2022 Photography Trends
Hello and welcome to the Justin and Lauren Photography blog! We are Justin and Lauren, photographers based in Charleston, South Carolina. Our journey began in 2015 when we met during training to become photojournalists for the U.S. Air Force. Our passion for photography has only grown since then, which led us to start our own business. We’re your photographers for all kinds of events– Weddings, engagement and couple photos, branding, and more! If you’re interested in learning more about us and what we offer, visit our website! We love taking photos in unique locations, so if you’re up for traveling to a beautiful, secluded and peaceful location, we’re going to get along just fine! As your photographers, we are dedicated to providing you with the best of the best in images and an unforgettable experience. Candid photos are some of our favorites to capture. We pride ourselves on being raw, real, and authentic. We also provide prints, canvases, and albums. Contact us today so we can help bring your dream photoshoot to life. We can’t wait to meet you!
Today, we’re discussing photography trends for 2022. Trends in photography are constantly changing, especially as our society changes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we saw some changes in photography trends, including a change in the subjects or details of photographs. Here are a few of the hottest trends in photography so far this year, and some we predict to increase in popularity throughout the remainder of the year.
Silhouettes
Although the first silhouettes originated in the 1850s, they are gaining popularity recently. Silhouette images are open to interpretation– Since viewers only see the shape of a person, they can use their imagination to fill in the gaps, or perhaps even imagine themselves in the photo. Silhouettes are created using backlighting. The subject should be placed in front of a strong and bright light source, with no light coming from behind your camera, and you’ll want to turn off your flash. One popular setup for silhouette photography is directly in front of a sunset or sunrise.
Activism
Protests and other gatherings for social change have happened for years, all over the world. In the past few years, we have seen social justice movements and protests becoming more and more prevalent. One of the best ways to inform the public about what is happening can be through photography– Photographers have the ability to capture history in action. Increased attention to social justice issues offers an opportunity to make a difference through your art. If you are going to photograph a protest, march, or other gatherings, it is best to plan ahead. Educate yourself on the topic and cause, understand exactly what the event is about, and decide what you want to capture. Candid shots typically work best for these types of events, as they can capture raw emotions. Allowing our couples to incorporate their own personal beliefs and passions into their images is a great way to bring awareness to different social issues, while allowing them to be their authentic selves.
Raw Images
More and more, people are embracing self-love and acceptance. Body positivity has been a hot topic. Although we live in a world full of retouching apps, including some that can completely change a person’s appearance, authenticity is steadily increasing in popularity these days. Consumers are becoming more aware of Photoshopped images and are straying from them. This means going easy on filters and editing. This trend is less about focusing on flaws and more about capturing someone’s unedited beauty. You can still take a beautiful photo without retouching scars or blemishes. Try using your camera’s settings to manipulate the scene. This can help the subject of your photo better appeal to the people who view it. Seeing so-called imperfections makes the subjects of your photography more relatable.
More Diversity
Correlating with the subject of acceptance and body positivity, we are seeing more and more diversity within photography. This means people of different colors, shapes, sizes and ages. Society is beginning to take steps towards accepting a more natural look, even if that includes wrinkles or gray hair. The use of older models in advertisements was a trend we began seeing more of in 2021, and it is expected to continue this year. Brands are also capitalizing on diversity and inclusion, because more people want to see representation, whether it is through age, skin color or disability. Representation is vital because it makes people feel included.
Dreamy Vibes
Maybe it’s because the pandemic made us envision a perfect, mystical dream world, but we are seeing a trend in dreamy vibes within photography. Making use of the golden hour– the period shortly after sunrise or before sunset– has become increasingly popular in all types of photography, especially on social media. Photos taken in the golden hour give off a gorgeous and warm, dreamy aura. Many photographers are also using smoke bombs to create colorful scenes and give a little added flair to their images. Smoke bombs contribute to surrealism and can also add depth to your photos. Makeup styling can also be used to achieve a dreamy effect. For example, the HBO series Euphoria has inspired many to create bold looks with lots of glitter and face gems. Lots of glitter and the use of low, neon lighting (usually cool blue or purple tones) can create a mysterious and dreamy look right out of a fairytale. Some other ways to add a dreamy effect to your images are by using fractals or cutting the end of a Ziploc bag and placing it over your lens with your aperture wide open. The edges of the bag will create a hazy effect over your images.
Vintage Aesthetics and Film Photography
The vintage concept has been making quite a comeback over the past few years. Not only are record players back on the shelves, but the vintage look is being incorporated into media, too. Vintage or retro-inspired photography in the modern age usually involves desaturated and warm-toned colors. (Think reds, oranges, and yellows.) Capturing photos like this usually involves a bit of editing, such as decreasing saturation or adding a grainy effect. Relevant props are also useful, like heart-shaped sunglasses, or specific hair and makeup styling to recreate a retro look. People are loving the “distressed” look right now, as well, which involves editing a photo to appear that it is film, with some wrinkling around the edges or artifacts over the images. Another thing we’ve seen make a comeback recently is film photography, such as polaroids. Instant cameras such as FujiFilm’s Instax are making an appearance just about everywhere, including people’s Instagram feeds. Utilizing film photography gives images that natural, vintage look, and allows you a tangible product.
Vibrant Color
Bright and vibrant images have long been a great way to capture people’s attention. They are often used in advertisements, as they can have a strong effect on emotions and influence mood. We are seeing an increase in bright colors used in images. Vibrant colors typically make us feel good– They wake us up and make us feel energized. Using vibrant colors in your photography is a great way to convey a particular mood or message. It is best when you have an understanding of how colors work together– Think complementary colors, like orange and blue or red and green. You should also keep in mind the theme you want for your image. Are you taking springtime photos? Consider a palette of pastels, like light pinks, blues, and yellows. If your image is meant to feel happy and carefree, consider unusual color combinations that still work, like orange and teal. You can always edit images to desaturate colors that don’t contribute to your photo.
As you can see, there are a variety of trends in photography right now, and they are always changing as our society and world flow and evolve. More and more, people are loving images that capture raw emotions and diversity and make them feel something. We hope you found this article informative, and we hope to see you back on the blog soon!
At Justin and Lauren Photography, we dedicate ourselves to capturing the unique beauty of those special moments in your life. We are located in Charleston but are available to travel– In fact, we have tons of places we just have to see on our bucket list. Let’s have an adventure together! If you have any questions about our services or would like to book a session, reach out to us today so we can meet in person or over Zoom to talk about your ideas and help bring them to life. We would love to connect with you!
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