You already know that it’s important to consider a photographer’s style before you book with them.

(if not, check out my article “Does Your Photographer’s Style Really Matter?”)

But if your understanding of styles is limited to “black and white VS color”, or you’re just curious about the most popular styles of photography prevalent in today’s culture, then sit back and enjoy!

Before we jump in, however, I want to clarify that when I say “style” in this article, what I’m referring to is the finish, the overall look, and the mood, not the “style” in which the photographer works - ie, photojournalistic, traditional/posed, fashion/editorial, etc.

Learn to See

Predominant Photography Styles and How they Differ

Ask 10 people to pick a word that describes an image, you’re very likely to get 10 slightly different variations of the same word. What I might call “moody”, someone else might call “rich”. Describing a style can be a notoriously subjective, which is why it often takes a string of words to create additional context. This is why I thought it might be helpful to not only describe the words used for each style, but also the feelings, emotions, and other senses that you might associate with the visual.

Light and Airy

Light and Airy photographs have been a trend in the last few years, in stark contrast to the “grunge” style that was very prevalent in the early 2000’s. Photographers who shoot a light and airy style are generally capturing images with very soft colors - pale pinks, powder blues, seafoam greens, and taupe-flavored tans. Their lighting is very flat, even, and bright. Some would call it somewhat “angelic”. The images have almost a “creamy” appearance to them, and evoke a gently sighed “hmmmm” - the comforted exhale after breathing in the scent of lavender - when viewing them.

Words often used to describe light and airy photographs:

SOFT • DREAMY • SERENE • PURE • PASTEL • ETHEREAL

Warm and Earthy

Warm and Earthy photographs have been gaining popularity - I think, anyway - as our culture becomes ever hungrier for authenticity and the raw elements of human interaction. In a social media driven society where you know every moment online is curated beyond recognition, people who want to push back the curtain and show a vulnerability to that which is not always perfectly groomed might lean toward a more earthy style. These photographers are often delivering images that have a lot of browns, oranges, yellows, and tan undertones. The colors that play well are copper, gold, mauve, wine, and olive.

Generally, you’ll see warm and earthy photographers focus less on the minor details and more on the mood of the moment. If an expression of a half-smile connects the viewer to the subject instantly, who cares if there are a few hairs out of place? If we can feel the joy of the bride about to release her bouquet, it doesn’t matter that two people in the background are looking the wrong way.

You might make a deliberate and heartfelt “Awwww” sound when you view the images, like getting a long awaited hug from a family member you haven’t seen in ages.

Words that come to mind when seeing a Warm and Earthy style:

NATURE • SOIL • TREES • FOREST • WARMTH • RAW • GRITTY •

Classic Style

Classic styling is one which ignores the cultural trends, and sticks to a tried and true approach. You know it when you see it because skin tones are true to life, focus is tack sharp, there is a clear white point in the highlight, a defined black point in the shadows, and colors that are rendered basically as they looked when the image was taken. It’s a very minimalistic approach to editing, and the overall approach is one that is focused more on having strong technical elements - composition, color, contrast, posing, details - and a really keen appreciation for the fundamentals of good photography.

This style is great for those whose personal aesthetic is smart, crisp, and practical. If this style were Thanksgiving dinner, it’s your plate of turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. It’s comfortable, familiar, and will never steer you wrong.

If you are the kind of person who loves tradition, and doesn’t generally follow fads, this is probably a great style for you to consider. The main “pro” of this style is that it is going to look just as good on your walls today as it will in 30 years. In other words, the Classic style never goes out of….well….style! People see images with a Classic style and give a knowing “Ahhhh”, smiling at them in admiration.

Words that come to mind when seeing a Classic style:

CLEAN • SHARP • FRESH • SMART • TRADITIONAL • ICONIC • TIMELESS •

Matte Style

Sometimes referred to as a Vintage style, though I worry the word “vintage” evokes an image with scuffs, stains and torn edges. This style has a more muted feel to it, with colors being desaturated, the removal of almost any contrast, and the shadows being lightened considerably to the point that there is almost no “true black” anywhere in the image. Yes, there are areas of “black”, but in layman’s, they are actually a very rich gray. (In technical terms, a true black registers as 0,0,0 in RGB and 100% K in CMYK with the absence of all other colors).

It’s a very subdued style reminiscent of an era forgotten. It has an “old soul” sort of feel to it, like canvas textured paper, leaded glass, faded polaroids, and dusty but well-worn denim. The sounds that come to mind when I think of this style are the scratching of a pencil against a piece of paper, or the padded drumming of fingers on a wooden table. Viewers glimpse this style and react with an appreciative “Mmmmm”.

Words sometimes related to the Matte/Vintage Style:

MUTED • SUBTLE • MUD • WEATHERED • DESATURATED • QUIET •

Bold and Colorful

A spin on the Classic style, but with a bit more “punch”, because this style is all about light and color. Photographers who specialize in this style tend to bring a lot of personality to their shoots, and generally see the world through a very positive and uplifted spirit. The bright colors, sharp lines, high contrast give them a very energetic feel to them, and they evoke feelings of happiness, joy, laughter, and so many smiles you need to massage your cheeks when it’s over.

Viewers look at images in this style and you hear a hearty “Oooooooh” or a gleeful “Eeeee!”. It’s an other-worldly feel, in which the world is represented rather fantastically, just a bit more enhanced than it normally would be. The richness of every color comes forward, and the light is just a bit more pronounced than you saw with your naked eye.

Words that come to mind when discussing the Bold/Colorful Style:

JOYFUL • ENERGETIC • BRIGHT • VIBRANT • DYNAMIC • RICH • PUNCHY •

Images from these style of photo shoots and events are often saturated with the bluest blues, the pinkest pinks, and sunsets that are bold and booming in the background. Image that might be slightly less “environmental” and more studio-style (whether shot in studio or on location), the backgrounds tend to be chosen again because of how the color plays into the image. If you’er working with a Bold/Colorful-Style photographer, they’re likely going to have opinions on wardrobe and color choice more so than any other photographer, because while all photographers want you to look nice and coordinate, a Vibrant Style photographer is going to want to make sure the colors fit the overall vision within the scene.

This style is one you’ll often see associated with backlighting and intentional lens flare, so expect a Vibrant-style photographer to position the sun behind the subject, rather than the other way around. Expect silhouettes as well, because the tie in of a crisp black shape against a colorful background is a signature move for a Bold and Colorful photographer.

Because this style is more about energy and emotion, there’s lots of movement, shape, and grabbing fleeting moments, even if it means pushing the limits of the equipment that get the shot, but at the expense of, say, a little bit of visible grain or blur to accentuate the movement of the subject.

Can you tell by now which style I am? :D

As you can see, there is a lot of creativity that comes from photographers with varying styles. No one style is right or wrong, but merely a reflection of the artist’s personal vision and creative journey in their field, and completely your choice when it comes to what you prefer for your own photos.

Now that you’ve got the WHAT about the types of styles available, it’s important to understand how it affects you.