What kind of photographer are you?

You're not a street photographer, you're not a documentary photographer, you're not a travel photographer — you're simply a photographer.

Last year I got chatting to a lady who was promoting a photography exhibition. Turned out it was her own exhibition that formed part of her masters in photography that she was studying locally. We got chatting as I had a camera with me, and when she asked ‘what do you shoot’? I replied ‘well…everything’.

She just couldn’t reconcile that. She asked me more and I just had to say, ‘well, I take pictures of anything that interests me, and sometimes things that don’t interest me but I think might make a good photo. One minute it’s my kids playing, then it’s the dog, then it’s a car, a street scene, a tree, a bird, a landscape, a pebble…

In short, I’m a bloke with a camera that likes taking photographs. Always have been, always will be.

Not everything in life needs a label.

Most of my photography is on the streets, yet I'm often told  "that's not street photography". I'm done with labels...

Each to their own.
I've never called myself any particular type of photographer.
I'm just a photographer..
One who enjoys many types of photography.
What I do day to day may change, and I'll often go down the occasional rabbit hole of a different genre for a while.
Breaking it up and switching things around is what keeps it fresh and exciting for me.

Tim im just gonna  say you're my favorite photographer youtuber like ever. I only have a normal iPhone 15 but I recently picked up taking pictures as a hobby, street photography to be exact, or as you said, of humanity. Binged a lot of your videos such as the "A Day of Street Photography" series and loved them!

I was an introvert who would prefer locking myself in a room but now I find myself just browsing some cool events near me so I can go not only to partake but also to take some fun pictures! Thanks for all the videos and here's to many more :D

I love that your articulated this. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because I love shooting “stories about people” regardless of location. Places like Insta have almost forced us to choose for consistency of our profile but after a while it feels same-same and like there’s more to it somewhere inside me. This video was great - thanks for sharing.

Always shoot what raises your attention, what's attracting you, no matter what.Think out of the box, but  put everything into that tiny black box called a camera. No labels required.

I've been thinking about this myself recently. The term Street Photographer is very limiting, and the fact people are defining what does and doesn't make a photo "street photography" is ridiculous.  

Pigeon-holing everything is a recent thing. years ago, we used to be called a "photographer". Pretty simple.   My new title is "Guy with a curiosity,  ideas, and a camera".   But feel free to call me a "photographer".

Very well said. Don't limit yourself but broaden.... expand your view and you will be a better photographer (someone that captures the world with light).

Wow, you speak for so many of us. Gave up on the street photography label a long time ago, and now only think of myself only as a photographer.

Stellar work from Stonehenge, really satisfying finally seeing these images!

It's great to see how those scenes fit to your eye - and to think you almost didn't bother showing up 😅

Also, this slideshow/retrospective style video works really nicely - will be even better when it's a pure narrative/storyline you've captured, although I get that this is marking a milestone and less about the story itself.

🕉️☯️✨

I was drawn to "street photography" when I first picked up a camera for about 2 years before I realised it was limiting (and very hard to do well). Now I would just say I go out with a camera quite often. I can't always explain exactly what makes me stop and take a photo. I don't really know why i do it.

Enjoyed this video very much as I've been thinking about the same questions for a couple of months. I've been shooting straight B&W street photography for about two years, which I love and still plan to continue. However, I've just recently come to the realization that just keeping to B&W is limiting, as is just keeping to street photos (also recently been introduced to the work of Ernst Haas which has been inspiring). Thanks Tim for continuing to post such thoughtful videos!

Been shooting street for more than 15 years. And I couldn't agree more. Don't limit yourself just because you call yourself a "street photographer". Just be creative and document. And enjoy life with your camera. Believe me - it's so liberating when you realize this! And forget what social media tells you. Do it for you...

This video has resonated with me so much.  Thanks.

Well done and said.

This popped up at some time in my life where i am questioning a life path for myself. Very much helped me think a bit more about it. By trade i am a videographer mainly in-house but its boring me so much and for years ive watched loads of photography stuff and not done anything about it. I thought what kind of photographer would i be, and when you said about catching humanity in moments at certain things like stonehenge it added fuel to whats been going on inside of me. i very much want to start capturing something. Thank you for uploading

Tim, I am an occasional visitor to your channel. I love your self-definition as a humanity photographer. Your photos are interesting appealing and intriguing. Thank you for allowing me (and others) to follow you in your journey. And a fantastic one too. Best regards and Shalom.

Midsummer is the biggest holiday in Sweden (where I'm from). Would love to celebrate at Stonehenge now...