Exploring Different Photography Genres: Which One Should You Try First?

Photography is an incredibly rewarding creative pursuit, but with so many styles to choose from, getting started can feel overwhelming. Each genre has its own appeal, challenges, and techniques—and finding the one that fits your personality and lifestyle can completely transform your experience behind the lens.

This guide explores several popular photography genres, from portraiture and landscape to street and wildlife photography. By understanding what each style involves, you’ll have a clearer idea of where to start and how to evolve your interests as your confidence grows. Let’s get started and see which genre might be right for you!

Portrait Photography: Capturing Connection

Portrait photography is one of the most popular photography genres because it emphasizes emotion, storytelling, and human connection. No matter if you’re photographing a formal studio portrait or candid lifestyle shots, this genre allows you to build a rapport with your subject and bring out their personality through composition, lighting, and timing.

If you enjoy interacting with people and have an eye for detail, portrait photography could be a great fit. It teaches you how to pose subjects, work with natural and artificial light, and find flattering angles. Over time, you'll learn how to help people feel comfortable in front of the camera—an underrated but vital skill for any photographer.

Portrait work can also branch into sub-genres like newborn, family, fashion, or editorial photography, each offering its own set of opportunities and creative directions. Best of all, you don’t need a massive studio to get started. With natural light and a bit of space, you can begin experimenting right away.

Landscape Photography: Embracing the Outdoors

If you love being outside and feel inspired by nature, landscape photography may be the perfect entry point. This genre challenges you to observe the world more deeply—its colors, shapes, light, and mood—and translate that into an image that tells a story of place and time.

Landscape photography is one of the most rewarding photography genres because it combines adventure with patience. Whether you’re hiking to a scenic overlook at golden hour or standing in the cold waiting for the perfect light, the effort often pays off in breathtaking results.

This genre teaches valuable technical skills like using a tripod, working with long exposures, and composing with leading lines and foreground interest. It's also a great way to practice working with changing lighting conditions, such as sunrise, sunset, and dramatic weather.

As you grow more confident, landscape photography can naturally expand into travel, astrophotography, or environmental photography, making it a versatile and visually stunning genre to explore.

Street Photography: Capturing Life Unfiltered

Street photography is raw, spontaneous, and full of life. It’s about capturing candid moments of people, architecture, and culture in public spaces. For photographers who thrive on observation and storytelling, this genre offers endless creative opportunities.

Unlike more controlled photography genres, street photography requires quick thinking and a good sense of timing. It's all about noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary—an expressive face, a striking contrast of light and shadow, or a fleeting moment that tells a larger story.

Street photography also helps you become more comfortable shooting in public, which can feel intimidating at first. With practice, you'll learn how to blend in, anticipate moments, and work within the natural chaos of a city or town environment.

This genre sharpens your eye for composition and narrative, and it builds confidence quickly. Whether you're using a discreet mirrorless camera or even a smartphone, street photography is accessible, portable, and full of creative surprises.

Wildlife Photography: The Art of Patience and Precision

Wildlife photography might be one of the more challenging photography genres, but it's also one of the most awe-inspiring. Capturing animals in their natural habitat requires patience, knowledge of animal behavior, and a lot of time in the field.

For nature lovers and animal enthusiasts, this genre provides an unmatched sense of connection with the natural world. It’s not just about taking beautiful photos—it’s about respecting wildlife, understanding ecosystems, and often spending hours (or days) waiting for the right moment.

Wildlife photography teaches you how to work with long lenses, fast shutter speeds, and focus tracking. It also demands a strong understanding of lighting and timing, especially during golden hour when many animals are most active.

Though it takes time and effort to get good at wildlife photography, the rewards are immense. Whether you're photographing backyard birds or going on a safari, capturing a wild creature in its element is a thrilling experience that never gets old.

Still Life and Product Photography: Mastering Control and Composition

Still life photography is a genre built around complete control. From lighting and backgrounds to props and positioning, you control every element in the frame. That’s why this is one of the most beginner-friendly photography genres, especially if you enjoy experimentation and attention to detail.

Still life includes everything from simple object photography to styled tabletop scenes and product shoots. You don’t need a lot of space or equipment to get started—just a few items around the house, a basic light source, and some creativity.

This genre is perfect for learning the fundamentals of exposure, depth of field, and composition. It also improves your understanding of how to use lighting to shape mood, highlight texture, or create drama in your images.

If you’re interested in food photography, flat lays, or e-commerce work, still life is a natural place to start. It’s also an ideal option for rainy days when outdoor shooting isn’t feasible.

Learn From Your Photos by Printing Them

No matter which photography genres you explore, one of the most powerful ways to learn and grow is by printing your work. Seeing your images come to life on paper—or even better, mounted on your wall—gives you a whole new perspective. You’ll notice things you might miss on a screen: composition issues, color imbalances, or details that truly shine.

We offer an extensive selection of print options for photographers of all levels. Whether you prefer sleek metal prints, rich canvas textures, vibrant acrylic displays, or classic fine art paper, we’ve got you covered. The variety of sizes, framing options, and wall mounts means you can customize your presentation to match your space and budget.

Beyond the sheer selection of printing options, we take pride in our work. Our craftspeople are highly skilled and their commitment to quality shows. There’s a reason why we back our work with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee—we want you to get the prints you deserve, and we’ll do what it takes to make that happen.

Printing your photos not only helps you critique your work more effectively but also allows you to showcase your journey across different photography genres. Imagine a gallery wall featuring your best portraits, landscapes, and street photos—all beautifully printed and professionally displayed. It’s a great way to celebrate your progress and stay inspired to keep shooting!

Try, Learn, and Evolve

The key is to stay curious and keep experimenting. As your skills grow, your interests will evolve too. And no matter where your photography takes you, the experience of learning through different photography genres will make you a more well-rounded and confident visual storyteller.

So grab your camera, pick a genre that excites you, and start exploring. You never know where it might lead!