The photography industry is enormous. In addition to having a lot of options for cameras, lenses, accessories, and other gear, photographers may choose from a wide range of different genres in which to experiment.

Photographers frequently go toward genres that appeal to them for a variety of reasons, or that feature subject that is significant to them. 

While it is common for photographers to stick to one or more distinct genres while creating work professionally, exploring various subgenres of photography is a terrific way to broaden one's perspective on the industry and develop one's skill sets.

Now let us look at the main categories of photography and look at some of each. However, the majority of them may be classified under one of these four main categories.

Overview: 

• Product Photography

• Landscape Photography

• Nature Photography

• Architectural Photography

• Street Photography

• Portrait Photography

• Sports Photography

• Abstract Photography

• Astrophotography

• Composite Photography

• Event Photography

• Editorial Photography

• Wedding Photography

• Travel Photography

• Food Photography

Product Photography 

Product photography for advertising is another area of commercial photography services. Photographers now have more options than ever to give retailers crisp, appealing photos of their items as internet shopping continues to grow. For instance, it's now easy to access high-quality cameras and lenses, tripods, backgrounds, and photo retouching and editing services to improve product image quality. The goal is to showcase the products in the most engaging and professional manner possible.

Clients typically want that the product to be isolated from any backdrop distractions by having the photographs taken against a simple, clean background. The background, which is often white or black, can take a variety of shapes, from a simple cloth placed behind the object to a lightbox or light tent that regulates the amount of soft light applied. 

In general, tripods are used to help align the camera into the proper position and to produce crisp photos. Lighting is nearly always necessary unless the images are being taken outside in natural light, and tables or other platforms may occasionally be beneficial. These lighting configurations typically include continuous LED lighting systems, which make it very simple for the photographer to change the brightness and color temperature on-the-fly.

Note: Check out our Product Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Landscape Photography 

Landscape photography has been among the most well-liked styles of photography for at least a century. It entails capturing the surrounding natural environment in such a manner that the viewer feels as though they are there. The process is easy, enjoyable, and soothing.

Horizons, oceans, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, deserts, and beaches are a few landscape photography examples. Despite sharing many characteristics with nature shots, landscapes vary in that they often include wider perspectives and a much bigger scene, whereas nature photography concentrates more on the smaller-scale elements of the picture, such as the trees, flowers, birds, and other wildlife.

Shutter speeds and apertures may typically be set and left alone until the natural light changes since landscape photography typically includes stationary subjects. Landscapes are typically shot using wider focal lengths, such as f/11 and higher, to convey a grand feeling of scope, however alternative lenses and focal lengths can be used depending on what the photographer is aiming to achieve.

Tripods can help to provide clear, stable images because the scenes are mostly motionless. A weather-sealed camera is a wise investment because of the variable outside circumstances.

Wildlife Photography 

Taking pictures of nature is another one of the most well-known kinds of photography. This genre emphasizes photographing elements of the environment, particularly flora and wildlife. Potential subjects are flowers, animals, plants, trees, and other lifeforms. Even though landscape photography may be categorized as nature, it usually belongs to a different genre because it primarily focuses on the organisms that live in a wider ecosystem. 

Large or extremely tiny in scale, nature photography typically emphasizes visual aesthetics through the use of shallow depth of focus, artistic composition, and other approaches. There are many different types of nature photography, such as macro, wildlife, bird photography, and more.

Architectural Photography

Architectural photography often falls into one of two categories: photographing the exteriors or interiors of structures and other landmarks, or photographing commercial real estate to advertise them for rent or sale. 

Since there are hundreds of homes up for sale every day and photographers are in high demand to capture these properties in the best possible light, real estate photography is the type that we see the most frequently.

Real estate photography is typically photographed at a slower pace than other types of photography, giving you more time to set up the essential photos. To stabilize photographs that may be flirting with shorter shutter speeds owing to lighting circumstances, tripods are required, just as they are for landscape photography. Given that most homes have limited inside space and that the photographer would need to take a broader frame of the subject, wide-angle lenses are necessary.

Street Photography 

In street photography, subjects are either real people going about their everyday lives or non-humans or structures, occasionally (but not usually) in a city or street context. These pictures are typically accidental or chance contacts and they are virtually always candid.

For the photographer, street photography may be exciting, provocative, and even terrifying. The photographer and the subject, who most likely have never met or talked before, occasionally engage.

Instead of using telephoto lenses, which have a greater focal length, this type of photographer typically uses smaller, lighter camera bodies and prime lenses. This kind of setup is not only lower in weight, but the smaller profile also makes it easier to blend into the background and more discretely frame your subjects.

Note: Check out our Street Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Portrait Photography

Unlike the other two types of photography, portrait photography nearly frequently focuses on the person. In portrait photography, which is also known as portraiture, people are photographed in a variety of contexts. The emphasis is on expressing the subject's personality, character, and goals. There are several subgenres, such as environmental, boudoir, pet, glamour, and group/family photography. 

Unless the session is taking place outside in natural light, portrait photographers typically use lighting equipment, and the subject is posed to create the ideal scene. Sometimes, the portrait photo shooting is organized in the studio which provides constant illumination using reflectors, backgrounds, continuous lighting, strobes, and continuous lighting.

Photographers working in this genre typically use full-frame or medium format cameras outfitted with telephoto lenses that are fast and start at 85mm and beyond.

Note: Check out our Portrait Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Sports Photography 

A thrilling and quick-paced type of photography, sports photography includes documenting competitive sports, games, and other events, typically for journalistic purposes. Sports photographers are frequently hired and compensated by different media sources that utilize the photographs in stories or articles, occasionally on a freelance basis. 

Sports photography often entails taking many shots quickly one after the other to capture a precise moment, although this varies on the sport being covered. A full-frame camera with a quick burst rate and a quick zoom lens is therefore typically recommended. Larger apertures will make it simpler to distinguish the subject from the backdrop, while zoom lenses will let the photographer go up close to the action while yet keeping a distance.

Mobility is crucial, yet the majority of sports require good concentration when being photographed. Many photographers use monopods, which are lightweight and enable them to swiftly give the camera firm support.

Abstract photography 

Due to the diversity of the subject matter, abstract photography is perhaps one of the most difficult genres to precisely define. Abstraction is a subjective art form that typically depicts a scene or item from a distinct angle. It can occasionally be simplified to nothing more than changes in color, shapes, patterns, or other forms. This kind of complete object masking is typically what distinguishes this genre.

Using motion blur or slow shutter speeds, ICM (intentional camera movement), and long exposures may create abstract works by blending edges and generating a more hazy image. Except for the aforementioned macro lenses, shooting abstract photography doesn't require any specific gear. These photographs are instead made using methods and the exposure triangle modifications. Everything from medium format camera equipment to cellphones has been used to capture abstract shots.

Astrophotography 

The art of capturing the night sky and its inhabitants, such as planets, stars, and galaxies, is known as astrophotography. It's a dynamic and fascinating branch of photography. These images can be taken via a telescope and focus on a planet, moon, galaxy, or other far-off objects in space, or they may be nighttime landscapes with stars (commonly referred to as deep sky astrophotography). 

Depending on the items you want to shoot, you will need different setups of equipment. In any case, a camera sensor with a greater ISO sensitivity is preferred because the majority of objects in the night sky are dim and need to capture as much light as possible.

A robust tripod, telescope, guide telescope, star tracker, and equatorial mount are among the tools that most astrophotographers invest in because they let you capture excellent photographs of the things you're interested in while accounting for the earth's rotation, which may be difficult when shooting this kind of subject.

Composite Photography

In recent years, creative composite photography has become increasingly popular, in part because of the unfavorable stigma that has been attached to it, typically when used with journalistic or editorial photographs. However, composite photography is a legitimate genre with the potential for creativity and beauty in its pictures as long as the material is presented for what it is—artwork built of many exposures and altered digitally.

Changing the sky in a scene by digitally eliminating the sky from exposure and replacing it with another sky is known as a technical composite. This is the simplest and most basic kind of composite.

Artistic or creative composite photography is the process of composing different components in layers using a digital image application like Adobe Photoshop to create new, occasionally surreal or fictional situations. The final scene is created by layering various elements of the image together against a background, followed by masking and blending.

Event Photography

Our world is full of a variety of events and gatherings outside the typical wedding, so the options for event photography are virtually endless. This subcategory comprises both spontaneous and staged photographs of the participants, locations, and props. The photographer's job is to capture the moments of an event, but they should also use some creative composition to make the event look appealing and uplifting. 

Working as an event photographer typically involves engaging with a variety of people, including the event organizers. There may be a lot of standing around, an unplanned contact with many people, and rushing from place to place.

A couple of prime lenses or a rapid telephoto lens would be your best choice because different focal lengths need to call for quick changes. The majority of event photographers bring two camera bodies, not just so they have a backup in case the primary one has problems but also so they can swiftly switch between the two when necessary.

Editorial Photography 

Photographs taken specifically for use in print or digital media like newspapers, magazines, news websites, or blogs are referred to as editorial photos. These pictures are meant to act as a narrative tool, enhancing the article material and providing the reader with a picture of the topic at hand.

This contrasts with commercial photography, which instead aims to sell items by appealingly showcasing them. As editorial photography requires greater creative interpretation, presentation, and subjectivity than reportage, it also differs from that genre.

While portraiture and fashion are frequent examples of this sort of photography, it may also call for an understanding of other subgenres like still life, cuisine, and architecture. Typically, the photographer would collaborate with a magazine editor who would provide them guidance on the kinds of photos needed for the stories or articles that are being written.

For this kind of photography, a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless system is often favored, however, equipment requirements vary greatly. Editorial picture captures can take place in a photography studio or another place, such as in a restaurant. Depending on what is being photographed, these circumstances will necessitate various lens configurations. The location also affects how much lighting is needed. While studio photography necessitates the use of extensive lighting equipment with strobes, continuous LED lights, and reflectors, on-location shooting requires small and light setups.

Wedding Photography 

For good reason, Wedding photography has a reputation as being difficult. It is a hybrid of portrait, event, macro, and culinary photography rather than a totally distinct genre. A fast-paced, constantly-changing atmosphere with numerous people and various topics calls for wedding photographers to deliver memorable and technically sound photos.

Due to this, the majority of wedding photographers hire a second photographer to make sure all the essential images are taken.

The main issue with lighting during weddings is that most of the activities that take place throughout the evening begin to happen indoors at night. To accommodate low lighting, a full-frame system with quick zoom lenses is preferred, and the photographer would almost certainly want to shoot in RAW because numerous exposure changes will probably need to be done in post-processing. 

Note: Check out our Wedding Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Travel Photography 

The art of travel photography is thrilling, satisfying, and adventurous. Although it would be towards the top of a list of ideal photographic professions, there are some restrictions and challenges. 

This kind of photography might involve going on location and taking pictures for subsequent sale as fine art, or it could involve taking on commissioned assignments from brands or businesses that require the photos for journalism or advertising. Photographing landscapes, nature, or people in their homes and workplaces are all examples of travel photography.

Due to the variety of settings and circumstances involved in this style of photography, the stability and dependability of the equipment will be just as important as image quality. Equipment needs to be sturdy and weather-sealed due to the harsh outside settings with varying temperature ranges and expected precipitation. Variety is essential since every shooting situation will necessitate a different approach from the photographer. It is ideal to use a combination of zoom and prime lenses, as well as a lightweight camera configuration, potentially even a mirrorless one.

Note: Check out our Travel Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Food Photography 

Food photography has grown in popularity in recent years as a result of a variety of causes, including the growth of social media as a form of advertising and the emergence of mobile photography. However, many restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, and marketplaces must have excellent food photography for promotional purposes. Although there is no doubt that mobile food photography is popular nowadays, in this post we'll concentrate on utilizing DSLR or mirrorless settings to take food images for advertising. 

The golden rule of food photography is that if the meal doesn't look appealing, the image is useless.

For these kinds of photographs, indirect natural lighting works best, thus continuous lighting or flash setups are often not required outside of a studio, with the possible exception of a softbox to add light where it's needed. Lenses with wide apertures are required so that it is feasible to photograph with a shallow depth of focus and emphasize the dish, isolating it from its backdrop. Tripods may be used in most settings to give a solid platform for the camera.

For these kinds of photographs, indirect natural lighting works best, thus continuous lighting or flash setups are often not required outside of a studio, with the possible exception of a softbox to add light where it's needed. Lenses with wide apertures are required so that it is feasible to photograph with a shallow depth of focus and emphasize the dish, isolating it from its backdrop. Tripods may be used in most settings to give a solid platform for the camera. 

Note: Check out our Food Photography Presets For Lightroom.

Finishing Up 

Even though we didn't cover every photographic specialty that exists, we did address the most well-known ones here.