Photography terms glossary — Yana Skakun Photography

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Photography Terms Explained

Plain English explanations of the most common photography terms — so you can have an informed conversation with any photographer.

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Information

Photography Terms Explained

Photographers use a lot of jargon — some of it useful shorthand, some of it unnecessary mystification. This glossary explains the most commonly used photography terms in plain, honest English.

Knowing what these terms mean helps you have a more informed conversation when booking a photographer, understand what your photographer is telling you, and make better decisions about what you want.

It's not exhaustive — photography has an enormous vocabulary — but it covers everything you're likely to encounter when booking a professional photographer in the UK.

Aperture & Depth of Field

Aperture controls how much background blur (bokeh) is in an image. A wide aperture (low f-number like f/1.8) = more blur, subject isolation. A narrow aperture (f/8+) = everything sharp. Portrait photographers typically use wide apertures.

RAW Files

RAW is an unprocessed image file that contains far more data than a JPEG. Professional photographers shoot in RAW to allow more flexibility in editing. You will typically receive JPEGs; RAW files are rarely delivered to clients.

Golden Hour

The approximately 60 minutes before sunset (and after sunrise) when the sun is low and the light is warm, directional and beautiful for photography. Most photographers prefer this light.

Bokeh

The aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus areas of a photograph. 'Beautiful bokeh' refers to smooth, pleasing background blur — a characteristic of wide-aperture portrait photography.

Editing vs Retouching

Editing refers to global adjustments — exposure, colour, contrast. Retouching refers to specific alterations — removing a blemish, smoothing skin. Both are part of professional post-processing.

Composition

How elements are arranged within the frame — the rule of thirds, leading lines, negative space. Good composition is not a rule; it's an instinct developed through years of looking at and making photographs.

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Photography terms glossary — understanding photography

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Yana Skakun

Photography Terms Explained

Photographers use a lot of jargon — some of it useful shorthand, some of it unnecessary mystification. This glossary explains the most commonly used photography terms in plain, honest English.

Knowing what these terms mean helps you have a more informed conversation when booking a photographer, understand what your photographer is telling you, and make better decisions about what you want.

It's not exhaustive — photography has an enormous vocabulary — but it covers everything you're likely to encounter when booking a professional photographer in the UK.