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One can find many lists of photography genres. For example, Adobe says there are 28 genres and Adorama has posted an article with a list of 38 genres. But the following list of 15 genres from PetalPixel is more concise and seems to cover it all.
| Genre | Description |
|---|---|
| Landscape | horizons, oceans, beaches, lakes, mountains, plains, deserts, & waterfalls. wide vistas. often motionless subjects. use tripod & wide angle lens. |
| Nature | animals, flowers, plants, trees, & other living objects. use long telephoto or macro lenses. |
| Portrait | people (or animals) in various settings with emphasis on personality, character & intentions. includes environmental, boudoir, pet, glamour, and group/family photography. often involves lighting & posing. use 85mm lens. |
| Street | people going about daily life usually in a city or street setting. can be inanimate objects like buildings. often candid. pursuit can feel dynamic, voyeuristic, and sometimes intimidating. use small & light gear. |
| Architectural | exterior & interior of buildings for posterity/historical record or real estate sales. use tripod & wide angle lens. |
| Sports | competitive sports, games, and other activities. often for journalistic purposes. use long telephoto lens, fast capture speed, wide aperture, and two camera bodies. |
| Abstract | often utilizes a unique perspective of an object with variations of color, shapes, patterns, or other forms hiding the object from view. |
| Astrophotography | night sky and objects within it, including planets, stars, and galaxies. use tripod, wide angle lens, high ISO, and long exposure. |
| Composite | image creatively manipulated (e.g., replacing sky of one image with sky from another image) using digital imaging software such as Photoshop. |
| Event | candid or prearranged of people, places, and objects involved in an event. uses artistic composition to document event in a positive light. fast wide, normal, and telephoto lens with two camera bodies. |
| Editorial | storytelling aid and/or provide visual representation of subject. used in print & digital publications (newspapers, magazines, news websites, or blogs). may include portraits, still life, food, fashion, or architecture. |
| Wedding | combo of portrait, event, macro, and food photography genres. often fast paced environment involving many people. often requires two photographers, fast lenses, & lighting. |
| Product | attractive & professional presentation of product. usually clean background. |
| Travel | combo of landscape, nature, and street genres. use small & light gear. |
| Food | making food look appetizing. usually in context of a complementary background & surroundings. shallow depth of field. |
Last updated 6-Nov-2023.
