How to Find Your ‘Style’ in Photography and What That Means
Over the many years I have spent teaching photography, one question I constantly get — over and over again — is, “How do I find my style?”
And over these years, I’ve had many attempts at thinking about this deeply, and I’ve come to a solidified opinion on what I think style in photography — and art in general — is. It is my personal opinion on style, and if that’s what you’re looking to hear, then the video above is something you’re going to want to watch.
So, right off the bat, let’s make one thing clear: I don’t think the idea of “style” is as great a thing as some people make it out to be.
It is not as if you don’t have a “style” that you’re suddenly not a good photographer. It’s not like if you identify a photographer to have a “style”, that they’re somehow better than everyone else.
From my perspective, style is a pretty simple idea. It’s not a destination; one does not suddenly “reach” the concept of “having a style.” Instead, I see style as the expression of your journey, and your journey can have multiple expressions. A person doesn’t necessarily have to stick to one style. They can have numerous ways to express themselves, multiple styles. This is as valid as having a single style.
Style is simply the expression of you as you are, right now, at this moment, with the baggage of your goals and your why’s and your intent and your experiences and your triumphs and your failures.
But, of course, there is an art and a craft to that expression. Some images are better at expressing themselves than others.
And why is that?
Well, in the video above, I cover exactly what style is and how it’s broken down. I talk about the “why” and the “how” of style and give you a framework to start to find your way in this often confusing journey that is “how to find your style in photography”.
About the author: Pat Kay is an award-winning travel photographer and multi-disciplinary content creator based in Sydney, Australia. With a passion for travel and adventure, Kay specializes in exploring the contrast between nature and urban, through landscape, cityscape, aerial, lifestyle, and street photography. He has worked with many of the world’s top brands such as Sony, Adobe, Microsoft, Samsung, Nike, Adidas, Ford, Toyota, Lexus, DJI, Razer, Instagram, and more. For more from Kay, follow him on Instagram and subscribe to his YouTube Channel.
