Photography has always evolved, not just through better cameras and technology, but through the creative trends that sweep through the photography community. Every few years there seems to be a new “must-try” technique that photographers everywhere rush to experiment with. Because we can quickly see what others are doing, via social media, this makes trends spread like wildfire.
Some disappear almost as quickly as they arrived, thank goodness. Others become timeless creative tools. Looking back over the past decades, it’s amazing how many photographic crazes we’ve probably all dabbled in.
The Lens Ball Craze
For a while it seemed every photographer owned a glass lens ball. Suddenly the world was upside down—literally. Landscapes, city skylines and sunsets all looked magical through a perfectly clear sphere.
At first, it was fresh and exciting. Then social media became flooded with identical compositions. While the novelty wore off, lens balls still have their place when they’re used thoughtfully rather than simply because they’re trendy. I admit mine is still in my camera bag. You never know when you want to break out into something nostalgic.
Empty Picture Frames
Another favourite was carrying an old empty frame to photo shoots or using it in my studio. Families peered through them, couples held them together, and photographers used them to “frame” their subjects within the image itself. It was simple, inexpensive and surprisingly effective for a while there, although I did have one get caught in my garage roller door and cause some chaos.
Light Painting Adventures
As camera sensors improved, photographers began experimenting more with long exposures. Armed with torches, fairy lights, steel wool that was lit on fire and spun around, and coloured LED lights, we discovered that darkness could become our canvas. People trekked to abandoned farm houses and barns to ‘light paint’ them, tripping over fences in the dark, and standing in cow patties.
We wrote names with light, drawing hearts around couples or creating glowing orbs became hugely popular. Every successful image felt like a small magic trick that required patience and plenty of failed attempts, but it was a fun time.
Levitation Photography
Before AI and sophisticated editing software became commonplace, levitation photography relied on careful planning, multiple images and clever Photoshop work. Jumping photos were fun, fuelled by the Toyota advert, but true levitation images took time and skill.
Selective Colour
There was a period when nearly every photographer converted images to black and white while leaving just one object in colour—a bright red rose, blue eyes or a yellow umbrella.
At the time it felt artistic and dramatic. Today it often dates an image instantly, proving that photographic styles, like fashion, come and go. After it went out of fashion, I had a client request it, so I reluctantly did it for them, but didn’t post that photo anywhere on my social media, because at that stage it was pretty cringy. I still see it now and then when judging photo competitions and exhibitions, and it still gives me the cringe factor. Occasionally it actually does work in an image, but mostly it’s just a passing fad that dates a photo.
Mirrors
Carrying around small or big mirrors was a cool thing to do there for a while. I have seen some great images taken at sunset on a beach with a model and a huge antique mirror. I dabbled in using small mirrors with models and that was interesting. Mirrors can produce some outstanding results. I have a small clip-on mirror that sits below my iphone camera lenses for some cool stuff. It fits into a small zip bag and gets dragged out on occasion. It fuels my imagination and is fun.
Water Drop Photography, Shadows, Bubbles, Freezing things in Ice, Model Toy Cars and Other Things
Some things in photography don’t get old, or if they do, we just don’t care. I love playing with my toy car models making them look like real cars in settings. Playing with shadows, freezing flowers in trays of ice, discovering water drops in the wild or setting them up. Playing with oil and water, producing coloured bubbles, dropping fruit into water and setting off with flash to produce perfectly caught sharp fruit, and all those fun activities can produce some amazing photography.
I once did some water drop photography and it took over 60 photos to get one where the water drop was perfectly positioned. It certainly gave me a lesson in patience if nothing else.
Tiny Planet Photography
Photographers discovered they could wrap landscapes into tiny circular worlds so suddenly beaches, city streets, gardens and everything else became miniature planets floating in space. It was fun, quirky and unlike anything we’d seen before. This made a bit of a comeback recently and I enjoy dabbling in it.
HDR the Hell out of Everything
High Dynamic Range photography exploded in popularity. Early HDR images often featured glowing skies, intensely saturated colours and enough contrast to make every brick, leaf and cloud leap off the screen.
While today’s HDR processing is much more subtle, those early attempts certainly made an impression and I still trot this out now and then if the subject suits it. Some things just beg to be aged, gritty, dirty and in your face.
Smoke Bombs and Coloured Powder
Portrait sessions became far more colourful with smoke bombs and colour powder. Festivals, engagement shoots and fashion photography all embraced dramatic clouds of vibrant colour. The results could be spectacular—provided the wind was blowing in the right direction.
Trash the Dress
I can’t say I ever tried this, but certainly wanted to at the time when everyone was photographing their brides, grooms or just models in the ocean or rivers, waterfalls and lakes. Trashing the dress photography was super popular for years.
Prism Photography
Holding glass prisms in front of the lens introduced beautiful reflections, rainbows and dreamy distortions. It encouraged photographers to think differently about composition and reminded us that sometimes the simplest tools can create the most interesting effects.
Forced Perspective
Tourist destinations have always inspired forced perspective—people “holding” the moon, pinching buildings between their fingers or pretending to balance giant landmarks. It’s a gimmick that never really gets old because it always brings a smile, and when you are on holiday you have plenty of time to try quirky things.
Then Came Drones
While not exactly a gimmick, drones completely changed how photographers viewed the world. Suddenly ordinary beaches, forests, ploughed fields, and city streets became works of abstract art when photographed from above in a bird’s eye view setting. Many photographers discovered entirely new styles simply by changing their viewpoint. I love getting mine up in the sky for some quick shots to see what birds see. Avoiding the actual birds can be the hard part.
Today… AI Joins the Conversation
Now we’re entering another fascinating chapter. Artificial intelligence is allowing photographers to remove distractions, expand backgrounds, generate mock-ups and even create entirely imagined scenes. I even turned my cat into a Japanese fashion statement with some creative AI. It was cringy for sure but I got a laugh out of it, and the cat is none the wiser.
Like every trend before it, AI is simply another creative tool. Used thoughtfully, it can enhance our work. Used carelessly, it might become another passing novelty. We all might end up going back to the good old days of no AI, just like some digital photographers have returned to using film for that nostalgic look and to step out of their comfort zone and find inspiration again.
The Best Trend? Having Fun
Looking back, it’s easy to laugh at some of the photographic crazes we’ve embraced over the years. But every one of those trends taught us something—whether it was learning Photoshop, mastering skills, understanding composition, a lesson in patience, discovering the use of technology, or simply giving us the confidence to experiment.
Photography should never stop being fun.
The next big trend is probably already around the corner. Some photographers will roll their eyes. Others will eagerly give it a try. And twenty years from now, I will probably be writing another nostalgic blog post remembering the creative gimmicks of the 2020s.
After all, every trend is just another chapter in photography’s wonderfully creative history.
