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Ever wondered what drives photographers towards certain genres? Join Scott Wyden Kivowitz in this episode of "Photo Breakdown" as he uncovers the passion behind various photography styles and how they shape a photographer’s career.
"There are so many genres of photography. If you're photographing a genre that you don't love and you're not making money, then stop and find a different job. Photograph what you love to keep the passion alive."
Creators and Guests
What is Photo Breakdown?
Photo Breakdown is a podcast in which we explore the world of photography with a trusted guide, host Scott Wyden Kivowitz. His expertise and passion bring the industry to life as we explore the stories, trends, and ideas shaping it today. Join us as we dissect everything from incredible photographs and creative techniques to the latest gear releases and hot topics in the photography community.
In each episode, we break down what’s happening behind the scenes - whether it’s making a powerful image, a candid discussion on industry trends, or a reflection on the tools and technology changing how we make photographs. You’ll get insights, expert opinions, and a fresh perspective on what’s top of mind for photographers right now.
Anticipate short, engaging episodes brimming with ideas and inspiration. Be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts, voice notes, and comments. Your participation is what makes our community vibrant and dynamic.
It’s more than just photography - everything that makes photography tick.
Embracing Favorite Photography Genres
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[00:00:00] We all have our preferred. John Rosa photography, our own vertical, the photography that we love to photograph the most. You know, if you ask wedding photographers are always going to say wedding photography I would say 90% of the time. Wedding photographers love photographing weddings because they love weddings.
[00:00:19] They love romance. They love love. But 10% of the time they do weddings because of the money. Right. Then there's sports portrait, photographers, Sportrait photographers. Typically they're doing it because they love sports. But. They're doing portraits instead of live action, because they love the money that comes from sport portraits. Now. For me, I primarily photograph proposals, which is not high revenue wise, and I do this by the way for a variety of reasons.
[00:00:53] But the main reason is because I have a full-time job. I don't need the revenue from the [00:01:00] photography. So any revenue I get from my photography business is just an added bonus to what I'm already doing. Now with that said, if I didn't have to worry about money ever. I'd probably focus on something completely different with my photography. I would focus on landscapes for one, because I love photographic landscapes.
[00:01:22] I love that. Zen. Type vibe of just being there in the moment, being in this beautiful scene. and enjoying the world with my eyes. But then being able to document what I'm seeing as well. Being able to experiment with different tools and filters and different setups and different lenses, You're not on such a time crunch.
[00:01:44] The stress is not there. Right. You're doing it for the fun and the love. So I think for me, it would be that. Second. Would probably be street photography,
[00:01:55] but not where I'm like right up in close to a, to a person, but where it's [00:02:00] more like me back. From a distance and documenting the world, the environment, the street scene, whatever it might be. I wrote a whole book about this, by the way, it's called the ambiverts guide to street photography, and I'll link to that in the description.
[00:02:13] If y'all want to check that out. Now. The third and this can make money, but,when I do it now, I don't do it for the money either. I do it because I love it would be martial arts, photography and not portraits. Cause you can do Sportraits of martial artists. But actually live action.
[00:02:30] I love photographing karate because, i, I, first of all, I practiced it myself. And. I feel like it's a challenge to capture the perfect strike, the perfect kick or punch or whatever it might be having to know when that's coming and being able to click that shutter button. The exact time is a fun challenge.and so. That's one of the reasons why I would do that.
[00:02:56] So those would be my top three. If I'd have to worry about money. [00:03:00] And I could just do what I wanted to do without any thought about money and photography would be again, landscapes, street photography, and martial arts live, martial arts, not portrait martial arts.
[00:03:13] That's just what it is. Right. But you might find people who just, they would love to do family portraits every time, or just love to do newborn photos.
[00:03:22] Cause they love babies. Everybody has their own thing. And I think that's one of the best parts about photography is there's countless genres of photography. There's genres that I, every year I learned about grenres that I never thought existed. That I didn't think would be a thing, you know, that somebody might've done once and it became a thing. That now people do all the time. I never thought about so many genres that exist and yet, they exist.
[00:03:51] So, I just wanted to put it out there that. If you're in a genre of photography that you don't love, and you want to make money [00:04:00] from photography, you don't have to be doing the one you don't love. There are other ways to make money in photography. If you're photographically a genre that you don't love
[00:04:11] and you're not making money
[00:04:13] then stop photographing the one you don't love, find a different job and photograph stuff you do love. So you still love photography.
[00:04:19] You're not stuck. There's always somewhere else, something else there's always other John Aras, other verticals. Explore it. See what you love to do. Because that's what's most important.