Photographic Genres

Photographic Genres:
Fashion:

Fashion photography is a genre of photography devoted to displaying clothing and other fashion items. High-Fashion photography is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, or Elle. High-fashion photography is used on mainly fashions that are produced by the leading fashion houses e.g. Yves saint Laurent, Chanel, Versace est. High-fashion photography are usually featured commercially, in magazines or campaigns to promote the brand name; advertising the brand name/label. I think high-fashion photography enables you to get creative, as the majority of photographs are “out there “and almost unusual. I think that this works extremely well as the viewer’ seem to be drawn to this type of image, finding it almost intriguing. Creativity in a high-fashion photography shoot is a must due to the eccentricity of many of the fashions, an interesting location or photographic style is necessary.

 Commercial photography involves taking photographs for commercial use e.g. in advertisements, merchandising and product placement. Commercial photography also used in corporate brochures and leaflets, menus ect. Commercial photography is used to promote or sell a product or service. 

In regardes to location overtime fashion photography has developed its own aesthetic in which the  clothes and fashions are enhanced by the presence of locations. In location photography all images in the series have a common interest within the location that fits well within the fashions that are being featured. 

Studio photography is photographs taken in a studio, where you have complete control of the environment e.g lighting props... Studio photography images are often used for commercial purposes.

Portraiture:

Portrait photography or portraiture is photography of a person or group of people that displays the expression, personality, and mood of the subject. Like other types of portraiture, the focus of the photograph is usually the person's face, although the entire body and the background or context may be included. With portrait photography I find that capturing raw emotion in a persons face is all you need. Portrait photography can be used in collaboration with fashion photography, in the sense that you can use a models face in order to project or represent what it is that is meant to be sold. Whether that is a style all together, or one particular fashion. Portrait photography could also work incredibly well with  political or documentary photography (requiring a model) As political issues or campaigns worth documenting requires raw imagery to get their point across to the viewer. This kind of imagery could be used as an eye-opener towards what ever cause it is that is trying to gain awareness for. 

There any different types of portraiture that can get very different outcomes: Traditional or Classical portraiture would refer to an image where face is the predominant element. The purpose of the photograph is to depict visual representation of that person. Subject is expected to be looking directly at the camera. With what is described as a head-shot, two thirds or full body framing can be used. The term Environmental Portrait refers to an image where the subject is photographed in person’s natural environment. For example, a worker photographed at the construction zone, teacher in the classroom, sculptor in a sculpture studio and so on. Surroundings are used to compliment the subject and to emphasize his character. Subject and setting are chosen by the photographer.

Still life:

Still life photography is the depiction of inanimate subject matter, most typically a small grouping of objects. Still life photography, more so than other types of photography, such as landscape or portraiture, gives the photographer more leeway in the arrangement of design elements within a composition. Still life photography can be interpreted into almost all other genres of photography

Political and documentary photography:

Political and documentary photography usually refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle both significant and historical events and everyday life. It is typically covered in professional photojournalism, or real life reportage, but it may also be an amateur, artistic, or academic pursuit. I think that through political or documentary photography the purpose is to get the viewer to see a story or cause through imagery. Because of this the photographs have to be powerful and informative as well as being imaginatively creative as to please and entice the viewers.