As photographers, we’ve all fallen victim to the comparison game. It’s easy to see someone’s best-of-the-best photos on their highly curated Instagram profiles and think “all of their photos are amazing”, and then doom scroll until we feel like selling all of our equipment and quitting photography entirely. Here’s the thing, though: you don’t see all of their photos. I bet even the best photographers out there have accidentally taken a picture of their feet while they were trying to adjust their shutter speed. Really, they’re just like the rest of us, trying to make a living doing what they love, and sharing what they’re proud of with the world.
As someone just getting started in the field, I’m trying my best not to compare my work to everything I see online. Instead, I’m looking to those unbelievably talented photographers for inspiration and education. Their work makes mine better, just by existing. So if you’re like me, and want to continue to learn new skills and techniques from the best in the biz, this list is for you.
These are ten of my favourite photographers from various branches of the industry, and there’s guaranteed to be at least one that inspires you, too. Take a look:
- Tyler Mitchell – Portrait, Fashion & Editorial
Tyler Mitchell is certainly the most prolific photographer on this list, and there’s a good chance you’ve seen his work if you’ve paid any attention to pop culture this decade. He made history as the first black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover photo in 2018 with the shot of Beyonce above. He was also the photographer behind the photo of Harry Styles in a dress that made a bunch of old white men angry.
But some of Mitchell’s best work is his editorial portraiture, which “introduces new narratives about Black beauty and desire, [and] emphasizes empowerment, play and self determination.” His website is a great source of inspiration, and his Masterclass workshop is a great resource for photographers of any skill level.
- Michael Betzner – Portrait & Editorial
I only recently discovered Michael Betzner’s work through Instagram, and immediately hit the follow button. In addition to composing gorgeous, compelling editorial shoots, Betzner educates and inspires other photographers with his behind the scenes reels and TikToks so that his followers can recreate his shoots (even on a tight budget). His Instagram is a must-follow for anyone who wants to get a little more creative, but doesn’t know where to start.
- Kir Tuben – Weddings
I’ve been following DC luxury wedding photographer Kir Tuben and her team for as long as I can remember, and always dreamed I’d one day hire her to shoot my own wedding. Her bright and airy editing makes every wedding she shoots look like it came straight out of a fairytale with a guaranteed happily-ever-after. It’s no wonder her photos have been featured by the Knot countless times.
Beyond her impressive Instagram feed, Kir works hard maintaining her company’s blog, which features stories from several of the weddings and engagements she shoots, and the full galleries from the event. So if you’re like me and stay up all night before a shoot worrying that you don’t have enough poses lined up for your couple the next day, look no further than Tuben’s blog.
- Macy Spencer – Weddings & Elopements
Macy Spencer’s earthy, vintage style wedding and elopement photography is a stark contrast to Kir Tuben’s light and airy editing, but equally as beautiful. This Montana photographer really leans into that warm and rustic Western aesthetic, with lots of rich earth tones and some added grain on all of her photos.
What I love most about her work is that it doesn’t feel pretentious or stiff in any way. While I’m certainly inspired by and enamoured with her work, what draws me most to Spencer’s profile again and again is how much her personality shows through her online presence. Her Instagram profile is a great one to check out if you’re looking for a really great example of strong personal branding.
- KayLa Ruiz – Intimate Couples’ Portraiture & Boudoir
KayLa Ruiz’s work is some of my absolute favourite portraiture for so many reasons. Her moody, rich editing is the perfect style for the kind of content she’s creating, and her shoots are always so clearly full of passion and fun. It’s so clear just from looking at her portfolio that Ruiz really excels at making her clients feel comfortable and confident, even when they’re complete strangers.
That’s right, some of her couples have never met. Ruiz’s Stranger Sessions series is the coolest content creation strategy I’ve ever seen from a photographer. She accepts applications from her followers (essentially a matchmaking questionnaire), and then pairs up two strangers for a steamy couples’ boudoir session. The results go way beyond some amazing content for her portfolio; some of her stranger session couples are now married!
If you need some content for your portfolio but aren’t ready to charge clients for your work, consider a stranger session or model call and just have fun with it! You may end up being hired to shoot their wedding someday.
- Dylan Fox – Intimate Couples’ Portraiture & Lifestyle
As a new photographer, I can confidently say that most of the learning you do about shooting comes from actually doing it, and you really never stop. I love the way Dylan Fox captures such casual intimacy in his shoots, and I would love to one day branch out more into those kinds of sessions.
If you’ve ever seen someone else’s work and thought “I would love to be a fly on the wall for one of their sessions”, then you’ve come to the right place. Not only does Fox offer mentorship packages and online coaching sessions, he also organises workshops a few times a year so that you can learn from and shoot with him. The best part – the trips are always somewhere gorgeous like Bali or The Tetons, so you get a picturesque vacation out of it too! You can sign up (or just dream about it for a bit like I do) on his website.
I hope this list has given you some inspiration for your next portraiture project, whatever it may be. Don’t forget to check back regularly for more posts about my favourite photographers, photography tips, and discussions about getting started in the photography industry. Also, make sure to check out each of the photographers on this list, by clicking any of the links in this post!
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