As I took more and more pictures, I found myself drawn to certain
kinds of subject matter and approaches. Eventually, my photographs
became recognisably my own. The development of a distinctive
personal style is necessarily a process of self-discovery.

For example, there could be a photographer that see themselves as
much a photojournalist as a portrait photographer. They could have
the personal style of relaxed, revealing photographs of people. They
could almost always photograph someone in their home or other
surroundings where they feel more comfortable. The result of this
approach is an appealing intimacy that enhances our understanding
of the artist.

A niche of this particular photographer could be to include objects
that symbolise the subjects (a writer, say) craft, such as books,
manuscript, or typewriter, they also utilise the setting that reflect the
subjects’ style or personality. Say the subject is driving, to work
maybe, his attire – and mode of transportation – is suggestive of the
mundanity of his/her work.

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Another would be a portrait of an old
man, whose intense gaze establishes a serious, formal tone and
whose lowered head suggests both modesty and intellect. Both of
these examples exhibit a distinctive personal vision and photography
style, in which provocative portraits capture the essence of their
subject.

Learning to trust my instincts and to experiment with new techniques
and unusual perspectives is what, I think, creating a personal style of
photography is all about. And when it all comes together – when the
shutter clicks, and you know it’s right – that is the joy of photography.