Embracing the Art of Being a Multi-Genre Photographer

When I first picked up a camera, I didn’t do it with the intention of specialising in any one thing. I just loved taking photos! There was no master plan to become a portrait photographer, or a landscape photographer, or a wedding photographer. I simply wanted to explore the world through the lens and capture what moved me. Over time, I realised that I wasn’t drawn to just one subject - I was drawn to many. Landscapes and seascapes were my favourite way to unwind, to see a beautiful sunrise and set, and this may actually be my specialism in a way, but as I experimented I found drawn to photograph people in those environments. It became more about places, moments, textures, moods - each genre offered something different, and I couldn’t bring myself to choose just one direction. Why put myself in a box and restrict what I felt I was allowed to shoot within my genre?

So… I became a multi-genre photographer, not because I couldn’t decide who I wanted to be - but because I wanted to experience it all.

What I Shoot

My photography spans a range of genres because each one fulfills a different creative need and teaches me something new:

• Landscapes: For when I want to breathe, observe, and connect to the world’s quiet beauty.

• Wildlife: For patience, presence, and observing those other creatures living out in the landscape.

• Seascapes & Surf: For movement, power, and the magic of water and light in motion.

• Ocean Abstracts: The way I uniquely see the oceans details.

• Portraits: For capturing identity, emotion, and connection - out in those environments I love! - creating human stories sharing those spaces with me.

• Events & Festivals: For energy, expression, and those fleeting in-between moments.

• Commercial Work: For precision, communication, and collaborating with vision-led brands.

• Lifestyle: For the in-between spaces where real life and art meet.

• Documentary & Travel: For honest storytelling and capturing real life as it unfolds - the exploration, culture, adventure, and seeing the world through curiosity and wonder.

Each genre stretches me differently. Each one teaches me something new. And each one informs the others - skills from one style constantly elevate another, and when I am moving across genres I find I am always creatively inspired, training my eye to observe, notice and really pay attention and see the things others might miss.

Why I Love Being a Multi-Genre Photographer

Being someone who works across multiple photography styles keeps the craft endlessly exciting. One day I might be shooting a portrait out in the ocean, the next I’m outside chasing golden-hour light on the beach, playing with shutter speeds in low light, or creating a set of lifestyle images for a brand, and another day I’m capturing candid emotion at an event or festival. Each genre challenges me to see the world from a new angle, emotionally and technically.

I love the versatility. I love the challenge. I love knowing that every shoot teaches me something new - whether it’s about composition, lighting, human emotion, or simply patience. Photography becomes more than a profession; it becomes a constant evolution - something I love to push myself creatively and have that constant notion of always learning.

The Pros of Being Multi-Genre

1. Creative Freedom
There’s no box to fit into. No single set of rules. I get to reinvent my storytelling every time I start a new project.

2. A Broader Skill Set
Different genres sharpen different skills. Portraits improve my understanding of people and expression. Landscapes teach patience and composition. Events sharpen timing and anticipation. All of these skills overlap in surprising and powerful ways.

3. More Opportunities
Clients come from every direction when your portfolio shows range. You become adaptable and reliable in diverse situations - which opens doors to more projects.

4. No Creative Burnout
Switching between styles keeps the work fresh. If I get tired of one genre, I simply shift focus and rediscover excitement in another.

The Challenges (Because There Are Some)

1. Branding Can Be Tricky
People like labels, and when you do “everything,” it can be harder for clients to immediately understand your specialty - even when your specialty is versatility.

2. Equipment Needs Vary
Each genre sometimes calls for different gear, which can be expensive and require learning multiple setups.

3. Constant Learning Curve
You’re never settled. Every genre has depth, and mastering several takes time, patience, and practice. But honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Why I Choose to Do It All

At the end of the day, photography is storytelling - and stories come in infinite forms. I love capturing the many facets of life, not just one. I love that my camera takes me into new environments, introduces me to new people, reveals new ways of seeing the world.

Being a multi-genre photographer means embracing curiosity, creativity, and growth. It means never stopping at one perspective. It means honouring the fact that inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime, and in countless ways.

I do it all because life is not one-dimensional - and neither is my art.

If you’re a photographer who feels drawn to multiple genres, lean into it.
Your style isn’t defined by limiting yourself - it’s defined by the way you see the world. And that vision is your greatest strength.

Finding your voice behind the lens isn’t about choosing one path - it’s about discovering the one that feels true. Explore, create, and grow!