Developing a photographic style is often treated as a critical milestone, but it’s worth questioning whether having a defined style actually benefits your photography. Photographers frequently chase consistency, yet sometimes variety or unpredictability might be exactly what’s needed to keep your creativity fresh.
Coming to you from Andrew Banner, this reflective video explores whether having a distinct photographic style matters or if it might even limit your creative possibilities. Banner shares that he previously labeled himself strictly as a landscape photographer but now prefers calling himself an “observational photographer.” This shift highlights an important truth: your work doesn’t have to fit neatly into one category to be meaningful. Banner emphasizes this by discussing how his current photography practice involves capturing any subject that catches his eye, whether it’s a landscape, abstract, or even random household objects. He suggests that letting curiosity guide you rather than adhering to one consistent visual theme can lead to more engaging, original images.
Banner illustrates his point by examining various images he’s taken, showing how they lack a clear, overarching style. He presents minimalist black-and-white images alongside more complex, colorful compositions like boats set against richly textured shorelines. Each photograph offers something distinct, relying heavily on intuitive observation rather than a predetermined visual approach. Banner’s images range from spontaneous moments, like window cleaners suspended mid-air, to carefully arranged studio setups. His analysis provides useful perspective: style might not be an essential ingredient if your goal is to stay flexible and curious. If you photograph widely varied subjects, adhering rigidly to one approach might actually hold you back.
The video also discusses practical aspects, like composition and camera positioning, using specific examples from Banner’s fieldwork. He explains thoughtfully how moving slightly lower or higher, changing perspective subtly, can entirely transform the composition’s balance or emphasis. A notable example involves Banner photographing a distant church with foreground fencing and marshland—minor adjustments in camera height altered the scene significantly. This practical advice reminds you to stay attentive to how even small shifts in perspective impact your compositions. Banner’s reflections reinforce the importance of careful observation, precise framing, and thoughtful composition—regardless of whether you aim for stylistic consistency or deliberate diversity.
Ultimately, Banner argues that pursuing a rigid style is more relevant to commercial photographers building portfolios for clients who expect predictability. For personal projects, landscapes, or observational photography, prioritizing a set style may be counterproductive. It might limit exploration or prevent you from noticing unconventional compositions, subtle patterns, or chance encounters. Banner encourages you instead to embrace uncertainty, variety, and openness to whatever inspires you in the moment, because the resulting images often carry authenticity that can be lost when forcing a particular style. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Banner.
