be the creative director of your work

As photographers we are constantly changing and growing. As we discover more about the world, we instinctively discover more about ourselves. Our tastes, likes, dislikes, wants and needs, all influence who we are as people, and who we are as people ultimately shapes who we are as photographers.

For a time, I was confused about who I was as a photographer. When I first started shooting, I would just photograph things that interested me or the things that I instinctively thought would make a good composition. Yet, if someone asked me what type of photographer I was, I had no idea and couldn’t give him or her an answer. I was stuck. I was stuck in the black hole of comparison. Trapped by other people’s images and ideas and felt as though my own vision was being drowned in a sea of bokeh circles and 50mm macro shots. When I started to become bored by my own images, I realised that something had to change.

I realised that I was paying too much attention to the crowd and not enough to my own vision and voice. Who was I shooting for? What story was I trying to tell? I had started shooting for myself in the beginning, and then somewhere along the way I got caught up in the crowd. It was time for me to go back to what was important to me.

Once I let go, I felt free again. I felt like my whole world opened up and I could start shooting for me. It was liberating. Over time, I started to pay attention to what I truly liked about photography, what gave me goose bumps when viewing other people’s photography and what gave me most satisfaction when shooting for myself. By paying attention to my own likes and dislikes, I started to gather pieces of the puzzle that pulled together my own photography style.

I have been shooting this way for a long time now and it’s what makes me happy. I am particular about what I shoot, when I shoot and how I shoot. Every image is sketched out in my mind before I shoot it and they may not all work or have meaning for others, but to me, they tell my story and share my voice.

Through photographing this way over time, my style has developed. I have a set of adjectives I use to describe my photography and I remind myself of those when I shoot. Style is never finished and can always be improved upon. It takes many years to perfect and I am always working on reaching that objective.

I do know this; to nurture style, one must have a goal. We need to figure out where we are now, where we want to be and how we can close the gap between the two. It’s a work in progress and cannot be achieved overnight. We are the creative directors of our own work and we are the only ones who can speak with our own unique voice.

Do you have a clear vision and voice that you share with others?

Please share images that you think best represent you or your style with us!

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Today Amanda is giving away one spot in her Shoot By Design: Refining Your Photography Style photography e-course where she will teach you all she knows about molding your signature style, finding your own voice, share technical tips to get the best out of your camera and show you how to creates strong, passionate images. Leave a comment here before Tuesday 24th 12pm PST to win a place in the Shoot By Design Spring session, starting on March 5th!

You can find out more about Amanda's work on her portfolio and popular blog Mocking Bird. She is also the co-author of the anticipated Instant Love: How To Make Magic and Memories with Polaroids (with Jen Altman and Susannah Conway) published by Chronicle Books.

The winner of the giveaway is Mary! Congratulations, you will receive an email from Amanda shortly.

Comments

[Kara]

I have been struggling with these same things for a while now. I don't have a cogent answer to the question of why I shoot what I shoot and what about a subject or composition inspires me to reach for my camera. I love your post and will be re-reading it many times. Thank you

[Rebecca]

I never thought of developing a style in my photography. I just shoot what I love and try to emulate the photos that catch my eye. I would love to evolve as a photographer.

[Barbara]

I haven't really considered myself a photographer - maybe hobby photographer or photo Mom. My photos are to capture my daughters growing up and living life. I also love taking landscape photos of places we visit. Although these do not completely capture the feeling of being together or beautiful places we have been, they trigger memories when we look at them.

[Kimberly K.]

Im still trying to figure out how to use my camera, so style isn't so much my focus. I hope it will be ... soon.

[Jennifée]

That is one wonderful polaroid image you have there - such an inspiration to forget my own polaroid failures and keep clicking.

My current vision, which has evolved almost subconsciously, is to present small vignettes of order in the middle of the chaos that is the world we live in. I shoot these with my phone in square format wherever I see that just *this* framing will pick out a detail that would otherwise be invisible in the larger picture. Like this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennifee/6696130869/

[Ally]

This is just what I needed today. thank you! I just bought myself a new camera for Xmas and so am still learning all of its little quirks, but I find myself yearning to really develop a style. I think that I know what I want my images to look like, I just dont always know how to get them there!
This would be a true God send for me and I really appreciate 1. the info, 2. the chance to win, and 3. the encouragement that this post provides.
I love this site :)
Ally

[Gabriele]

I see myself as a documentary photographer. I document how things are around me. One day two weeks ago I noted how beautiful my little town was at night and I starting shooting the center of town at 6:00am. Our merchants are holding on to the holiday decor to get us through January. It is lovely.
http://backontheflooragain.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-town-at-night.html

[Francine]

I am still struggling with defining my style. On the one hand I take a lot of everyday ordinary life shots (I am an avid scrapbooker), but I am also interested in more artsy type photography. This post is a great reminder to me to put some more thought into this.

[amanda*rose]

I like Amanda's name (it's mine too)...I hope I win the free spot. Awesome post...I've learned a lot about 'letting go' this past few months.

[Dezra Despain]

I went through this same dilemma just recently. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
http://dezradespain.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/saturday-in-the-park-holliday-park/

[anngeedee]

Finding a style is such a difficult thing to do. I would love some help with that.

[shirley]

Wow, really good food for thought. I try to tell a story through my photography, but I guess I'm not at the point of being able to be my own creative director.
Great giveaway - checking into the course details now.

[ElaineM]

Would love to take this course.
Style and design are my photo needs.
Thanks for the opp to win it.

[Shelley]

Finding your style is something I grapple with too...I started out shooting family, life and special events and dabbled some in photojournalism when I worked for a newspaper. Today as I reacquaint myself with photography I'm searching for my niche and the best way I can do that is to try a number of things and see where I am most drawn. I do believe ultimately one of my goals is to tell a story.

Thank you for the great post.

[NatsterNat]

Wow! Sounds like a great course... I'd LOVE to win it!

I think my photography style falls under the Lifestyle category. I love capturing pure emotion, rather than people looking at the camera and smiling. I think I was able to express my style on my latest blog post. It's a series of pictures taken during a snowy outing in our backyard.

http://imagesbynataliepeterson.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-photography-style.html

[NatsterNat]

Wow! Sounds like a great course... I'd LOVE to win it!

I think my photography style falls under the Lifestyle category. I love capturing pure emotion, rather than people looking at the camera and smiling. I think I was able to express my style on my latest blog post. It's a series of pictures taken during a snowy outing in our backyard.

http://imagesbynataliepeterson.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-photography-style.html

[NatsterNat]

Wow! Sounds like a great course... I'd LOVE to win it!

I think my photography style falls under the Lifestyle category. I love capturing pure emotion, rather than people looking at the camera and smiling. I think I was able to express my style on my latest blog post. It's a series of pictures taken during a snowy outing in our backyard.

http://imagesbynataliepeterson.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-photography-style.html

[Michelle]

I have been thinking a lot about my creative style in my photos. Thanks form giving me that chance!

[Esther]

The question what my voice and style is in photography is has been on my mind for a while. I still don't have an answer. I'm hoping to find out this year.

[theresa]

exactly where i am right now. i love documentary, portraits, food...with a bit of polaroid love tossed in. i'm enjoying finding that path, though.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31272796@N00/6744141989/

[Irene]

What you say is so true! I have started to worry less about what others are doing and am trying to be more confident in my own images... your course sounds interesting!
Cheers :)

[Jeanne]

I've been exploring my style and goals recently. My vision is to fuse my experience as a professional geographer with my passion for photography. I've only just begun on this path, but this post excites me for what is ahead as I begin to refine my style.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeamac/5567097292/

[Junelle]

I too found myself drawn to interesting subject matters this last year ~ photos to illustrate a poem, the dance of morning sunlight, playfully playing out images of "harold and the purple crayon" (which I made into a yellow paintbrush with my son's help). It was liberating to not do things that were in the "business collective" and see how my mind & heart were being stretched behind the lens.

http://yesandamenblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-boys-sweet-story_1654.html

I love your post today~
xo

[Jessie]

I feel like I am all over the place and really need to figure out how to even find my style. I would love the chance to win a place in that class :) Thanks!

[rachaelmarie]

this has been a question forefront in my mind as i entered 2012 + i am excited to look at the world through my own viewfinder and have there be more thought and meaning behind each frame. this would be perfect for where i am at right now.

[Nicole a Alley]

I love that connection between my personal style and what interests me. Thanks for putting it so clearly. It makes so much sense, but I've never seen that connection before. I DO feel a little bored with some of my photos lately so your post have given me much to ponder. Time to do some exploring, experimenting and playing!

[rakusribut]

i shoot my pictures for me, and for me only. i shoot what i see, what attracts my attention, what moves me, what takes my breath away. i am still developing as a photographer and i can see where i have come from and have some idea of where i am going, and allow myself to follow my heart and my dreams (and make detours)
my photography blogs are a means to share what i see and learn, to communicate my vision, hoping to inspire others with the beauty of my images..... somehow it seems to be working, people tell me they have started looking around more, taking notice of their environment, looking at things from different angles. i love to get their feedback.
the only time i get bored with my own images is when i start comparing myself to others. of course it will make me feel inadequate and one dimensional. i am not those other photographers and if i try to imitate them i will be untrue to myself and get stuck. so i try to be kind to myself whenever i feel in awe of someone else's work (like yours, amanda, lol) and continue on my own journey

here's a link to my daily snapshot blog

http;//kiekjevandedag.blogspot.com

[LeAnne]

This is exactly my struggle right now. I would love to win a spot in this class!

[rakusribut]

sorry for the mistake in the url
the correct link is
http://kiekjevandedag.blogspot.com

[tarawohlford]

I am sometimes envious of those who have a distinctive style and hope to get to that point someday. I would love to take your course!

[Amanda B]

Lovely post! I needed to here that, I am currently struggling to find me photographic voice :)

[damiec]

Since I don't get paid to take pictures, I don't shoot for the feedback. I love it, after all, I'm human, but I don't shoot with it in mind. I know I could bokeh the heck out of a street scene, and get tons of comments, and sometimes, when the mood hits me I will. But not for the boatload of comments - I'll do it because that's the way that scene appears to me.

As for my style, I don't know. When I'm not shooting my kids, I seek out subjects that have some history.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/6415666307/in/set-72157628274275471

[dee]

How timely. I was just having this conversation with myself this morning. I look at others' work and think I "should" try that style, but is stretching in too many directions an upward growth? I need to be more confident that my approach (style), is just that - mine. My honest passion can definitely fuel my creative energies for exploration, but I'm ready to set goals and like you said, be the director of my own work. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Kathryn Dyche Dechairo]

I love nature and wildlife and find myself instinctively drawn to those elements. I've especially loved focusing on the smaller details this year with macro shots, they seem to speak to me more and draw me in.

[leaca]

that is something i continue to work on. i think it is there i just have not found it yet.

[Jen]

I would love to win a spot!! I just love learning new things about photography!

[Leanne]

This post is so interesting-it's exactly what i've been thinking about lately. I started my blog a year ago in order to give me a reason to practise photography. Over the year I've joined in on various prompts, which I love, but it's got me thinking about which prompts i really enjoy, and it seems that they're mostly the ones where i can creatively express little things about my day & my life.
THis recent post is an example:http://knowwheretostand.blogspot.com/2012/01/ten-on-ten.html

[Nancy]

Great giveaway.... I struggle with defining my personal vision and would love some assistance!

[Fishgirl]

A topic I've given much thought to. Okay, let's see what happens.

[Paula]

I know exactly how you felt as that is where I am now. I think I have a style but then I view other photographers photos and wonder should I really do it their way maybe my way is not the main stream should I go with the main stream to be noticed or do what I see as my vision. I think it is a battle we all have as photographers it would be nice to find my way out of the circle

[Helen Anne]

Sounds like an interesting exploration.

[Alexandra]

I would LOVE help refining my style because right now, I just want to shoot everything and try anything. Which honsestly has me confused, ha ha ha!

[Siobhan Wolf]

Being in the process of defining this for myself, I appreciate this post so much. Very encouraging.

[emma]

I love to shoot random things, mostly lifestyle, food and still life. I love imperfection in photos as well as subtlety.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/6746242975/in/set-72157626337448564/

[Jade]

I am constantly refining my style. I don't over think it: I just strive to be creative every day and follow my heart.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/

[Karen W]

I've just recently started reading and thinking about this a lot, but I've yet to come up with a clear definition of my style or focus. Sometimes I feel like I'm all over the place. I'd love to win a spot in this class.

[Marcie]

This is so beautifully said. I love the concept of being our very own creative directors. Here's one of mine that I think - for today (because I do think vision and style evolve and change) best represents what I love:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/home/2012/1/20/q-tipped.html

[gis]

It was great to read this post from you, I start to pose myself these questions: why and how do I want to photograph? Thaks for making me think more about my intents and reasons!

[Laura]

Thank you for this post. This is so true. This struggle to truly embody who one truly is. To live and photography from that genuine center. I would love to hear more about this journey. These are ideas I have been playing with lately. Who am I as a photographer. Why do I create photos. What is the reason or driving force.

[claudia]

Wow, I am all over the place. One look through my stream http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/ and you'd realize I like bouncing around. But when I get paid to take photographs it would be nice be able to say.. this is an example of my work. Gee, I've only been taking photos for over 30 years, you'd think I'd have it nailed down by now - maybe not since you said "As photographers we are constantly changing and growing." Thanks for the chance to be able to possibly refine and shine :)