In today’s digital age, photography has many faces—making it even more challenging to master the craft. With the right know-how, you can take spectacular shots with your phone, a drone, and even a pair of smart glasses.
However, that doesn’t mean old school is out, either. Gen Z’s love of film means analog photography is making a comeback. One only needs to look at Kodak. It filed for bankruptcy in 2012—but a resurging demand for film saw it earn over $196 million by the start of the 2020s, making it clear that the film photography trend isn’t going anytime soon. That means there’s so much for aspiring and even professionals to keep learning about, whether you’re into film or digital, nature or street photography, and more.
If you want to keep building your knowledge of photography, one of the best places you can draw wisdom from is the master. Why not get your insights straight from history’s most influential photographers? With these memoirs, you may just find some new and exciting ways to master your craft.
The best memoirs from history’s most influential photographers
Annie Leibovitz at Work
Having photographed everyone from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Queen Elizabeth II and LeBron James, Annie Leibovitz is known for the intimate nature of her portraits, which have rewarded her with one of the most iconic careers in photography—as well as a Living Legend title from none other than the Library of Congress. There’s no doubt that many photographers would give anything to observe her at work—and with this memoir, you can do just that. First published in 2008, the updated November 2024 edition of Annie Leibovitz at Work covers the photographer’s own account of working as a photojournalist, in the studio, with writers and celebrities, and with both film and digital formats, making it a particularly rich book worth reading if you truly want to learn from a master.
A Photographer’s Life
Jack Dykinga started out as a photojournalist for major publications like the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Arizona Daily Star. In the ‘80s, however, he decided it was time for a career change—and began working as a wilderness guide. Dykinga’s love of nature and resulting environmental activism eventually turned him back to photography, and he started snapping shots to bring awareness to important issues, such as conservation. Today, Outdoor Photography considers Dykinga among the 40 most influential nature photographers of all time. If you want to use photography to similarly bring attention to a cause, you can learn more about his journey in A Photographer’s Life. Covering a career that spans over half a century, Dykinga uses this memoir to more deeply discuss how his passion for making the world a better place shaped the overall design and style prevalent in his work.
Vivian Maier Developed
Street photography is truly an art. You have to strike a delicate balance between spontaneity and symmetry, the unique and mundane. Few have mastered it better than Vivian Meier—which is why she’s one of the best people to learn from when mastering the art of street photography. We’ve featured her in Capturing the Decisive Moment for a key reason: she made the ordinary stand out with her masterful use of light and shadow. Meier’s photographs were only discovered after she passed, and Vivian Maier Developed will give you a better look at the unknown story of her craft. Here, biographer Ann Marks details the background of “the nanny who lived secretly as a world-class photographer,” strategically using her images to piece together how she fell in love with photography on the streets of Chicago—and why she got so good at it—offering unique insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Road to Seeing
If you want a truly educational read, Dan Winters’ Road to Seeing is worth picking up. Here, the award-winning portrait photographer discusses concepts perfect for beginners—and veterans who want refreshers. You’ll learn more about the history of photography, how to create a visual language, the best ways to translate your knowledge to genres like street and portrait photography, and even the qualities you need for success, including curiosity, reverence, and perseverance. The best part about this memoir is that all these insights are wrapped into a story about Winters’ own life journey and how it influenced his photography style and career decisions. Overall, it’s one of the best photography reads out there that teach you about both theory and practice.
Where to get your memoirs
Photography books, including memoirs, can be particularly useful resources for advancing your craft—but they can also be quite expensive. As such, you may want to pick the photographer you’re most keen to learn from and get a memoir that discusses their career in detail. If you want to vary your sources, however, there are more cost-effective means to get through your memoir list. For one, you can access all the biographies and memoirs on Everand for a flat monthly fee. Everand is a subscription-based platform that offers a dedicated section for artists and musicians, where you can get your fill through works such as Kevin Cable’s See the Light and Patricia Bosworth’s Diane Arbus: a Biography on the smart device of your choice. Alternatively, if you have a library card at Miami-Dade’s public library, you can browse the ebooks as well as take out physical copies of your chosen memoirs delivered straight to your doorstep. These resources should make it even easier for you to hone your craft with help from none other than the greatest names in photography.
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