What Are the Best Photography TV Shows Available Today? Check Out This List

Are you looking for something inspirational to watch during your editing sessions or maybe want to learn more about the history of photography and the big names in it? Here's a good list of a variety of shows, documentaries, and movies about photography.

Most photographers will know the feeling. You've got a big editing session ahead, your cup of coffee is already steaming in the mug next to your keyboard, but you've not prepared anything to listen to in the background to accompany you. Depending on the session I am editing, I switch between relaxing or upbeat music playlists, interesting podcasts, or TV shows and documentaries that don't require me to keep constantly looking at the screen they're playing on. 

Randomly, I came across a Netflix documentary "My Generation" which details the ins and outs of cultural revolution in 1960s England, and inevitably it touched on the "terrible trio" who shaped the fashion and portrait photography world: David Bailey, Brian Duffy, and Terence Donovan. As much as I enjoyed the documentary, I realized I don't actually know that many other TV shows or movies about photography as its main theme, which is when I came across this very helpful list compiled by Digital Camera World that will hopefully inspire you and get you through those long editing hours.

If you're a fan of competitive reality shows full of drama, there's "Top Photographer with Nigel Barker," but if you prefer to actually learn more about photography and the business, you may want to give "Sky Arts' Masters of Photography" a go. But let me warn you that it's still a rather subjective show and there may be times when you want to throw something at the screen as you listen judges' opinions that you may strongly disagree with. 

Reality TV and drama aside, other options include inspirational documentaries that follow various photographers and their adventures all across the world, such as "Tales of Light," "Wild Photo Adventures," "Chasing Ice," and more. If you're more a history buff like myself, you may be interested in documentaries, such as "Duffy: The Man Who Shot The Sixties," which is available to be viewed for free, "Everybody Street," or "Conflict" if you want to learn more about the devastating after effects of experiencing war and violence through a lens.

The list features several other titles that will catch your interest because there's definitely something for everyone. Take a look and let us know if you can recommend any other interesting movies, TV shows, or documentaries.

Lead image by Joanes Andueza via Unsplash, used under Creative Commons.