Finding Your Own Style

When I tutor photography students, whether they are learning camera skills, or studying towards a qualification, I emphasise the importance of finding their own style. Much is written about the ‘rules’ of photography, and how to apply them to one’s own work. But following rules too rigidly can compromise a certain amount of depth and emotion, which  comes with the personal input to any creative work. A photograph may be technically perfect, but without a personal style, it might be nothing other than a functional picture. An image which does not follow the technical ‘rules’, but includes some of the heart and soul of the artist, is more likely to draw the viewer’s eye.

Naturally, for some photographers, technical proficiency suits their specialism. I took on some architectural work last year, which relied less on creativity than on the ability to use a camera to create accurate photographs. Photographers who specialise in business photography are more likely to use light backgrounds and focus on headshots, rather than trying to be too creative. Too much creativity can be distracting, or look unprofessional when working on corporate portfolios.

Back to finding your own style. How does one do this? It’s an area where there can be no particular rules, so I will pass on advice which was given to me by one of my own photography tutors. He is one of the most instinctive photographers I have ever learnt from, and it was a real privilege to work with him as a student.

For every photograph you take, ask yourself:

“What is the purpose of this picture?”

“How does the photograph make me feel?”

“What do I want the viewer to take from the image?”

The underlying message being that you should know the reason for the picture. Be mindful while you work. If the lighting is off, the image is out of focus, or the horizon is uneven, is this by design or by accident? Naturally, not all images turn out as we’d hope; we make mistakes and photographs don’t match our aims and expectations. Our tutor’s guidance though was that if the work we had created came from the heart, rather than through textbook instruction, this was the most important factor. If we could explain the “why?” behind the image, he knew we had shot with intent rather than releasing the shutter and hoping for the best.

Take the following picture. Technically, you can highlight a few issues. The picture is dark, grainy, and the main element is out of focus.

But this is what I wanted when I took the picture. I planned a scene which wasn’t completely logical, and which left something to the viewer’s imagination. Why is the horse rocking? Has someone just finished playing on it? Is an unexplained influence at work?

A similar photograph follows. Again, I wanted to encourage the viewer to think about the context, and to create a background story to the picture, rather than focus on the technical proficiency.

Whatever you create, and however you do it, find your own style and don’t be afraid to nurture it. If your style means breaking the ‘rules’, that’s fine. That’s your style; create your own rules to suit your work. Think about the meaning behind the photographs that you take, and the emotions that you would like the viewer to experience when looking at your pictures. Not all will understand, or even like your work, but that’s the case with any art form. Be true to yourself and find pleasure in what you create. Rather than focussing on technical perfection, focus on what’s in your heart. Infuse your work with the emotions you feel, and in doing so, find your own style.

The tutor I mentioned earlier in the article, Brett Killington, remains a friend, and has his own successful photography business. Brett’s dedication to his craft is inspiring, and he has produced some particularly stunning portfolios of work based around WWI. The images have been exhibited around the world, entrancing people with the depth of mood and emotion behind the pictures. I particularly like the underground series from Arras, which will be of interest to all; particularly to those with New Zealand connections. Do take a look at Brett’s work through his website.