor, on-location shoots. With connections to your local pet
daycare facilities and dog show circuits, you can build your business fairly quickly. A great way to start out
is to volunteer your time to your local pound, taking pictures of the animals and helping them nd their
forever homes.

#12 - Sports Photography 

Paul Raats

If you love sports, then being a sports photographer is a great gig. From the sidelines, sports
photographers use quick cameras and long lenses to zoom in on the action and capture the winning shots.
Photos wind up in publicity materials for teams, in advertising and marketing, and in the news media
online and in print.

#13 - Aerial Photography 

Daniel Espirito Santo

A burgeoning eld of photography born from modern technology is the aerial photographer. Sure, aerial
images have been around as long as manned ight and cameras have been. But today, unmanned aerial
vehiclesaerial vehicles, also called drones, are making aerials within the realm of all photographers. In the
US and most countries, commercial drone pilots must be licensed. The process is relatively simple and
usually requires only a written exam. Aerial photography is now used for everything from architectural and
real estate photography to weddings and events. The unique perspective given by drones can’t be beaten
for uniqueness and beauty.

#14 - Scienti c or Specialty Photography 

Many elds rely on great photography for publications, training materials, and record keeping. Many
scienti c and medical research companies employ photographers to document new ndings and
discoveries.

Many other industries rely on photos to conduct surveys and studies. For example, in Florida, aerial wildlife
studies are routinely performed to study the numbers of manatees and birds living in remote areas. Many
insurance companies rely on photographers to inspect homes and buildings, sending their photographic
ndings to the company to document damage or condition.

These are just a few examples of the specialized elds that use photography regularly. With open eyes and
ears, working photographers can nd remarkable jobs working with governments and private companies
all over the world.

#15 - Stock Photography 

If all of these types of photography jobs sounded good to you, you might make a great stock
photographer. Stock photographers sell the rights to use their images through catalogs. They can work as
a freelancer, but more often than not photographers allow agencies to handle their sales. Stock sales
usually don’t pay very much per use, but the goal of a successful stock photographer is to have an
extensive catalog of images that sell often. As a result, once the photos are uploaded and being sold, they
provide a source of on-going passive income.

The advantage of selling stock photos is that you can sell any type of image you want. These images are
used by major ad agencies and small websites. Whether you like to shoot sunsets, people, kids, pets, or
wildlife, you can probably sell your images as stock. Once the photos are captured, a lot of time is spent
cataloging and keywording images to ensure that customers can nd them.

Conclusion 

It’s almost impossible to compile a list of all of the different types of photography that you can earn
money from. For your photography career, it can be di cult choosing which path to take. Many
photographers try out many paths in their career until they nd the one that suits them best. The most
successful photographers work in a niche, something that they specialize in that few others do. The
possibilities are endless, and nding your niche is half the fun. So, which kinds of photography would you
like to master?

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