Creating Your Own Style – Finding an Authentic Approach in Photography

Image Source: Stocksy

In a world saturated with stunning images and endless inspiration, finding your own voice as a photographer can feel overwhelming. With social media feeds brimming with expertly curated photos and influencers dominating popular trends, it’s easy to fall into the trap of imitation. But true growth—and genuine impact—comes from developing your own authentic approach.

Your photographic style is more than a set of visual traits. It’s a reflection of how you see the world, what you choose to capture, and how you express emotion through imagery. Whether you're just starting out or seeking more creative clarity, this guide will walk you through how to develop a photography style and build a personal photography aesthetic that feels like you.

Why Having a Unique Photography Style Matters

Photography is both an art and a personal form of storytelling. Your style is what turns a technically sound image into something unmistakably yours. So why does this matter?

First, a distinct style helps you stand out in a competitive field. Whether you're hoping to build a career or simply share your work online, having a recognisable voice sets you apart from others.

Second, your personal photography aesthetic creates consistency in your portfolio. This is essential if you want to attract clients, build a social following, or curate exhibitions. People connect with visual storytelling that feels cohesive and intentional.

Finally, developing your style deepens your connection to your craft. It allows you to shoot with purpose, see your progress over time, and gain more satisfaction from the creative process itself.

Image Source: #PIstudent Brian Morgan @briantchapster

Photography Inspiration and Originality: Understanding Your Influences (Without Copying Them)

All artists are influenced by others—it’s part of how we learn and grow. But drawing inspiration is different from copying. The key is to study the work of others, understand what resonates with you, and reinterpret it through your own lens.

Start by creating a collection of photographers whose work you admire. Ask yourself:

• What do I love about their style—lighting, composition, colour, subject matter?
• How does their work make me feel?
• Can I identify recurring themes or technical choices?

Once you’ve reflected on these elements, challenge yourself to try similar techniques while infusing them with your own perspective. For example, if you love the cinematic feel of certain portraits, experiment with lighting and editing, but use your own environment, models, or storytelling to create something new.

Try this exercise: Choose three photographers with distinct styles. Write down the characteristics of their work that stand out to you. Then, shoot a mini photo series inspired by each one—but with your own twist.

Over time, the influence of others will blend into your own evolving voice.

Identifying Your Personal Preferences & Strengths

A major part of discovering your photography style is figuring out what you naturally gravitate toward. This includes not just what you like to shoot—but how you like to shoot it.

Ask yourself:

• What subjects excite me most—people, nature, architecture, details?
• Do I prefer natural or artificial light? Soft or dramatic tones?
• Am I drawn to symmetry and order, or spontaneity and movement?

One helpful tool is keeping a visual diary or mood board. Use platforms like Pinterest or create a folder on your desktop to save images—your own or others—that catch your eye. Over time, patterns will emerge. You may realise you’re repeatedly choosing warm tones, strong shadows, or wide angles.

Pay attention to what brings you joy and flow. The subjects and techniques that feel natural often point to your creative strengths. Lean into those, and don’t worry about fitting into any one genre.

Photographers often find their style through experimentation. Try everything from street photography to still life. The more you explore, the clearer your preferences will become.

Image Source: #PIstudent Brian Morgan @briantchapster

Developing a Consistent Visual Language

Once you have a sense of what resonates with you, the next step is to bring consistency to your work. This doesn’t mean every photo has to look the same—but your portfolio should reflect a coherent visual language.

A visual language includes elements like:

• Colour palette: Do you prefer muted tones, vibrant hues, or black and white?
• Lighting: Are your images soft and dreamy, bold and high-contrast, or moody and atmospheric?
• Composition: Do you use symmetry, leading lines, minimalism, or layered depth?
• Editing style: Your post-processing choices—from exposure to grain—can enhance your unique aesthetic.

Spend time refining your editing process. You don’t need complex tools—many photographers start with Lightroom or Snapseed. Create presets or save settings that help you maintain consistency across your images.

Take inspiration from well-known photographers with iconic styles—think Annie Leibovitz’s dramatic portraits or Steve McCurry’s rich, vibrant travel shots. Their work is instantly recognisable because they’ve built a clear visual language.

That said, don’t let consistency turn into constraint. The goal is to stay true to your voice while allowing space for growth.

Image Source: #PIstudent Lynne O'Meara @lynneomearaphotography

Allowing Your Style to Evolve Naturally

Your photography style is not something you define once and never change—it evolves with you. As your skills grow and your experiences shift, so will your creative expression.

Some photographers start with bold, colourful images and later transition to subtle, minimal compositions. Others may switch genres completely over time. That’s part of the journey.

Here are a few tips for embracing evolution:

• Revisit your old work and reflect on how it has changed.
• Don’t be afraid to take creative detours or try new gear and techniques.
• Allow yourself to get bored—it often leads to breakthroughs.

Most importantly, resist the urge to force a style because it’s trending. Authenticity always shines brighter than replication.

If you find yourself in a creative rut, take a break or shoot something entirely new. Inspiration often comes when you let go of expectations.

Practical Exercises to Develop Your Creative Vision in Photography

Practice is the path to clarity. Here are a few simple exercises to help you develop and refine your unique photography approach style:

1. One Subject, Five Ways: Choose one subject (a tree, a cup of coffee, a friend) and photograph it from five different perspectives or using five different techniques.
   
2. Shoot With Constraints: Limit yourself to one lens, one lighting condition, or one colour scheme. Constraints foster creativity.
   
3. Photo-A-Day Challenge: Commit to capturing one image every day for a month. Focus on expressing mood or telling a story through your photos.
   
4. Visual Review: Set aside time weekly to review your photos. Group them by common traits—colours, subjects, emotions—and reflect on what you’re consistently drawn to.
   
5. Self-Critique: Choose your favourite five images and write a short paragraph about what you like about each. What themes or techniques do they share?

Each of these exercises builds both technical confidence and creative awareness—two essential ingredients for a strong personal style.

Image Source: #PIstudent Lynne Atkin @lynneatkin

Tips by PI Tutor Justin Aitken

Histogram

Exposure is the overall brightness or darkness of a photograph. The histogram is a graph that measures and represents the exposure.

The horizontal axis represents the exposure with darks (shadows), mid-tones and brights (highlights). The vertical axis represents the frequency and intensity of the RGB tones.

When it comes to reading exposures, we can use the horizontal axis on the graph, understanding that a histogram with information weighted to the left indicates under-exposure. A histogram with information weighted to the right indicates over-exposure.

Image Source: PI Tutor Justin Aitken www.justinaitken.com

A photograph with a good balance of highlights and shadows will show a balanced histogram with information sitting in the middle.

Although modern digital cameras have an electronic viewfinder that shows us our exposure in real-time, it’s still important to understand the fundamentals, as various factors can affect how we see our exposure on our screens or through our viewfinders (such as bright sun, dimmed brightness levels etc.)

Once we understand the basics, we can then use our knowledge to create the exposures we want, which very often are important factors when defining our own personal styles and the type of images we wish to create.

The next slides show the histograms for the different types of exposures.

Image Source: Image Source: PI Tutor Justin Aitken www.justinaitken.com

Your Style, Your Story: Where to Go From Here

Finding your photography style isn’t about arriving at a final destination—it’s about exploring your creative identity and allowing it to grow with you. It’s about learning to trust your instincts, stay curious, and express what matters most to you through your lens.

As you continue shooting, reviewing your work, and refining your process, your style will start to take shape naturally. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey—because photography, at its heart, is a personal adventure.

If you’re ready to deepen your skills, gain technical expertise, and explore your creative voice more fully, The Photography Institute offers online courses designed for every stage of your journey. With expert guidance and a flexible learning environment, you’ll be supported as you build a portfolio that’s not only technically strong, but unmistakably yours.

Your voice matters. Your perspective is unique. And the world needs to see it.

Start crafting your signature style today—because your photography story is just beginning.