A photographer’s “style” - What you need to know

Choosing a photographer for any occasion is similar to picking the right Spotify playlist for your commute or road trip.

Most of us choose our favorite recording artists and bands because their musical style - lyrics, sound, vibe, and so on - matches up with something in our own personality. Your favorite music often says something - about you.

And choosing a photographer isn’t really that much different.

If you’re going to invest money in hiring a professional photographer for things like family portraits or athlete portraits, then making sure you match up with the right photographer is critically important.

Let’s dive in today on what you need to know when it comes to photography “style” and how it should match up with you.

Just what is photography “style” anyway

A photographer’s style is a lot like their finger print. Or the way a person sings. Or the way someone paints.

When you look at a photographer’s website or social media feed, a few things should jump out to you immediately.

Like, what’s their vibe? How do you feel when looking at their portfolio? What do they do consistently in their portraits?

That’s a photographer’s signature “style.”

One easy example is how many wedding photographers like to use a “light and airy” style, photos that look almost dreamlike, sacrificing details and shadows for something that’s more ethereal.

At Creative Sports Photography, I’ve developed over the many years a different kind of style. I prefer bold color, and I think detail and shadows bring forth a dynamic elegance.

Think about how your jersey feels against your fingertips or the way a basketball feels when you dribble it. That’s one of the things I want my Creative Sports Photography portraits to convey.

The key is consistency

When shopping around for a portrait photographer, few things can be more vital to your decision than consistency.

Run through a photographer’s portfolio on their website or social media feed. Do the photos look the same? The lighting, the posing, the mood, the vibe. Are the portraits created in a style that immediately speaks to who the photographer is and what their vision is?

Or is the photographer’s style all over the place?

The reason consistency is key to choosing a portrait photographer for you and your family is because you’re making an investment, and for the price, you have a right to expect your portraits are going to appear in exactly that photographer’s style.

Why? Well, that’s why you hired that photographer. Right? Right?!

Making a match

In other words, if you’re looking for light and airy photos of your family’s athlete, you definitely do not want to hire Creative Sports Photography.

There’s nothing wrong with light and airy. If that’s your vibe, I would encourage you to go with it and find that kind of portrait photographer.

However, if you’re looking for a portrait photographer whose style matches the excitement, the drama, the meaningfulness of an athlete’s journey, then yeah, my style probably matches what you’re looking for.

What’s important here is that you match your vibe with the right photographer, whether it’s me or someone else.

Make that match, and you’re highly likely to feel the investment in a portrait photographer was more than worth it.

Dave Pidgeon is the owner and chief image maker at Creative Sports Photography, a premier image service for youth athletes. Dave is based in Lancaster, Pa., and available anywhere. You can reach him at dave@creativesportsphotography.com.