Your artistic voice is what sets your work apart. It's not simply about developing a recognisable style, but understanding what inspires you, how you see the world and the creative choices that make your work your own.
There comes a point in every photographer's journey when you begin to realise that creating beautiful images and creating images that feel distinctly your own are two very different things.
You can learn the technical skills, invest in equipment, attend workshops, study the work of photographers you admire and develop an understanding of light, composition and editing. But somewhere along the way, there is another question worth asking:
What do I actually want my work to look and feel like?
This is where the journey of finding your artistic voice begins.
In the first episode of The Art of Her, I share a little of my own journey into photography and the experiences that have shaped the way I approach maternity and motherhood photography today. It's a conversation about creativity, inspiration and the process of developing a style that feels genuinely your own.
Your photographic style is more than how you edit
When photographers talk about finding their style, the conversation often turns towards editing.
We think about colour grading and cropping and whilst these are all important elements of a photographer's visual identity, I believe your artistic voice extends much further than your editing.
It is found in the way you see light. The moments you choose to capture. The environments you are drawn to. The way you guide the people in front of your camera. The details you notice and the emotions you want your photographs to evoke.
Two photographers can photograph the same woman, in the same location, wearing the same dress, and create two completely different images.
Neither needs to be better than the other. They simply see the world differently.
Your artistic voice is the collection of those decisions, influences and creative instincts that gradually become recognisable in your work.
Allow yourself to be influenced, but not defined by others
One of the beautiful things about photography is the opportunity to learn from other creatives.
There are photographers whose work stops us in our tracks. We admire their ability to use light, their composition, their creativity or the way they bring an idea to life. Their work can open our eyes to possibilities we may never have considered.
I don't believe we need to avoid being influenced by other photographers. In fact, inspiration is an important part of creative growth.
The challenge is recognising the difference between being inspired by someone's work and trying to recreate it.
It is easy to fall into the habit of saving images, collecting ideas and constantly looking at what other photographers are doing. Before long, you can find yourself making creative decisions based on what you think is expected, rather than what genuinely excites you.
Instead of asking, "How can I recreate this image?", try asking “What is it about this photograph that I am drawn to?”. Is it the light, the movement, the composition of the motion? How would this look through my creative perspective? How can I make it my own?
You can admire someone's work without needing to become a version of them.
Pay attention to what naturally draws you in
Sometimes, finding your artistic voice is less about searching for something entirely new and more about paying attention to the things you are already drawn towards.
Notice the images you keep returning to. Think about the locations you love photographing in, the light you instinctively seek out and the creative ideas that make you excited to pick up your camera.
For me, there is something particularly special about the relationship between a mother and Mother Nature. Time and time again I am draw to the ocean, dramatic coastlines and golden, grassy fields.
I love imagery that feels ethereal and emotive, but I am equally drawn to the strength and boldness of editorial portraiture.
These preferences have become part of the way I approach my work. They are not decisions I made simply because they were trending. They are elements I genuinely enjoy creating with.
The more you understand what draws you in, the easier it becomes to make intentional creative decisions.
Experimentation is part of the process
Your artistic voice isn't something you need to have completely figured out before you begin.
It develops through experience, experimentation and a willingness to try things that might not always work.
Give yourself permission to explore different lighting techniques, locations, compositions, styling choices and approaches to directing your clients. Try something outside your usual way of working. Follow an idea simply because it interests you.
Not every experiment will become part of your signature style, and that is perfectly okay.
Sometimes, discovering what doesn't feel right is just as valuable as discovering what does.
I think it is important to remember that your work is allowed to evolve. The things that inspire you today may not be the things that inspire you in a few years. As you grow in confidence and experience, your creative perspective will naturally develop too.
You don't need to force yourself into a particular style or feel that you have to remain creatively consistent with work you produced years ago.
Give yourself room to grow.
Create with intention, rather than chasing trends
Photography trends will always come and go.
There will always be a particular editing style, posing technique, location or aesthetic that seems to be everywhere. It can be tempting to feel that you need to incorporate these things into your own work to remain relevant.
But I think there is something much more valuable about building a body of work that has its own identity.
Rather than constantly asking what is popular, consider what you want to be known for.
What do you want someone to feel when they look at your photographs? What stories do you want to tell? What elements of your creative process matter most to you?
When you begin making decisions with these questions in mind, your work becomes more intentional.
You are no longer simply collecting techniques or recreating images you admire. You are developing a creative perspective and learning how to translate that perspective into photographs.
You don't have to find your artistic voice overnight
Perhaps the most important thing I would encourage any photographer to remember is that finding your artistic voice is not a destination.
It is a journey.
Your style will change. Your interests will develop. You will discover new ways of seeing light, new approaches to storytelling and new creative possibilities that you may never have imagined when you first started.
There will be seasons when you feel incredibly connected to your work, and others when you question your direction entirely.
That doesn't mean you have lost your artistic voice. It may simply mean you are growing beyond the version of yourself that created your earlier work.
Keep creating. Keep experimenting. Keep noticing the things that inspire you.
And perhaps most importantly, give yourself permission to create work that feels like you, even when it looks different from what everyone else is doing.
Because the goal isn't to become another photographer whose work you admire.
It's to become a photographer whose work is unmistakably your own.
Listen to the episode
In the first episode of The Art of Her, I share more about my personal journey into photography, the experiences that have shaped my creative direction and the importance of finding your own artistic voice.
If you're a maternity or motherhood photographer navigating your own creative journey, I hope this episode encourages you to trust your instincts, explore your ideas and create work that feels genuinely yours.
The Art of Her is a podcast for maternity and motherhood photographers who want to refine their artistry, strengthen their mindset and grow their business.
[Watch or listen to the episode here:
YouTube: Finding Your Artistic Voice in Maternity & Motherhood Photography
Podcast: The Art of Her
Connect with Lucy Rose
Website: https://www.lucyrosephotography.com.au
Instagram: @lucyrose.photography