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Photography Is My Passion: 14 Undeniable Reasons to Love It

Last updated on July 23, 2023 by Doug Ash

It always starts as something that grabs your attention. First, it is a hobby; eventually, it increases your curiosity and leads you down a path where you become obsessed with it. In general terms, we call it ‘having a passion’ and for me, photography is my passion!

If I say that words aren’t enough to express how much I love this art form, it wouldn’t be wrong. Photography is my chosen medium of creative expression. I use it to communicate with the world and show people how I view it. From stunning landscapes to the occasional amazing family portraiture, I love capturing the world in pictures!

You may find it surprising that I had my fears when I was just starting out as a photographer, and still do in some cases. Photography for beginners is challenging, especially when you want to capture beautiful shots but don’t know how. However, if you stick to the path and let your passion guide you, I can guarantee you will fall in love with photography just like I did!

Reasons Why Photography Is My Passion

If you are a beginner looking for some motivation, this is a good place to start:

1. Infinite Possibilities

As a photographer, you will develop a keen eye to notice slight changes in the world around you. Every day will invite you to explore something new, even if the things around you do not change in dramatic or obvious ways. That’s the beauty of photography! It opens up doors with an infinite number of possibilities that you can capture with your camera. It’s all about the details.

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2. Challenging, Yet Rewarding

Photography is my passion because it seems like an impossible task at first until you capture that perfect shot. As a beginner, you imagine the shot in front of you, but the camera does not capture it the way you see it. That’s when the process quickly becomes frustrating. Yet, once you figure out how to play with your composition and adjust the settings in your favor, and not let your fears overwhelm you, the same challenge becomes rewarding.

3. Memorable Moments

It’s one of the reasons most people love photographs. They can relive the same moment that made them happy once. However, for photographers, it holds a different meaning. The memory of their captured shot is more than just the scene in the photo. The experience of the captured image is what they love.

4. Interpretations

Photography for beginners is just another hobby at first. You see something worth capturing and take the shot. However, when you show it to other people, you realize not everyone interprets the photo like you did. Through the learning process, you can come to learn the different layers of meaning behind a single photograph.

5. Being in the Present

Photographers have this urge to find the next best shot, freeing their minds from past worries and being in the present. You are focused on everything around you, trying to find all those little details, making you truly live in the moment. It is a gift for me to live in the present, and it can be a gift for you too.

6. The Process

Yet another reason to love photography is that it’s not rushed. Beginners often get tangled in the technical details of capturing a photograph. While the details are essential, it’s never the reason you capture breathtaking shots.

Figuring out the kind of shot you want to take, adjusting your camera settings, and “setting the scene” is something truly investing in. The resulting shot is what makes it worth it.

7. Response from People

Your camera captures the moment you thought was worth sharing with the world. Once you share it, you can experience the most beautiful thing—an emotional response from people who understand what you want to say with the picture.

Can be on Instagram or some other form of social media, or even prints. Catching someone’s eye as they walk by one of your prints or hearing “You took that!?!”, never gets old. (…in most instances lol)

8. Self-Expression

Photography is my passion because I use it to express myself. People find different ways to share their emotions and thoughts with the world. Some express themselves as dancers, while others as writers. Photographers use images to show people how they see everything around them.

9. Mindset of a Storyteller

A picture is worth a thousand words, remember? As a photographer, you can make that happen! Photography is the kind of pursuit that will help you become a better storyteller.

When you focus on the surroundings and notice everything around you, stories will appear themselves. You will see them and gladly capture them with your camera. It’s something, as a landscape photographer, I feel I do really well. I hike and get outside a lot, and by being a good storyteller, I am able to help viewers see what I see. I can deliver an experience to them.

10. Capturing Emotions

Some photographers find happiness in the smiles and tears in the sorrow they capture with the lens. Photography is a great way to capture how they see humans and their emotions for those who love observing people in their daily lives. Photographers become intuitive above reading people when they see them through the lens.

11. Capturing Nature

When you anticipate a perfect shot and wait in silence for that moment to arrive, the whole experience becomes unforgettable. Photography holds a different meaning for everyone. If you are inspired by nature , photography can be a way to appreciate what you like and share with others how beautiful this world is.

12. Ultimate Control

Unexpected situations occur all the time. You have to deal with mood swings, weather conditions, broken stuff, etc. Misfortune can’t be avoided, but one thing you can become capable of doing is controlling how the photographs turn out.

Whether it’s the lighting, location, switching up lens, or your response to whatever misfortune happens. For some, having that ultimate control is another reason for being passionate about photography.

13. Connect with People

As a photographer, you could meet many people every day and learn their life stories. They can share the hidden gems of their local town and help you find a place that has never been captured before!

Or maybe they share a touching story that helps you take a better, more in-tuned picture. Anything is possible when you pack your camera bag and connect with people who have stories to share.

14. Travel All You Want

Wanderlust can make people realize how amazing photography can be! Whether it is people from a foreign land or the colors of the setting sun , whatever you capture becomes meaningful. It’s one of the reasons why landscape photography is my passion. You can go wherever it takes you and find beauty in everyday life.

All photographers have different reasons to love this art form. Some like to capture their family’s best moments, while others use their photographs to capture the breathtaking beauty of nature. No matter what you choose to photograph, this is one creative pursuit that will enrich you in more ways than one.

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Why I Love Photography

Our reasons for finding our way behind the lens of a camera are as various as the courses we choose to take with our lives. Here are just a few of mine.

Why do we love photography? I mean, let’s face it. If it was just a matter of finding a new hobby, there are far less expensive undertakings for us to consider. Perhaps you’ve taken up photography as a means to support your family. But even the most established professional can attest to the fact that there are plenty of other vocations available if your main concern is a steady and predictable cash flow.

No, the odds are that the reason you picked up photography is far more personal. Maybe you stuck with it because you found it to be a source of income. But, the reason you picked up the camera in the first place and caught the shutterbug virus likely has as much to do with your mode of operation as a human as it does with your bank account.

Most of my milestones as an artist have come not when I learned a new technical skill, but when, in the process of trying to find my artistic voice, I’ve ended up discovering things about myself.

For example, like most photographers, my journey behind the camera began with shooting the things that were around me: my dog, my house, my neighborhood. When that got to be too limiting, I moved on to shooting things around the city. I live in Los Angeles. It’s a big city. But even that was eventually too small to contain my creative ambition. So, I started traveling abroad as much for the photographs as for the culinary delights and the pipe dream of accidentally bumping into a beautiful woman one night leaning against the railing of a cruise ship.

When I came home from France one day with over 6,000 images on my memory card and a little less rubber on the soles of my shoes, I stumbled upon my first realization. Traveling through a beautiful country full of water lilies, church spires, and iron towers, I realized that the shots that were sticking out to me most were those that had less to do with the location and more to do with the population. An early shot I often consider is one I took of a young tourist couple sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower. Here I am, having traveled halfway around the world for a chance to visit a legendary landmark, and it turns out the only thing I was interested in photographing was an innocuous moment between two people I’d never met. The couple was just sitting in the grass, reading a guide map of the city, with the legendary tower hovering above them in the background. It’s not that they are doing anything particularly different. But clearly, I was drawn to the human story far more than the landscape. Going through the remainder of the 6,000+ images, time and time again, I would find myself editing down the collection to similar images, always prioritizing the human element over the scenery.

Now, that’s not to say that portrait photography is superior to landscapes. Rather, it was the moment when I realized that my interest in photography was heavily driven by my interest in people rather than my interest in places. This realization helped me see my art more clearly and helped me decide which avenues to pursue next.

A few years later, my desire to capture unsuspecting pedestrians casually as a hobby had developed into a career where I rather intentionally captured portraits of models for a living. No longer having to sneak a shot of a tourist couple sitting beneath the Eiffel Tower, I was now free to walk up as close as I’d like to my human subjects to get the best angle possible. I might be shooting said model on location with a beautiful landscape as a backdrop, but I no longer had to pretend to myself that the mountain in the background was as intriguing to me as the speck of brown in my model’s otherwise icy blue eyes.

It was during one of these moments when I found myself standing criminally close to my subject in a way that might get me arrested if I were to do it to a stranger on the street that I had another realization about myself and why I loved photography.

Even though I’ve chosen a career where I photograph lots and lots of people, supported by a crew with lots and lots more people, I am, in fact, an introvert by nature. If I don’t have to be around other people for work or in the service of art, I generally prefer to be alone. It’s not that I don’t like people. I just fundamentally need my alone time to recharge and build up the energy to deal with human interactions.

Yet, despite my clear failure as a social gadfly, I still find people endlessly fascinating. I love to study people. I love to learn about their motivations and their backstories. I love to identify those unique little ticks they have. Spot every little minute permutation of their face that signals when they are happy, sad, or amused. I love to observe.

So, one day, when I found myself standing eight inches from a beautiful woman’s face, staring at her, but with absolutely no other thought in mind other than finding the best way to light her so I could bring out a certain element of her cheekbones, I realized yet another reason I love photography. It’s the one profession that gives me a free license to do what I like best, study people and learn about other human beings.

I get to engage my subjects on a deeper level than I could if I didn’t have a camera in my hand. Sure, maybe if I met them under other circumstances, I might still find myself one day getting to know them. But the camera itself is a passport to ask questions. As an introvert, it provides me with a certain layer of protection when I engage with people. It gives me a point of entry. This access is crucial to my ability to create art. But it’s also crucial to me as a person because it allows me a level of human interaction that I don’t always get when I’m away from the set.

Of course, the great thing about being an artist is that you never stop learning. That means you never stop learning your craft. Nor do you ever stop learning about yourself. Just the other day, I had another such revelation. I was shooting a major advertising campaign for one of the largest athletic brands in the world. Lots of subjects. Lots of moving parts. Lots of pressure and prestige. Exactly the kind of campaign that, early in my career, would have kept me up nights worrying about.

But a strange thing happened on my way to the set. Not only had I slept as peacefully as a baby the night before, but as I exited the freeway onto that little road that encircles Dodger Stadium where my shoot would be taking place, it dawned on me that I was not even remotely nervous at all. It’s not that I wasn’t excited to shoot. I’m always excited to shoot. But no butterflies were bouncing around in my stomach the way they used to.

Now, this could be considered a good thing or a bad thing. It’s good not to be nervous. If you’ve prepared the way you are supposed to before a shoot and learned your craft, there’s nothing to be nervous about. But, on the other hand, sometimes those butterflies in your stomach are good. They have a way of adding a bit of fear which can send you into a state of laser focus. That laser focus can sometimes help make you, or me at least, extra creative. When you’re dialed in, you can create gold.

I did the shoot. The client was happy. The campaign was a success. But, despite the high profile of the project and the potential for name-dropping to prospects, none of the shots made it into my portfolio. Why? Why was this shoot, a shoot that a decade ago I would have only dreamed about, suddenly nothing more to me than a blip on the radar? Not even worthy of mentioning on social media. Well, this is the point at which I made my most recent revelation. It’s not the destination that excites me about photography. It’s the ability to be constantly growing and developing as an artist.

This was a huge campaign. But, I’m fortunate enough to say that I’ve done many major campaigns before. The concept for the shoot was also one that I had shot multiple times before. This made me aptly qualified to get the gig. But it also meant that I would be retreading very familiar ground. Don’t get me wrong. I am immensely happy to get such opportunities. But it also meant that the potential for creative growth on that project would be somewhat limited compared to other projects. It’s only natural. The more you know about a particular subject, the less steep the learning curve will become over time. But, I guess it turns out that I love a steep learning curve.

I love photography because there is potential to grow every day you go to work. I love the opportunity to end a day feeling more skilled and better prepared than when I woke up in the morning. It’s not so much about the result as it is about the process of discovery. I love photography because I love to learn.

These are just a handful of the reasons why I love being behind the lens. What got you interested in photography? What keeps you staying with it? Everyone has their reasons. I’d love to hear yours.

Christopher Malcolm is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle, fitness, and advertising photographer, director, and cinematographer shooting for clients such as Nike, lululemon, ASICS, and Verizon.

Well said, I appreciate your perspective. I've got many parallels. For me, I found a passion in capturing moments and light. Similar to you, I began with my surroundings, only for me, it was the forest. This built a foundational approach to my photography. I have since moved into street and documentary and working towards portraiture. I love every moment of it. The thing that keeps me going is the fact that I can always improve my skills and craft.

Damn... Most probably the best article on the subject I have ever read! Loved it! Just feel the exact same way! Congrats Malcom!

A long road to find what it is all about. I was in the Navy in '75 when an old grey beard (no older than 37) who took me out on my first Shore Patrol in Naples assigning to the "GUT" and going behind the counter to the champagne rooms and the brothels then the next day a $10 MWR tour to Rome with food and entertainment included. Next was asked what I would like to do during a port visit. Went to the NATO store and bought a Ftb and some lenses with savings. Six months later after the deployment I had 10 uncashed checks and a stack of photos of memories and a new skill and a trained eye of my surrounding seeing what no one else sees' and capturing a moment in time that never repeats. I became a time traveler with memories that I could share with all and bore many with a slideshow. I still have the camera and a AE1 and a safe full of photos and slides that I will enjoy in a old folks home vs a TV. Today my time machine recorder is a Sony and its many lenses. It is just a hobby that keeps the eye trained and mind dreaming with other saying "I did not see that but I was there,Ummm!". One day a pile of CD/dvds in a antique store with notes of when and where for those to go back in time. It was better than drowning in beer in every port having savings in mind images and images for others. Photography is nothing more than recording time travel " Did that really happen?" Men never see their wife as old but as seen at that first time, always! A photo just shows others what he sees year after year! Just ask for a description and that back in time photo will be it. Just enjoy the trip!

The camera has "allowed" me to spend many of the happiest hours of my life, some with people and some alone. Thanks for explaining all this so well. And feel free to trash the trashy comment.

We asked photographers: Why do you love photography?

Our love for photography runs deep. We are, after all, a company founded by photographers driven by a passion to help creative people thrive. In a ...

Our love for photography runs deep. We are, after all, a company founded by photographers driven by a passion to help creative people thrive.

In a world that’s hungry for connection, photography has become universally loved and appreciated across cultures and generations. It’s a language we can all understand and an art form that never ceases to amaze or inform the masses (It’s important to note that we recognize that being a photographer is not without its challenges).

There are a million and one reasons to love photography. And we want to celebrate all of the unique perspectives out there. We gathered up a mix of direct responses and inspiring tweets from the photo community to help illustrate just how special photography can be.

Let us know why you love photography. Share your story on Twitter ( tag @photoshelter ) or in the comments below!

Caroline Gutman

The artistic aspects of photography are what I first fell in love with: experimenting with subject, intention, style, technique and medium. With photojournalism, I love getting to know people and their worlds, as well as often helping to advance a story focused on social issues.

Joanie Simon

I love photography because it’s a fast-paced creative medium. I love creating imagery, but don’t have the time or patience for painting or sculpting.

@photoshelter For me. The answer is simple. Photographs leave a legacy of how we see the world at a specific time. The work isn’t always pretty or exciting. it’s our job to find and create the legacy which becomes our mark on the world. #moments pic.twitter.com/WGNl2WPmjk — Saquan Stimpson (@monsterphotoiso) August 17, 2022

I love photography because there’s always the chance I’ll leave an assignment at the end of the day having photographed my new favorite photo in my portfolio. The excitement of never knowing what you will come out with after an assignment is what keeps me loving this job!

I love photography because it allows me to pursue both my hobbies and my career. It allows me to be both technical and artistic. It helps me showcase how I see the world, and how I want to see the world. It is simply everything all at once, and I love that.

I love photography because it’s a way for me to leave a legacy for my children. When I’m gone, I hope they will look back at all the photos of games, of events, and of them, and they will be proud of who their dad was. — Josh McDaniel (@TheRealJoshMAC) August 17, 2022

What I love about photography is the journey. My camera is an entrée into worlds I would otherwise never be in, and it lets me connect with people I might never have met. 

Daniel J. Cox

There are several answers to this question. But the number one answer is that photography allows me to share how beautiful our planet and its creatures are. If people don’t know about something, they don’t care. From the earliest days of being able to walk, I’ve spent time outdoors. So I’ve been lucky to understand and see firsthand what a special place our planet and its creatures are. I can’t imagine losing animals and wild places that are so inspiring. My only way to help educate people is to share my work. It’s more a part of what I do today than my entire 40-year career. I honestly believe I’m here for one purpose. To help people appreciate what this planet offers.

Being able to freeze time in my photography in sports or waves. Something the eye just cannot see as it’s only a split second of time pic.twitter.com/gpD3ue91E5 — Michael Crawford Hick (@mchphotoworld) August 17, 2022

Julia Wimmerlin

I love the versatility and the freedom it provides – being a photographer you can have 365 days very different from each other and still doing the same – pressing the shutter button.

Sophie Carr

Why do I love photography? It gives me the excuse and opportunity to visit and capture such beautiful places around the world. I particularly love the landscapes of Iceland and photographing them allows me to spend more time in that landscape, getting to know it well, in all kinds of weather conditions. I love to share my perspective on that beauty with people through my photos.

Photography honestly saved my life, I was on a long downward spiral and I picked up a camera one day and I was just in love. pic.twitter.com/6arJJFbovd — Braxton Neilly (@570dx) August 17, 2022

Jim Richardson

Photography has given me the tools and motivation to look closely at the world, to pay attention, to engage, to see in order to understand, and so has made my life richer. Some moments are laden with excitement and adrenaline. But beyond those fleeting encounters there is the steady work of seeing and making images that have some value, that can do some good. That is honorable work and I love it.

Deanne Fitzmaurice

Photography takes us down new paths and expands our vision with enriching new experiences and stories that help us understand the world and our place in it.

Photography provides a different perspective to common situations, making every moment special. pic.twitter.com/9JjWL7RG1Q — Rudolf Schaich (@rschaich) August 17, 2022

Lars Moeller

Photography is fantastic because a picture is great if I say so! In other words…two plus two is not necessarily four.

Darina Kopcok

I’ve explored many forms of visual art but I love photography because of the power it has to communicate so much in a single snapshot. Even the simplest photo has a narrative within. I gravitate to food and still life photography because it’s my way of creating beauty for others. Take a shot of your meal at a restaurant, and the result won’t be very appetizing, but with lighting, styling, and intentional composition, that same dish is transformed into something that invites an emotional response and connection and can tell the story of a time, or place, or culture.

You’re up next!

Tell us why you love photography. Share your thoughts in a comment below or tweet @photoshelter for a chance to be added to this growing list of uplifting and inspiring responses.

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How to Create an Engaging Photo Essay (with Examples)

Photo essays tell a story in pictures. They're a great way to improve at photography and story-telling skills at once. Learn how to do create a great one.

Learn | Photography Guides | By Ana Mireles

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Photography is a medium used to tell stories – sometimes they are told in one picture, sometimes you need a whole series. Those series can be photo essays.

If you’ve never done a photo essay before, or you’re simply struggling to find your next project, this article will be of help. I’ll be showing you what a photo essay is and how to go about doing one.

You’ll also find plenty of photo essay ideas and some famous photo essay examples from recent times that will serve you as inspiration.

If you’re ready to get started, let’s jump right in!

Table of Contents

What is a Photo Essay?

A photo essay is a series of images that share an overarching theme as well as a visual and technical coherence to tell a story. Some people refer to a photo essay as a photo series or a photo story – this often happens in photography competitions.

Photographic history is full of famous photo essays. Think about The Great Depression by Dorothea Lange, Like Brother Like Sister by Wolfgang Tillmans, Gandhi’s funeral by Henri Cartier Bresson, amongst others.

What are the types of photo essay?

Despite popular belief, the type of photo essay doesn’t depend on the type of photography that you do – in other words, journalism, documentary, fine art, or any other photographic genre is not a type of photo essay.

Instead, there are two main types of photo essays: narrative and thematic .

As you have probably already guessed, the thematic one presents images pulled together by a topic – for example, global warming. The images can be about animals and nature as well as natural disasters devastating cities. They can happen all over the world or in the same location, and they can be captured in different moments in time – there’s a lot of flexibility.

A narrative photo essa y, on the other hand, tells the story of a character (human or not), portraying a place or an event. For example, a narrative photo essay on coffee would document the process from the planting and harvesting – to the roasting and grinding until it reaches your morning cup.

What are some of the key elements of a photo essay?

• Tell a unique story – A unique story doesn’t mean that you have to photograph something that nobody has done before – that would be almost impossible! It means that you should consider what you’re bringing to the table on a particular topic.
• Put yourself into the work – One of the best ways to make a compelling photo essay is by adding your point of view, which can only be done with your life experiences and the way you see the world.
• Add depth to the concept – The best photo essays are the ones that go past the obvious and dig deeper in the story, going behind the scenes, or examining a day in the life of the subject matter – that’s what pulls in the spectator.
• Nail the technique – Even if the concept and the story are the most important part of a photo essay, it won’t have the same success if it’s poorly executed.
• Build a structure – A photo essay is about telling a thought-provoking story – so, think about it in a narrative way. Which images are going to introduce the topic? Which ones represent a climax? How is it going to end – how do you want the viewer to feel after seeing your photo series?
• Make strong choices – If you really want to convey an emotion and a unique point of view, you’re going to need to make some hard decisions. Which light are you using? Which lens? How many images will there be in the series? etc., and most importantly for a great photo essay is the why behind those choices.

9 Tips for Creating a Photo Essay

Credit: Laura James

1. Choose something you know

To make a good photo essay, you don’t need to travel to an exotic location or document a civil war – I mean, it’s great if you can, but you can start close to home.

Depending on the type of photography you do and the topic you’re looking for in your photographic essay, you can photograph a local event or visit an abandoned building outside your town.

It will be much easier for you to find a unique perspective and tell a better story if you’re already familiar with the subject. Also, consider that you might have to return a few times to the same location to get all the photos you need.

2. Follow your passion

Most photo essays take dedication and passion. If you choose a subject that might be easy, but you’re not really into it – the results won’t be as exciting. Taking photos will always be easier and more fun if you’re covering something you’re passionate about.

3. Take your time

A great photo essay is not done in a few hours. You need to put in the time to research it, conceptualizing it, editing, etc. That’s why I previously recommended following your passion because it takes a lot of dedication, and if you’re not passionate about it – it’s difficult to push through.

4. Write a summary or statement

Photo essays are always accompanied by some text. You can do this in the form of an introduction, write captions for each photo or write it as a conclusion. That’s up to you and how you want to present the work.

5. Learn from the masters

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Making a photographic essay takes a lot of practice and knowledge. A great way to become a better photographer and improve your storytelling skills is by studying the work of others. You can go to art shows, review books and magazines and look at the winners in photo contests – most of the time, there’s a category for photo series.

6. Get a wide variety of photos

Think about a story – a literary one. It usually tells you where the story is happening, who is the main character, and it gives you a few details to make you engage with it, right?

The same thing happens with a visual story in a photo essay – you can do some wide-angle shots to establish the scenes and some close-ups to show the details. Make a shot list to ensure you cover all the different angles.

Some of your pictures should guide the viewer in, while others are more climatic and regard the experience they are taking out of your photos.

7. Follow a consistent look

Both in style and aesthetics, all the images in your series need to be coherent. You can achieve this in different ways, from the choice of lighting, the mood, the post-processing, etc.

8. Be self-critical

Once you have all the photos, make sure you edit them with a good dose of self-criticism. Not all the pictures that you took belong in the photo essay. Choose only the best ones and make sure they tell the full story.

9. Ask for constructive feedback

Often, when we’re working on a photo essay project for a long time, everything makes perfect sense in our heads. However, someone outside the project might not be getting the idea. It’s important that you get honest and constructive criticism to improve your photography.

How to Create a Photo Essay in 5 Steps

Credit: Quang Nguyen Vinh

1. Choose your topic

This is the first step that you need to take to decide if your photo essay is going to be narrative or thematic. Then, choose what is it going to be about?

Ideally, it should be something that you’re interested in, that you have something to say about it, and it can connect with other people.

2. Research your topic

To tell a good story about something, you need to be familiar with that something. This is especially true when you want to go deeper and make a compelling photo essay. Day in the life photo essays are a popular choice, since often, these can be performed with friends and family, whom you already should know well.

3. Plan your photoshoot

Depending on what you’re photographing, this step can be very different from one project to the next. For a fine art project, you might need to find a location, props, models, a shot list, etc., while a documentary photo essay is about planning the best time to do the photos, what gear to bring with you, finding a local guide, etc.

Every photo essay will need different planning, so before taking pictures, put in the required time to get things right.

4. Experiment

It’s one thing to plan your photo shoot and having a shot list that you have to get, or else the photo essay won’t be complete. It’s another thing to miss out on some amazing photo opportunities that you couldn’t foresee.

So, be prepared but also stay open-minded and experiment with different settings, different perspectives, etc.

5. Make a final selection

Editing your work can be one of the hardest parts of doing a photo essay. Sometimes we can be overly critical, and others, we get attached to bad photos because we put a lot of effort into them or we had a great time doing them.

Try to be as objective as possible, don’t be afraid to ask for opinions and make various revisions before settling down on a final cut.

7 Photo Essay Topics, Ideas & Examples

Credit: Michelle Leman

• Architectural photo essay

Using architecture as your main subject, there are tons of photo essay ideas that you can do. For some inspiration, you can check out the work of Francisco Marin – who was trained as an architect and then turned to photography to “explore a different way to perceive things”.

You can also lookup Luisa Lambri. Amongst her series, you’ll find many photo essay examples in which architecture is the subject she uses to explore the relationship between photography and space.

• Process and transformation photo essay

This is one of the best photo essay topics for beginners because the story tells itself. Pick something that has a beginning and an end, for example, pregnancy, the metamorphosis of a butterfly, the life-cycle of a plant, etc.

Keep in mind that these topics are linear and give you an easy way into the narrative flow – however, it might be difficult to find an interesting perspective and a unique point of view.

• A day in the life of ‘X’ photo essay

There are tons of interesting photo essay ideas in this category – you can follow around a celebrity, a worker, your child, etc. You don’t even have to do it about a human subject – think about doing a photo essay about a day in the life of a racing horse, for example – find something that’s interesting for you.

• Time passing by photo essay

It can be a natural site or a landmark photo essay – whatever is close to you will work best as you’ll need to come back multiple times to capture time passing by. For example, how this place changes throughout the seasons or maybe even over the years.

A fun option if you live with family is to document a birthday party each year, seeing how the subject changes over time. This can be combined with a transformation essay or sorts, documenting the changes in interpersonal relationships over time.

• Travel photo essay

Do you want to make the jump from tourist snapshots into a travel photo essay? Research the place you’re going to be travelling to. Then, choose a topic.

If you’re having trouble with how to do this, check out any travel magazine – National Geographic, for example. They won’t do a generic article about Texas – they do an article about the beach life on the Texas Gulf Coast and another one about the diverse flavors of Texas.

The more specific you get, the deeper you can go with the story.

• Socio-political issues photo essay

This is one of the most popular photo essay examples – it falls under the category of photojournalism or documental photography. They are usually thematic, although it’s also possible to do a narrative one.

Depending on your topic of interest, you can choose topics that involve nature – for example, document the effects of global warming. Another idea is to photograph protests or make an education photo essay.

It doesn’t have to be a big global issue; you can choose something specific to your community – are there too many stray dogs? Make a photo essay about a local animal shelter. The topics are endless.

• Behind the scenes photo essay

A behind-the-scenes always make for a good photo story – people are curious to know what happens and how everything comes together before a show.

Depending on your own interests, this can be a photo essay about a fashion show, a theatre play, a concert, and so on. You’ll probably need to get some permissions, though, not only to shoot but also to showcase or publish those images.

4 Best Photo Essays in Recent times

Now that you know all the techniques about it, it might be helpful to look at some photo essay examples to see how you can put the concept into practice. Here are some famous photo essays from recent times to give you some inspiration.

Habibi by Antonio Faccilongo

This photo essay wan the World Press Photo Story of the Year in 2021. Faccilongo explores a very big conflict from a very specific and intimate point of view – how the Israeli-Palestinian war affects the families.

He chose to use a square format because it allows him to give order to things and eliminate unnecessary elements in his pictures.

With this long-term photo essay, he wanted to highlight the sense of absence and melancholy women and families feel towards their husbands away at war.

The project then became a book edited by Sarah Leen and the graphics of Ramon Pez.

Picture This: New Orleans by Mary Ellen Mark

The last assignment before her passing, Mary Ellen Mark travelled to New Orleans to register the city after a decade after Hurricane Katrina.

The images of the project “bring to life the rebirth and resilience of the people at the heart of this tale”, – says CNNMoney, commissioner of the work.

Each survivor of the hurricane has a story, and Mary Ellen Mark was there to record it. Some of them have heartbreaking stories about everything they had to leave behind.

Others have a story of hope – like Sam and Ben, two eight-year-olds born from frozen embryos kept in a hospital that lost power supply during the hurricane, yet they managed to survive.

Selfie by Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is an American photographer whose work is mainly done through self-portraits. With them, she explores the concept of identity, gender stereotypes, as well as visual and cultural codes.

One of her latest photo essays was a collaboration with W Magazine entitled Selfie. In it, the author explores the concept of planned candid photos (‘plandid’).

The work was made for Instagram, as the platform is well known for the conflict between the ‘real self’ and the one people present online. Sherman started using Facetune, Perfect365 and YouCam to alter her appearance on selfies – in Photoshop, you can modify everything, but these apps were designed specifically to “make things prettier”- she says, and that’s what she wants to explore in this photo essay.

Tokyo Compression by Michael Wolf

Michael Wolf has an interest in the broad-gauge topic Life in Cities. From there, many photo essays have been derived – amongst them – Tokyo Compression .

He was horrified by the way people in Tokyo are forced to move to the suburbs because of the high prices of the city. Therefore, they are required to make long commutes facing 1,5 hours of train to start their 8+ hour workday followed by another 1,5 hours to get back home.

To portray this way of life, he photographed the people inside the train pressed against the windows looking exhausted, angry or simply absent due to this way of life.

You can visit his website to see other photo essays that revolve around the topic of life in megacities.

Final Words

It’s not easy to make photo essays, so don’t expect to be great at it right from your first project.

Start off small by choosing a specific subject that’s interesting to you –  that will come from an honest place, and it will be a great practice for some bigger projects along the line.

Whether you like to shoot still life or you’re a travel photographer, I hope these photo essay tips and photo essay examples can help you get started and grow in your photography.

Let us know which topics you are working on right now – we’ll love to hear from you!

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Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

Penelope G. To Ana Mireles Such a well written and helpful article for an writer who wants to inclue photo essay in her memoir. Thank you. I will get to work on this new skill. Penelope G.

Herman Krieger Photo essays in black and white

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Why We Do It: Photographers and Photo Editors on the Passion That Drives Their Work

T he people who make up today’s thriving photographic community are our eyes to the world. Whether established artists and journalists or passionate emerging voices, they inform us, they inspire us, they amaze us, they put our world in the broader context of history.

But that community also faces great challenges — dwindling sales, increased competition and a fragile trust in photographers’ mission to inform. Too often, those factors can make those of us in that community, photographers and photo editors alike, lose sight of what drive us.

For this post, my last as editor of TIME LightBox, I asked 13 of my colleagues – some of the many photographers and photo editors who have influenced and inspired me over my last ten years in this industry – to answer these essential questions: Why do they do it? Why do they wake up every morning ready to take photographs, to edit them, to publish them? Why is photography important to them and, by extension, to all of us?

Here are their answers.

Kathy Ryan, Director of Photography, the New York Times Magazine

Photographs are the universal language of our era. Everyone has hundreds, maybe thousands in their pocket. Weightless, they turn the scale when the argument is: What happened here? Images don’t age or warp. A great photographer’s strings never go out of tune.

It is for this reason that we need photographers. They are the ones who sort all the chaos of the world into images that bring clarity to the free-for-all of life. They are the witnesses and artists who can distill the mayhem and beauty that surrounds us. They call our attention to the things we miss in our everyday lives and they call our attention to events and people at a great distance from our own patch of the universe. When they direct our eyes and hearts with precision and honesty, we know what we know differently and better. Photographers teach us to look again, look harder. Look through their eyes.

Ruddy Roye, Photographer

I shoot because I see. I shoot because if I don’t, I don’t know who will. Activism is seen as a dirty word. I shoot because I find peace in being especially active, and being a vigorous advocate for a cause.

How does one define what a “cause” is? According to Webster, it is “a person or thing that acts, happens, or exists in such a way that some specific thing happens as a result; the producer of an effect.”

I wish that every image I photograph reexamines and redefines the image of the black man, the black woman, and the black child. My photography is first and foremost a catalyst or reason to motive human action. Every picture I take asks the questions, “Who am I and what is my role here on this earth?” It is my way of seeing. It is my way of saying this is another way of seeing me.

Sarah Leen, Director of Photography, National Geographic

I have spent my entire professional life creating, editing, critiquing or teaching photography and working with photographers. It has been the way that I have experienced much of the world. In a deeply personal way I feel an image is a poem about time, about “staying the moment.” Photography can defeat time. Images can keep the memory of a loved one alive, hold a moment in history for future generations, be a witness to tragedy or joy. They can also change behavior, stimulate understanding and create a sense of urgency that will move people to action. Photography is the universal language that speaks to the heart.

Photographers are the dedicated, passionate and sometimes half-crazy individuals who are willing to give their lives, too often quite literally, to show us what needs to be seen, what needs to be known. I can think of no greater honor nor privilege than to have lived a life surrounded by images and the amazing individuals who create them and share them with us.

Stacy Kranitz, Photographer

For me it began with this fear of myself as a hermit and a search for a tool that would put me in a position to have to be out engaging with the world everyday.

Then it became this portal to and catalyst for reckoning with the other and how the camera can be used to breaking down barriers between the photographer, subject and viewer.

Now that the image has become devalued as a truth-revealing mechanism, it is free to own its subjectivity and becomes an ideal medium to navigate ideas around humanity, connection, identity, memory, presence, experience and intimacy.

Stephanie Sinclair, Photographer

Why do we do it? I think we all ask ourselves this question, especially as the industry becomes ever more volatile, with colleagues losing their jobs, and even their lives, more often than many of us ever expected when we went into this profession. Not to mention the steeply declining pay for those of us who manage to eke out a living doing editorial work… But for me, it comes down to the people in my photographs.

I still believe in the power of journalism and photojournalism to spark positive change — in a world where the pursuit of self-interest is prioritized by so many, its role speaking truth to power when all other avenues fail is unparalleled. And beyond the big-picture role of journalism, it can also be a revelation at the personal level. I’ve seen that from both sides of stories. For example, not long ago I was a story’s subject when my mother lost her life to medical malpractice in Florida hospitals; and, of course, I’ve been behind the camera interviewing hundreds of girls during my 15-year Too Young to Wed project. From both vantage points, I’ve learned how personally cathartic and validating it can be to share injustices suffered with a global community.

MaryAnne Golon, Director of Photography, Washington Post

Why is photography important? Photography speaks. When I discovered and later understood photographic visual language, I saw that this language could inform, educate and move audiences worldwide without the need for a shared spoken language. A successful photo story, when well-authored and edited, is universally understood. I once presented a photo story in China in silence to a professional photography group where the audience smiled, laughed, and fell quiet in all the right places — without a word in Mandarin or English. After the last frame, we all just beamed at each other. It was so thrilling.

I believe in light. Photography is light. That light is often shined into the darkest of places by the world’s bravest and most talented photojournalists. I have been most honored to support and publish work by many of them. I intend to continue nurturing, encouraging, supporting, cajoling, helping, counseling, appreciating, celebrating, and paying for professional photojournalism for as long as I am able. I believe in its power.

Aidan Sullivan, CEO and Founder, Verbatim

Photographers will tell you it’s almost like a disease, an obsession, a condition that drives them to tell the story at any cost, suffer hardships, isolate themselves and take extraordinary risks, all in an effort to capture and convey the story they are passionate about.

I have been there, as a young photographer, and I understand that passion and drive — and now, as my career has taken me through so many levels and roles in our industry, I feel compelled to support and nurture those storytellers, to help them continue to produce important work and tell those stories, often uncomfortable ones, so that we can, sitting in the comfort of our homes, be made aware of the darker side of our world.

This art, this madness, this compulsion to convey a story we know as photojournalism will not die, storytelling will not die, it will change and evolve but it is human nature to want to learn, to be educated and to understand our world through narratives.

I think photojournalism and the skills required to become a photojournalist are an inherent trait, genetic, it’s built into the DNA, it’s a need to be first to tell a story or pass on knowledge visually, like storytellers through the ages, when storytelling was deemed to be a gift and an important way to educate, when memory was a key requirement for learning.

Early cave drawings were the beginning of the visual narrative, all that has changed really is the method to capture those images and now, with a mobile and digital world, the way we disseminate them, instead of access to a few in our inner social circles, now it’s to hundreds of millions of people within the blink of an eye.

Laura Morton, Photographer

I first became interested in photojournalism primarily out of an interest in history. One day, while studying the Industrial Revolution, I found myself very saddened by a photograph of a child in a factory. I remember realizing in that moment that both the child and photographer were likely no longer alive and I became fascinated by how the photograph could make me so upset for the hard life of someone who lived so many decades before me. In a way both of them became almost immortal through the photograph and there was something very compelling about that.

I believe it’s incredibly important for photographers to document everyday life and even sometimes the seemingly mundane, not just for a better understanding of our times, but for individuals in the future to be able to reflect on who they are and how they got there. A photograph is particularly powerful because it is accessible to most of humanity. There is no language barrier in photography. I pick stories and pursue the projects I do with the goal of documenting not only important issues of our time, but ones that will also be relevant or perhaps even more vital for our understanding of humanity in the future.

Simon Bainbridge, Editorial Director, British Journal of Photography

Twenty years ago, I took a formative road trip across the Southwestern states with my sister and my best friend. She was studying literature at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and he was a film school graduate who was just beginning to take his experiments with a still camera more seriously. We planned to cross the San Juan Skyway, then head West to Canyonlands and Monument Valley, looping through New Mexico and back across the Colorado border, but we ended up taking the circuitous route.

Every few miles my friend would point excitedly at the horizon or some mark on the map, and suddenly we’d be veering off-road, heading for some rock or mountain or strange sounding name. Soon we’d be crossing “no entry” signs into reservation land, or knocking at the door of some crazy who’d spent years on a diet of marijuana and aloe vera, building a five-story tower made from Budweiser cans, or detouring up the aptly-named Oh My Gawd Road, or into Cañon City, “Corrections Capital of the World.” At first frustrated by these diversions, my sister and I soon gave in to the adventure, and over the next two weeks let ourselves be led by our random guide, in search of Kodak Gold. I would stand next to my friend, and see what he saw. But somehow he captured something ethereal and profound that I hadn’t recognized. We came to see the world differently; not through some new point of view, but by giving in to our heightened sense of curiosity.

Two decades later, this is still the Holy Grail. The photographers I most admire go out into the world with a sense of wonder and freedom and, yes, arrogance, challenging our apathy, making us see it afresh, for better or worse. Today, I am as willing and eager as ever to wade through the endless repeated themes and subjects to find those rare works that provoke, challenge and thrill me through their brave and insightful perspectives, or their sheer visual sublime.

Alex Potter, Photographer

When I left Yemen in August 2015, the place where I learned to photograph, build a story, and really love a community, I felt very lost. For over a year I tried to seek out a new base, a new story and group of people that had meaning to me, for something I felt connected to, without success. By November I was asking myself that very question — why am I still trying to do this?

I arrived in Iraq in November 2016, looking for stories having nothing to do with Mosul, yet I felt with so many other journalists around, I needed to find meaning elsewhere. I’m a registered nurse, so I sought out a small group of foreign medics working with the Iraqi military medics to treat people wounded during the battle. Living with this tight knit group, I began photographing our surroundings, the Iraqi medics whose job was so morbid, but who were so jovial in our downtime.

By working side by side with them and photographing what we went through together, I was useful, needed, and passionate about something again: I felt the desire to photograph for the first time in over a year. For me, photography is something I’ll always come back to, having assignments or not, to process my reality, to document the world around me, and to remember small details in difficult times that may have otherwise been forgotten.

Jeffrey Furticella, Sports Photo Editor, the New York Times

A favorite childhood memory is of my father driving us to a hobby store, purchasing a few packs of trading cards and me excitedly ripping them open to see what was inside. The bulk of what I’d find were mainstream releases, but what kept me tearing apart those cellophane wrappers week after week was the hope of unearthing something unique, something beautiful, something rare.

That same rush is what propels my belief in picture editing. In a time when our global awareness is under siege by an increasingly insular perspective, the responsibility of empowering photographers whose mission is to not just capture but to investigate, to enlighten, to excite, is one of the great privileges of our time.

Today there are more photographers producing more photographs and populating more platforms than have existed at any other point in our history. With that ubiquity has come an evolution in our audiences, which are more sophisticated and demanding than ever. What a thrilling time then to be tasked with looking through the mainstream releases in the hope of unearthing something unique, something beautiful, something rare.

Peter Di Campo, Photographer

Why is it important? Look at where we are right now. The world today scares me, frankly – people, cultures refusing to understand each other, and the results are frightening, and it’s to the benefit of the people at the top to keep it that way. So I have to believe in a more diverse and inclusive media (yes, to believe it’s dangerously problematic that the world has been predominantly visualized by people who look like me), and I have to believe in the innovations that allow for people to share their own stories with a wide audience. I care deeply about both investigative journalism and user-generated forms of storytelling, and I’m naive enough to believe that those two genres can coexist.

Everyday Africa recently had a big exhibition opening in Nairobi. It was wild, a full house. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A lot of the contributing photographers came in from across the continent, and we all met for the first time. You should have seen how the African photographers were treated – like celebrities! – by the fans who have been following them on social media for years. They’re seen as role models in the African art, photography and social-media circles because they’re black people imaging black people, and that’s Power. Anything I can do to continue supporting that – that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.

Is it odd to be a white American man saying all this? I don’t let it bother me. We all have to care about this.

Jean-François Leroy, Director, Visa pour l’Image Photojournalism Festival

I’ve been doing what I do for 40 years because I’ve always had the same gluttony to discover, among all the proposals I receive, the pure nugget, the young photographer whose photographs are a slap in the face, the young photographer that has that rare talent. Today, to see established photographers, recognized by everyone, whom I exhibited first – I’m beyond proud.

Even if it can be difficult, at times, to work with photographers, I love to reveal them, to help them edit, to build, with them, a story. After all these years, I have the same passion for this witnesses of what we’re living through. They are our eyes. They show us what’s happening. They astonish us. They move us. They make us smile, sometimes. Cry, as well.

I can’t imagine my life without all these encounters, so enriching, so surprising, so astonishing. Life!

Olivier Laurent was the editor of TIME LightBox from 2014 to 2017. He previously was a news editor at the British Journal of Photography. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent

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Why I Love Landscape Photography: A Personal Journey

This image was taken in Co. Sligo, Ireland, a place that is very dear to me.

I recently came across an article called Landscape Photography and the Meaning of Life. The author, Kas Stone, did admit that the title is “wildly pretentious,” yet eye-catching. It certainly caught my eye as I wondered how someone would make such a lofty connection. I have now read the article a few times as it is a weighty essay on the relationship between being a landscape photographer and our sense of self.

Fueled by her own passion for 'wild scenery and moody weather', the author delves deeply into why photographers might choose landscape photography above other forms of photography, and, within that, why photographers choose particular types of landscape over others.

It may not be the depth of reading that we would normally veer towards when looking for tips to improve our landscape photography, but I found that the article prompted me to look at why I feel drawn to landscape photography and to certain types of landscape photography in particular.

First off, I can say that the pull towards landscape photography is not because I have top of the range landscape photography equipment, because I don’t.

Neither is it because landscape photography is easy to do, because it is not always easy to achieve something unique in landscape photography in the way that might be possible in street photography or portrait photography.

The draw of landscape photography is not even because it tends to be a common genre in snapshot, or tourist photography (if there is such a thing!) as I want more from my photography than just to take snapshots, however amazing the landscapes might be.

If these are not my reasons for choosing landscape photography, then why is it a form of photography to which I feel more and more drawn?

Landscape photography is a form of photography to which I am becoming more and more attracted

Stone’s article has inspired me to think more deeply about the relationship between what I photograph and who I am. It has prompted me to ask these questions in relation to landscape photography –

Why do I keep coming back to landscape photography?

Why do certain landscapes attract me rather than others?

If you ask yourself these questions the answers will tell you a lot, not just about your photography, but about yourself.

In my case, I think that the answers to some of the questions may go right back to my childhood.

The pull of the landscape

I grew up in a small, rural village in the northern part of Ireland, a village surrounded by lakes and mountains and only 40 miles from the wild Atlantic coast. Many of my peers lived on the mountain which loomed over the village, their families having eked out a living from the harsh landscape for many generations. During heavy winter snows, they were often isolated from the rest of the village for days.

While as children we loved to walk through the mountainous landscape during fine summer weather, for many of the inhabitants it was often seen as a bleak existence. It was no surprise that young people wanted a better life than that of their ancestors, therefore a change in the local landscape, which saw the emergence of sand and stone quarries bringing new employment opportunities, was seen as progress by many even though these quarries created a blight on a beautiful landscape.

The proximity of my village to the coast meant that I frequently travelled there as a child, particularly during summers (which always seemed long back then). It was there that I discovered my love for the sea, for crashing waves, for cliffs and rocks, for small shingle coves and windswept cliff paths. As I got older, I loved to travel there at all times of year, and I particularly loved to be on a cliff in winter with the sea howling around me.

Taking time to think about my own relationship to the landscape in which I grew up has helped me understand why landscape means so much to me as an adult, and why I want to make images involving the variety of landscape elements in my country.

In her article, Kas Stone outlines a difference between our external motivation for making the images we make, and an internal motivation. We may be externally motivated when we are making our images for others, possibly as a commercial project or for a competition. According to Stone, our motivation is internal when our personal thoughts and feelings about the landscape guide our image making, when the experience of making the image is as important as the image itself.

“Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling.

If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others

to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” — Don McCullin

I love ancient trees. To me they symbolise strength and continuity. They are a symbol of the past, often having stood in their place for centuries. They have grown and changed and weathered, yet they live on, part of our environment, an important feature of our landscape and a valuable part of our lives today.

In all types of photography, and certainly in landscape photography, the best photographs are photographs that have feeling in them. We are not likely to be able to put feeling into our images unless we feel something about our subject. Most of my landscape images are made in places that I know and love. They are places off the beaten track, places not visited by professional landscape photographers, but they are special to me. Because I choose these places, I have the internal motivation for making the images I make, but to produce good images also requires the photographic skill to translate what we see into images that will give us joy.

Conversely, photographic skills alone will not result in good images. Photography also needs passion and love for the things we shoot. When we see beauty and have the skills to compose that beauty into a compelling image, we are doing the type of photography that can make our heart soar. For me, that is the heart of landscape photography.

“Beauty can be seen in all things,

seeing and composing the beauty

is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” — Matt Hardy

I visit this place often, in all weathers. Often the sky is a dull grey but on this occasion I managed to get some light in the sky reflected in the water.

Do you have a particular type of photography to which you are drawn?

Is there a reason why you are drawn to this type of photography in particular?

Please share a comment below.

• Landscape Photography

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Comentários

Why do you love film photography?

It’s such a simple and straight-forward question that every film photographer gets asked, but the answers can be a bit different yet interesting per analogue-loving individual. Whether you’re a total beginner, an intermediate shooter, or an expert snapper, we want you to tell us why you keep shooting with film!

For every skeptic or non-enthusiast who says that film is either dead or dying, there will be an ardent analogue lover or two who will assert that passion for film. Much has already been said about why film is awesome and why it’s here to stay, but still, everyone who gets ushered into this awesome realm of photography seem to find a thousand more reasons to fall in love with it.

So we’re curious — what do YOU love about analogue photography and what keeps you shooting with film? What is it about old cameras that makes you want to search high and low for them? Why do you think the wait for your film photos is truly worth it? What is it about all the quirky imperfections that you try to do them over and over? Why do you keep believing in film despite the taunts of some that it won’t be here for long?

While you might have already confessed your love for film countless times, it wouldn’t hurt to reaffirm it. So, why don’t you tell us why you love film and still shoot with it by leaving a comment below? It doesn’t matter if everyone else has said it before; we’re still itching to know!

written by plasticpopsicle on 2014-03-12 #news #lomography #analogue-love #film-photography #reasons-to-love-film

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16 Comments

I love shooting film because it makes me slow down and become waaaay more patient...

In contrast to Rule No. 6 cause it makes me think before I shoot.

Why I love shooting film: a summary. 1-I love the unexpected surprises: light leaks, color fluctuations of expired film, camera quirks 2-Waiting for your film to come back is like waiting for Christmas day when you were a child. I like to do it over and over again. 3-Toy cameras and film cameras have their unique personalities. It's fun to experiment and see what they can do in different situations and with different emulsions. 4-Digital is easy, I like a challenge sometimes. 5-Shooting film isn't cheap, neither is developing, so this helps me think before I shoot. (I know it's not very lomography like to say this but it's true. I think about whether to press the button or not at times. 6-It is utterly exciting to receive your prints and then find that one or two or sometimes entire roll that just blows you away. 7-Film has it's own personality as well. Personally I love the grain from high speed films, I love the color saturation from crossing slide film, I love the way Fuji gives such beautiful greens and blues, and I love the way Kodak gold gives warm tones and crisp sharpness. 8-Carrying from above it's nice to choose the film and camera that goes along with the mood you want to capture on a particular day. 9-Films and non digital cameras are classic to me. Who doesn't love a good classic?! 10- Shooting with different cameras and film brings excitement to the moment. It teaches me to appreciate the light, the composition, the camera or film itself. Because you can capture the same moment so differently with the tools you've chosen for the day.

It's how I originally learned to shoot. There's a mystic to it that I've always loved. It warms my heart that film is still around and it doesn't look like it's going anywhere.

I love film because of the amount of love and effort that goes into getting a print! From shooting and developing film, to dozens of test strips and finally developing your print, every step is important! Also, nothing's better than starting off your day in the darkroom with a cup of coffee😍

I really enjoy the work flow and the process.

Honestly, I never know, It may be the beautiful imperfection that comes with it, the slightly flaw and "not too clean" images and the many many mistakes you can make but most of the time, turns out to be quite alright. It also reflects the way we live our life isn't it? Imperfect, slightly flaw but beautiful. :)

I'd go with @photobarbie there, great summary fully supported.

It's the creative process that I enjoy. Perhaps because of the limited number of frames per film roll, I'm always crazier and more careful when shooting film. The fact that the films and the processing cost money, unlike a click of an iPhone, made me try to do things that digital can't.

Theres no substitute for film.

I love shooting film because of the process - it's difficult to control, more demanding up front, you can't just always just point and shoot, you have to think. But, at the same time, it's natural and organic and the results are always a surprise. When it's all said and done, you are left with a unique creation on a physical medium that you can hold in your hand. There's nothing wrong with digital, but I'm in love with the process of planning to create, working to accomplish, and enjoying the unique results of each exposure. There's an adventure in every click of the shutter when you shoot with film.

I suppose my love of film comes primarily from the qualities of it that one can never really define. I guess its potential to demonstrate the surreal naturally, whilst still portraying in a picture an uncommon sense of realism is something that makes film as a medium particularly addictive. I feel the greatness of black and white, although I only use film, can be achieved in digital also. But the distinctive colour of certain films, or just colour film in general (particularly using x-pro), is something that digital cannot replicate without various camera settings or photoshop. And even then it is nowhere near the same. The practical joys of it I guess are an overwhelming bonus to me. Pretentious as it all sounds, that shit is roughly how I feel about film, I think. I can never really pin my thoughts down or put my finger on what it is about it. It's just great stuff basically...

I love shooting film because long process (than digital) to have a good photo and that makes me always appreciate every frame I take.

I shoot film because everytime before I expose I just see the image in my head and how im going to print it in darkroom. And when I am processing and im almost done before I take it out from the tank I close my eyes again then take the film out put it on the light box then I open my eyes because I want to see if what I have on the sheet is the same thing I had in my mind. Also there are other reasons. I love my 4x5 and I love it when I go somewhere it almost take me 30-45 min to set up find my composition and then wait for the right moment.

Film has got soul !! Digital just leaves me cold ! Anyway, Don't have to worry about dust getting on the sensor every time you change lenses.

I bought a digital slr, great, but it just wasnt the same, take better photos with film, its just nicer.

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23 Photo Essay Ideas and Examples (to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing!)

A Post By: Kevin Landwer-Johan

Looking for inspiration? Our 23 photo essay ideas will take your photography skills to new heights!

A single, strong photograph can convey a lot of information about its subject – but sometimes we have topics that require more than one image to do the job. That’s when it’s time to make a photo essay: a collection of pictures that together tell the bigger story around a chosen theme.

In the following sections, we’ll explore various photo essay ideas and examples that cover a wide range of subjects and purposes. From capturing the growth of your children to documenting local festivals, each idea offers an exciting opportunity to tell a story through your lens, whether you’re a hobbyist or a veteran professional.

So grab your camera, unleash your creativity, and let’s delve into the wonderful world of photo essay examples!

What is a photo essay?

Simply put, a photo essay is a series of carefully selected images woven together to tell a story or convey a message. Think of it as a visual narrative that designed to capture attention and spark emotions.

Now, these images can revolve around a broad theme or focus on a specific storyline. For instance, you might create a photo essay celebrating the joy of companionship by capturing 10 heartwarming pictures of people sharing genuine laughter. On the other hand, you could have a photo essay delving into the everyday lives of fishermen in Wales by following a single fisherman’s journey for a day or even a week.

It’s important to note that photo essays don’t necessarily have to stick to absolute truth. While some documentary photographers prefer to keep it authentic, others may employ techniques like manipulation or staging to create a more artistic impact. So there is room for creativity and interpretation.

Why you should create a photo essay

Photo essays have a way of expressing ideas and stories that words sometimes struggle to capture. They offer a visual narrative that can be incredibly powerful and impactful.

Firstly, photo essays are perfect when you have an idea or a point you want to convey, but you find yourself at a loss for words. Sometimes, emotions and concepts are better conveyed through images rather than paragraphs. So if you’re struggling to articulate a message, you can let your photos do the talking for you.

Second, if you’re interested in subjects that are highly visual, like the mesmerizing forms of architecture within a single city, photo essays are the way to go. Trying to describe the intricate details of a building or the play of light and shadows with words alone can be challenging. But through a series of captivating images, you can immerse your audience in the architecture.

And finally, if you’re aiming to evoke emotions or make a powerful statement, photo essays are outstanding. Images have an incredible ability to shock, inspire, and move people in ways that words often struggle to achieve. So if you want to raise awareness about an environmental issue or ignite a sense of empathy, a compelling series of photographs can have a profound impact.

Photo essay examples and ideas

Looking to create a photo essay but don’t know where to start? Here are some handy essay ideas and examples for inspiration!

1. A day in the life

Your first photo essay idea is simple: Track a life over the course of one day. You might make an essay about someone else’s life. Or the life of a location, such as the sidewalk outside your house. 

The subject matter you choose is up to you. But start in the morning and create a series of images showing your subject over the course of a typical day.

(Alternatively, you can document your subject on a special day, like a birthday, a wedding, or some other celebration.)

2. Capture hands

Portraits focus on a subject’s face – but why not mix it up and make a photo essay that focuses on your subject’s hands?

(You can also focus on a collection of different people’s hands.)

Hands can tell you a lot about a person. And showing them in context is a great way to narrate a story.

3. Follow a sports team for a full season

Sports are all about emotions – both from the passionate players and the dedicated fans. While capturing the intensity of a single game can be exhilarating, imagine the power of telling the complete story of a team throughout an entire season.

For the best results, you’ll need to invest substantial time in sports photography. Choose a team that resonates with you and ensure their games are within a drivable distance. By photographing their highs and lows, celebrations and challenges, you’ll create a compelling photo essay that traces their journey from the first game to the last.

4. A child and their parent

Photographs that catch the interaction between parents and children are special. A parent-child connection is strong and unique, so making powerful images isn’t challenging. You just need to be ready to capture the special moments as they happen. 

You might concentrate on a parent teaching their child. Or the pair playing sports. Or working on a special project.

Use your imagination, and you’ll have a great time with this theme.

5. Tell a local artist’s story 

I’ve always enjoyed photographing artists as they work; studios have a creative vibe, so the energy is already there. Bring your camera into this environment and try to tell the artist’s story!

An artist’s studio offers plenty of opportunities for wonderful photo essays. Think about the most fascinating aspects of the artist’s process. What do they do that makes their art special? Aim to show this in your photos.

Many people appreciate fine art, but they’re often not aware of what happens behind the scenes. So documenting an artist can produce fascinating visual stories.

6. Show a tradesperson’s process

Do you have a plumber coming over to fix your kitchen sink? Is a builder making you a new deck?

Take photos while they work! Tell them what you want to do before you start, and don’t forget to share your photos with them.

They’ll probably appreciate seeing what they do from another perspective. They may even want to use your photos on their company website.

7. Photograph your kids as they grow

There’s something incredibly special about documenting the growth of our little ones. Kids grow up so quickly – before you know it, they’re moving out. Why not capture the beautiful moments along the way by creating a heartwarming photo essay that showcases their growth?

There are various approaches you can take, but one idea is to capture regular photos of your kids standing in front of a distinct point of reference, such as the refrigerator. Over a year or several years, you can gather these images and place them side by side to witness your childrens’ incredible transformations.

8. Cover a local community event

A school fundraiser, a tree-planting day at a park, or a parade; these are are all community events that make for good photo essay ideas.

Think like a photojournalist . What type of images would your editor want? Make sure to capture some wide-angle compositions , some medium shots, and some close-ups.

(Getting in close to show the details can often tell as much of a story as the wider pictures.)

9. Show fresh market life

Markets are great for photography because there’s always plenty of activity and lots of characters. Think of how you can best illustrate the flow of life at the market. What are the vendors doing that’s most interesting? What are the habits of the shoppers?

Look to capture the essence of the place. Try to portray the people who work and shop there.

10. Shoot the same location over time

What location do you visit regularly? Is there a way you can make an interesting photo essay about it?

Consider what you find most attractive and ugly about the place. Look for aspects that change over time. 

Any outdoor location will look different throughout the day. Also think about the changes that occur from season to season. Create an essay that tells the story of the place.

11. Document a local festival

Festivals infuse cities and towns with vibrant energy and unique cultural experiences. Even if your own town doesn’t have notable festivals, chances are a neighboring town does. Explore the magic of these celebrations by documenting a local festival through your lens.

Immerse yourself in the festivities, arriving early and staying late. Capture the colorful displays and the people who make the festival come alive. If the festival spans multiple days, consider focusing on different areas each time you visit to create a diverse and comprehensive photo essay that truly reflects the essence of the event.

12. Photograph a garden through the seasons

It might be your own garden . It could be the neighbor’s. It could even be the garden at your local park.

Think about how the plants change during the course of a year. Capture photos of the most significant visual differences, then present them as a photo essay.

13. Show your local town or city

After spending several years in a particular area, you likely possess an intimate knowledge of your local town or city. Why not utilize that familiarity to create a captivating photo essay that showcases the essence of your community?

Delve into what makes your town special, whether it’s the charming streets, unique landmarks, or the people who shape its character. Dedicate time to capturing the diverse aspects that define your locale. If you’re up for a more extensive project, consider photographing the town over the course of an entire year, capturing the changing seasons and the dynamic spirit of your community.

14. Pick a local cause to highlight

Photo essays can go beyond passive documentation; they can become a part of your activism, too!

So find a cause that matters to you. Tell the story of some aspect of community life that needs improvement. Is there an ongoing issue with litter in your area? How about traffic; is there a problematic intersection?

Document these issues, then make sure to show the photos to people responsible for taking action.

15. Making a meal

Photo essay ideas can be about simple, everyday things – like making a meal or a coffee.

How can you creatively illustrate something that seems so mundane? My guess is that, when you put your mind to it, you can come up with many unique perspectives, all of which will make great stories.

16. Capture the life of a flower

In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to overlook the beauty that surrounds us. Flowers, with their mesmerizing colors and rapid life cycles, offer a captivating subject for a photo essay. Try to slow down and appreciate the intricate details of a flower’s existence.

With a macro lens in hand, document a single flower or a patch of flowers from their initial shoots to their inevitable wilting and decomposition. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to bring viewers into the enchanting world of the flower. By freezing these fleeting moments, you’ll create a visual narrative that celebrates the cycle of life and the exquisite beauty found in nature’s delicate creations.

17. Religious traditions

Religion is often rich with visual expression in one form or another. So capture it!

Of course, you may need to narrow down your ideas and choose a specific aspect of worship to photograph. Aim to show what people do when they visit a holy place, or how they pray on their own. Illustrate what makes their faith real and what’s special about it.

18. Historic sites

Historic sites are often iconic, and plenty of photographers take a snapshot or two.

But with a photo essay, you can illustrate the site’s history in greater depth.

Look for details of the location that many visitors miss. And use these to build an interesting story.

19. Show the construction of a building

Ever been away from a familiar place for a while only to return and find that things have changed? It happens all the time, especially in areas undergoing constant development. So why not grab your camera and document this transformation?

Here’s the idea: Find a building that’s currently under construction in your area. It could be a towering skyscraper, a modern office complex, or even a small-scale residential project. Whatever catches your eye! Then let the magic of photography unfold.

Make it a habit to take a photo every day or two. Watch as the building gradually takes shape and evolves. Capture the construction workers in action, the cranes reaching for the sky, and the scaffolding supporting the structure.

Once the building is complete, you’ll have a treasure trove of images that chronicle its construction from start to finish!

20. Document the changing skyline of the city

This photo essay example is like the previous one, except it works on a much larger scale. Instead of photographing a single building as it’s built, find a nice vantage point outside your nearest city, then photograph the changing skyline.

To create a remarkable photo essay showcasing the changing skyline, you’ll need to scout out the perfect vantage point. Seek high ground that offers a commanding view of the city, allowing you to frame the skyline against the horizon. Look for spots that give you an unobstructed perspective, whether a rooftop terrace, a hillside park, or even a nearby bridge.

As you set out on your photography expedition, be patient and observant. Cities don’t transform overnight; they change gradually over time. Embrace the passage of days, weeks, and months as you witness the slow evolution unfold.

Pro tip: To capture the essence of this transformation, experiment with various photographic techniques. Play with different angles, framing, and compositions to convey the grandeur and dynamism of the changing skyline. Plus, try shooting during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset , when the soft light bathes the city in a warm glow and accentuates the architectural details.

21. Photograph your pet

If you’re a pet owner, you already have the perfect subject for a photo essay!

All pets , with the possible exception of pet rocks, will provide you with a collection of interesting moments to photograph.

So collect these moments with your camera – then display them as a photo essay showing the nature and character of your pet.

22. Tell the story of a local nature preserve

Ah, the wonders of a local nature preserve! While it may not boast the grandeur of Yosemite National Park, these hidden gems hold their own beauty, just waiting to be discovered and captured through the lens of your camera.

To embark on this type of photo essay adventure, start by exploring all the nooks and crannies of your chosen nature preserve. Wander along its winding trails, keeping an eye out for unique and captivating subjects that convey the essence of the preserve.

As you go along, try to photograph the intricate details of delicate wildflowers, the interplay of light filtering through a dense forest canopy, and the lively activities of birds and other wildlife.

23. Show the same subject from multiple perspectives

It’s possible to create an entire photo essay in a single afternoon – or even in a handful of minutes. If you don’t love the idea of dedicating yourself to days of photographing for a single essay, this is a great option.

Simply find a subject you like, then endeavor to capture 10 unique images that include it. I’d recommend photographing from different angles: up above, down low, from the right and left. You can also try getting experimental with creative techniques, such as intentional camera movement and freelensing. If all goes well, you’ll have a very cool set of images featuring one of your favorite subjects!

By showcasing the same subject from multiple perspectives, you invite viewers on a visual journey. They get to see different facets, textures, and details that they might have overlooked in a single photograph. It adds depth and richness to your photo essay, making it both immersive and dynamic.

Photo essay ideas: final words

Remember: Photo essays are all about communicating a concept or a story through images rather than words. So embrace the process and use images to express yourself!

Whether you choose to follow a sports team through a thrilling season, document the growth of your little ones, or explore the hidden treasures of your local town, each photo essay has its own magic waiting to be unlocked. It’s a chance to explore your creativity and create images in your own style.

So look at the world around you. Grab your gear and venture out into the wild. Embrace the beauty of nature, the energy of a bustling city, or the quiet moments that make life special. Consider what you see every day. What aspects interest you the most? Photograph those things.

You’re bound to end up with some amazing photo essays!

Now over to you:

Do you have any photo essay examples you’re proud of? Do you have any more photo essay ideas? Share your thoughts and images in the comments below!

Read more from our Tips & Tutorials category

Kevin Landwer-Johan is a photographer, photography teacher, and author with over 30 years of experience that he loves to share with others.

Check out his website and his Buy Me a Coffee page .

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