# photography

/fəˈtɑɡɹəfi/ (US) · /fətˈɒɡɹəfˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/photography
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the art or hobby

noun · CEFR B1

the activity or hobby of taking photographs.

For teachers: the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface.

- She decided to take up photography so she could capture better holiday photos.
- Digital photography has democratised the medium, allowing amateur enthusiasts to experiment with composition and lighting without the prohibitive costs of film development.

### 2. the profession

noun · CEFR B2

the job of taking and selling photographs.

For teachers: the occupation or professional practice of taking, processing, and distributing photographs.

- He spent years working in fashion photography before opening his own studio.
- The rise of high-quality smartphone cameras has significantly disrupted the market for professional event photography, forcing many studios to diversify their services.

## Examples

- She studies photography at the local college.
- Digital photography has made it much easier for beginners to experiment with different lighting settings without wasting expensive film.
- While early photography required long exposure times and toxic chemicals, modern sensors allow us to freeze motion in low light with incredible precision and clarity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.