The world’s first picture was taken in the 1800s using a device called camera obscura, which could capture and illustrate outdoor scenery. Over 200 years later, photography has evolved into a phenomenon that is widely used in all walks of life. From street photography to taking pictures of objects in outer space, today’s professional grade digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras come with advanced features. Here are the different types of photography you can try.

Types of photography
Photography is broadly classified into these types depending on the subject matter.

Nature photography
This category mainly covers taking pictures of nature, landscapes, wildlife, natural events/disasters, and greenery. It also includes astrophotography and macro photography to capture the smallest of living creatures. This type of adventure photography covers everything including scenic vistas ranging from dense forests to deserts, massive mammals to pint-sized insects found in various settings. You can even learn how to capture planetary objects, stars, and pretty much everything in the night sky using telephoto super zoom lenses.

Urban photography
Capturing cityscapes, architectural marvels, and real estate is also a part of outdoor photography that falls under this category. You can cover everything from famous monuments, world wonders, heritage sights, to unique constructions that defy the laws of physics. A wide-angle lens and natural lighting are necessary factors to capture some of the best shots. Advanced urban photography can be done using drones and aerial vehicles to capture amazing sights like bridges, skyscrapers, and major architectural marvels that are more clearly visible from a height.

Fashion photography
One of the most lucrative streams is fashion photography. It takes a great level of skill and camera mastery to learn to take pictures of fashion models. This category is further divided into portrait and headshot subcategories where photographers focus on specific poses and aesthetics for the picture. Headshots are generally taken for actors who need to send pictures for casting purposes. Portraits are taken for fashion and modeling purposes to create catalogs and editorials for major brands in the industry.

Photojournalism
Documenting live sports and news events is also a major category of professional photography. These professional pictures are taken to support the written and broadcast media on various platforms. Photojournalism is not just limited to pictures but is also done to shoot videos and capture evidence to document an important time, place, and activity. Pictures during sporting events can range from simple live shots of the match to more professional images.

Lifestyle photography
Lifestyle photography covers the most important events in a person’s life like weddings, birthdays, and any personal event that holds significance. Professional photographers create candid photos, and they arrange photoshoots to capture the essence and emotion of the occasion. This category also covers street photography where just about anything and everything forms a perfect backdrop for the picture. It could be scenes from the local market, or an empty shop lined with street products.

Commercial photography
Taking food shots, pictures of products, and even capturing artistic scenes in full color or monochrome (black and white) is also one of the popular categories to pursue as a photographer. Commercial categories also include taking pictures of abstract objects and landscapes. It is all about perspective when it comes to commercial photography and knowing how to change the settings of the camera on the go.

Why join photography tutorials or courses?
Joining even a basic course will provide in depth understanding of all the components that make up the camera. You need to know how to adjust the exposure, shutter speed, depth of field, and ISO (background grain) to click a good picture. Clicking pictures with the auto settings in professional grade DSLRs is easy since the camera adjusts these elements within a matter of seconds. However, most professionals do not rely completely on them. If you wish to earn a side income or even professionally work full time, you’ll have to master the basics first. That will make it worthwhile to consider photography courses that focus on the niche categories. There are several online platforms that offer free and paid tutorials for all types of photography.

Getting fully acquainted with the basics will depend on the time you spend experimenting with photography. Clicking multiple pictures every day is one simple tip for beginners. Here are a few others.

• Invest in a decent camera first to learn the basics.
• Explore the best photo settings and understand the different file formats.
• Pay attention to the light and learn to quickly adjust the settings to capture the best frame.
• Don’t be impatient; take your time to hone your skills.
• Know when to use a tripod to get the best steady shots.
• As far as possible, avoid using the flash and focus on natural lighting.
• Use good quality light filters, lens flares, and accessories to improve the quality of the picture.
• Learn to post process images on good quality image processing software.
• Always keep a backup and learn to organize your files.
• Try something new everyday, and never hesitate because you’ll miss the shot if you blink.