Aesthetic Photography

Aesthetic Photography, Understanding the Basics

Last Updated on May 16, 2021 | In Rules of Composition by Stefano Caioni Leave a Comment

Aesthetic photography makes your image stand out. It improve its beauty.

A style or type of photography and its aesthetic are something different. To understand aesthetic photography you have to know that it’s nothing like the other types of photography Aesthetic photography refers to the measure of appreciation of beauty in a photograph.

Aesthetic Photography

In this article you are going to learn how to recognize the various aspects of aesthetic photography and how to take advantage of it to deliver a new level of images.

What Is Aesthetic Photography?

With aesthetic, you can interpret the beauty of a photograph. Aesthetic photography is the creation of images with the intent of delivering beauty.

Taking aesthetically pleasing photographs is not an easy undertaking. You have to know how to take photos that are attractive and stand out. You have to master the art of taking photographs to be among the best.

Aesthetic Photography

By taking top-quality images, you will not only feel happy but also attract more people to your work. But what this all really mean? What is an aesthetically pleasing photograph? How you really define it.

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Different Aspects to Consider

First, to take aesthetic photographs, you have to plan the kind of images you desire. Editing too much a photo to make it look like you thought it’s not enough. Planning is important so that the final edit process will be just a matter of adjusting the contrasts and color slightly.

As a photographer, you have to take your time to reflect on the composition of your image to achieve the best results. Your photos have to be beautiful and even evoke specific emotions. Photographic aesthetics entails the concept of taking and producing quality images by having clear in mind what you’d like to obtain.

pink sky with aeroplane silhouette

Almost automatically, the photos you produce should immediately catch the attention of those who will come across your pictures and make it easy to read or understand them. The pictures you take should follow the basics of aesthetics in photography and your planning is fundamental to it. Your images have to tell unique stories as well as convey an emotional response through the use of composition, color, and contrast.

As a photographer who understands the aesthetics of photography, you should have a personal style that is head and shoulders above what other photographs can produce. Style is a personal way of creating images that you should always embrace. You have to hold incredible techniques and use top-notch photographic concepts.

Defining Aesthetic Photography

If you want to create beautiful photographs, here are several things to keep in mind. They include:

Define the Type of Photographs you Want to Create

The types of photography you create will influence the visual aesthetic of your photography. Figure out what you like to shoot and pursue your interests.

Shoot When You Feel Inspired

Once you discover what you like shooting, it is wise to shoot when you feel happy and brilliant to do so.

Aesthetic Photography

Have a Unique Editing Style

Ensure the images you produce have all the key elements of a good photograph and influence your style and type of images you provide.

Why is Aesthetic Photography Important?

Aesthetic photography is essential because it helps photographers produce images that have the goal to deliver pleasing visuals that every person who comes across them will recognize objectively.

If you pursue photography as a career, and you provide aesthetically pleasing photographs, you should aim at appealing to your clients with impressive photos. Your results should speak more about your skills and why you are the best in the field.

male portrait

Aesthetic photos should be eye-catching and attract more people. Those who like these photos will share it on social media platforms. Taking advantage of this means you will get more exposure and new photography opportunities will open for you.

Indeed, aesthetic photography matters a lot, not only for photographers but also for many other people out there who like taking photos as a hobby.

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Best for Beginners
Preview
Canon EOS Rebel T7i US 24.2 Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD, Black (1894C002)
Camera
Canon EOS Rebel T7i
In-body Image Stabilization
Sensor Size and Resolution
APS-C 24.2 Megapixels
Mirrorless or DSLR
DSLR
Continuous Shooting Speed
6 Frames per second
ISO Range
100 - 25,600 ISO
Video
1080p
Viewfinder
Optical
More Details
Best Mirrorless
Preview
Sony a9 II Mirrorless Camera: 24.2MP Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with Continuous AF/AE, 4K Video and Built-in Connectivity - Sony Alpha ILCE9M2/B Body - Black
Camera
Sony α7R IV
In-body Image Stabilization
Sensor Size and Resolution
Full-Frame 61 Megapixels
Mirrorless or DSLR
Mirrorless
Continuous Shooting Speed
10 Frames per second
ISO Range
100 - 32,000
Video
4K
Viewfinder
Electronic
More Details
Best DSLR
Preview
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR Camera Body
Camera
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
In-body Image Stabilization
Sensor Size and Resolution
Full-Frame 30.4 Megapixel
Mirrorless or DSLR
DSLR
Continuous Shooting Speed
7 Frames per second
ISO Range
100 - 32,000
Video
4K
Viewfinder
Optical
More Details

Compositional Elements

There are many elements of composition in the world of photography that you should be well-acquainted with. These elements are critical in every photo you take, and they include:

Colors

You may be well-versed with black and white photography. It is a creative color choice for every photographer. Color makes a big difference when it comes to the composition of your photos. Each color brings its own mood and emotions to your photographs. When composing your photos, decide on the color choice you have. You can choose to mix or pair warm colors with cool colors and create amazing pictures.

Aesthetic Photography colors

Texture

The texture of your photos helps determine its impact and emotions it creates. Texture may also be the subject of your photos. Textures can be an individual element in a big picture.

Photographs with more texture tend to draw much attention and give your images a sense of dimension.

Leading Lines

Leading lines provide a photographer with a path to follow. They will lead your eyes to your object. Without leading lines, your composition looks empty or crowded. Lines also play a significant role in connecting two different elements of your photographs.

Your images will look more impactful and give your image structure, which will make your image feel intentional. The common lines you should know include roads, train tracks, and shadows. It is a compositional element widely used in landscape photography.

You will easily notice in most of these compositional elements in most aesthetically pleasing photographs. These elements provide an easy way to understand what attracts people to particular pictures.

Read more here.

Editing Your Images

As we’ve seen before, the process of editing images is key. As you planned your shooting in advance is likely you got the light on point. With photo editing you can dramatically change the look and feel of an image.

But to me an image that looks too oversaturated or too distant from reality means that either the artist didn’t quite plan properly or maybe the control of the editing process is not quite there yet.

Aesthetic Photography

This is not a rule of course. You can definitely develop your own sense of aesthetic that can eventually become your photography style. But my word of advice for beginners is to go easy with Lightroom, Photoshop or any other photo editor.

I’m not against photo editing at all, it’s part of the game, but don’t over do it if you don’t want to compromise the beauty of your photographs.

A Final Word

Thanks for getting to the end of this article. Now you realize how aesthetic matters in photography and what it means. By practicing the concepts in this guide, you’ll be able to take more compelling photos.

The difference between snapping away a few photos and actually creating beautiful images lies in the way you interpret the art of photography. Even though it can be just a hoppy, remember that we’re always talking about art, and interpreting beauty and aesthetics means understanding more deeply what this medium represents for you.

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