I’m always nervous to use certain language to define my work, because I’m not sure if it really is the way that I’m describing it, or if other people see it that way.
What makes something editorial?
When are you “documentary style” and not just getting candids?
What makes something lifestyle? If I’m a lifestyle photographer but also like to do portraits sometimes, would I be a lifestyle and portrait photographer?
I want to niche down and really be straight forward with what I’m offering and my approach, but often times I’m really not even sure what box I fall into.
Something that I learned from Lindsay Adler in one of her workshops is to focus on 3-4 adjectives to describe your style. Mine is clean, colorful, and fun!
No matter what my subject is, my style comes through. So if I’m shooting portraits, they generally have a similar look. Street photography or families (though I shoot these less) is very similar. I am typically a portrait and fashion photographer, but my visual style is what ties them together.
Focus more on descriptors of the images themselves, rather than categories (documentary, lifestyle, etc). You might figure it out easier this way.