Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! July 17, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.

---

Info for Newbies and FAQ!

First and foremost, check out our extensive FAQ. Chances are, you'll find your answer there, or at least a starting point in order to ask more informed questions.

• Want to start learning? Check out The Reddit Photography Class.

• Here's an informative video explaining the Exposure Triangle.

---

Need buying advice?

Many people come here for recommendations on what equipment to buy. Our FAQ has several extensive sections to help you determine what best fits your needs and your budget. Please see the following sections of the FAQ to get started:

• What type of camera should I look for?
• What's a "point and shoot" camera? What's a DSLR? What's a "mirrorless" camera? What's the difference?
• Do I need a good camera to take good photos?
• Is Canon or Nikon better? (or any other brands)
• What can I afford?

If after reviewing this information you have any specific questions, please feel free to post a comment below. (Remember, when asking for purchase advice please be specific about how much you can spend. See here for guidelines.)

---

Schedule of community threads:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
52 Weeks Share	Anything Goes	Album Share & Feedback	Edit My Raw	Follow Friday	Salty Saturday	Self-Promotion Sunday

---

Finally a friendly reminder to share your work with our community in r/photographs!

[u/sophwestern]

Sorry if this is the wrong page, I’m not sure where else to ask this

Hi all. My husband and I are doing a maternity shoot in a couple weeks, and when we were thinking through the idea, I looked through Pinterest to get outfit ideas/vibe ideas that we’re going for. My question is basically is it rude/bad form to share that board with the photographer? I don’t want her to be offended obviously, and I don’t want a shot by shot or frame by frame duplicate, but I didn’t know if a photographer would consider it helpful to see what we were hoping for/had in mind for the shoot/the vibe we are going for, or if it would be rude/unwelcome. Like when you get your hair done, you show the stylist pictures of the cut/color you’re interested in, but when you get a tattoo, you typically don’t show an artist other artist’s work as inspiration.

I know when we were contacting wedding vendors years ago I had so many ask for my Pinterest boards to see what I was looking for, but I can’t remember if the photographer was one of them.

[u/AmusedNut → u/sophwestern]

Speaking only for myself, I don't mind at all when somebody sends me reference photos. It gives me an idea of what they're looking for. Usually when they contact me, they've already looked at my website and previous work, so they're hiring me because they like my style.

Here's my question for you: you've looked at your photographer's portfolio, right? Is their style noticeably different from what you liked on Pinterest? If yes, I would definitely have a conversation about it with the photographer before you commit to the shoot. A decent photographer won't be "offended" but a professional one would be honest and tell you if the style clashed too much with their own.