Four Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Photography

I've bought many books on photography over the years. Most of them I only read partially because they were largely offering the exact same thing that so many other books had already offered, most of which, frankly, was already openly available online from sites like Fstoppers for free. I keep buying them, though, not because I'm a masochist that likes wasting money, but because every once in a while, I come across a book that breaks the trend and grabs hold of me from cover to cover, giving me a completely new perspective on my art. This list aggregates some of my favorites that I think you may really enjoy.

1. Sketching Light by Joe McNally

McNally has developed a rather crazy habit of creating education that transcends the competition. I feel that this book has been his magnum opus. Sketching Light revolutionized the way I think about lighting and has had an immeasurable impact on my photographic journey.

2. Photography Q&A by Zack Arias

Most photography education is filled with optimism and motivation, which is great, but sometimes, the relentless pursuit of optimism means avoiding certain subjects that really need to be addressed. Zack Arias has always been a realist and teaches with that voice in mind. What makes Arias' particular brand of realism so amazing, however, is how he manages to create such a motivational voice in the process. Most realists tend to come off as pessimists, but Arias tells it how it is while igniting the inspirational fire in his readers. Photography Q&A is a look into real conversations with real people whom Arias has helped over the years.

3. The Headshot by Peter Hurley

The only way you probably haven't heard of Hurley is if you live under a very large and heavy rock; his personality has exploded onto the scene over the past few years. I imagine, however, a lot of photographers overlook his book simply because they are not headshot photographers. Personally, I think this book has been misnamed. It really should be called The Portrait, because virtually everything within this book is oriented around teaching mastery of portrait photography. The Headshot just happens to leverage Hurley's primary niche as a headshot photographer to be the vessel. 

4. Photographing Shadow and Light by Joey L

Joey has been quite the force in the photography world over the last few years, and this book is a look into both his creative style and the elegant lighting methodology that has helped fuel his rise at such a young age. Photographing Shadow and Light is a series of case studies discussing difficult lighting situations and how Joey was able to overcome their challenges and create some of his most iconic work.

Conclusion

These books are most definitely all from the point of view of photographers whose careers are focused on photographing people. However, I feel that they all have amazing lessons that also spill into other genres of photography. Any of them should be a great read for virtually all photographers. 

Finally, I'd love to hear about some other amazing books out there that I might not know about about, so head down to the comments below, and tell me about some of your favorite photographic reading and why you loved it so much!