photography: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Quick answer
What does “photography” mean?
The art, process, or practice of taking photographs (images captured by recording light).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The art, process, or practice of taking photographs (images captured by recording light).
Can refer broadly to the field of photographic technology and artistic expression, or more narrowly to the technique of a particular photographer or style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Differences appear in related terms (e.g., BrE 'timetable' vs. AmE 'schedule' for a photoshoot).
Connotations
Identical in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common and standard.
Grammar
How to Use “photography” in a Sentence
[GENITIVE] + photography (e.g., 'John's photography')[ADJECTIVE] + photography (e.g., 'aerial photography')photography + [PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE] (e.g., 'photography of landscapes')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “photography” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm photographing the wedding on Saturday.
- She was photographed leaving the theatre.
American English
- He's photographing the game for the school paper.
- The suspect was photographed at the scene.
adverb
British English
- The scene was reproduced photographically.
- The document was copied photographically.
American English
- The image was enhanced photographically.
- The process is recorded photographically.
adjective
British English
- The photographic society meets weekly.
- He has great photographic memory.
American English
- She works in the photographic industry.
- The evidence is photographic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to commercial services, e.g., 'We hired a firm for product photography.'
Academic
Discussed as a technical, historical, or artistic discipline, e.g., 'The seminar explores the ethics of documentary photography.'
Everyday
Used for hobbies and personal activities, e.g., 'I'm really into bird photography.'
Technical
Pertains to equipment, processes, and scientific applications, e.g., 'Astrophotography requires long exposure times.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “photography”
- Using 'photography' as a countable noun for a single picture (INCORRECT: 'I took a nice photography.' CORRECT: 'I took a nice photograph.').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot say 'a photography' or 'photographies'. For a single image, use 'photograph' or 'photo'.
'Photography' traditionally refers to still images. 'Cinematography' refers specifically to the art of making motion picture photography (i.e., for film or video).
The stress is on the second syllable: fuh-TOG-ruh-fee in British English and fuh-TAH-gruh-fee in American English.
No, 'photography' is a noun. The related verb is 'to photograph'. Sometimes people use 'to shoot' informally as a synonym.
The art, process, or practice of taking photographs (images captured by recording light).
Photography is usually neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
- “Capture the moment.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PHOTO (light) + GRAPHY (writing) = writing with light.
Conceptual Metaphor
PHOTOGRAPHY IS A LANGUAGE (e.g., 'the vocabulary of photography', 'speaking through images').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of the word 'photography'?