10 Tips for Creating a Strong Photography Series

If you’ve ever taken a photo you loved and thought, I want to explore this idea more, you’re already halfway to creating a photography series. 

What Is a Photography Series?

A photography series is a group of images that work together because they share a clear theme, style, or idea. 

It’s one of the best ways to grow as a photographer because it forces you to think beyond one good shot and start building something with depth and intention.

Here are ten practical tips to help you build a photography series that feels cohesive, engaging, and professional. These tips will work for any genre of photography, be it portraits, street, or fine art.

One of the images in my new series, created using mixed media techniques.

1. Start with a Simple, Clear Idea

Every strong photography series starts with a solid idea, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the simpler it is, the easier it is to stay focused.

Some easy starting points:

• A type of person (artists, commuters, teenagers, mothers, strangers)
• A visual element (windows, reflections, hands, shadows)
• A feeling (loneliness, confidence, nostalgia, tension)
• A place (your neighbourhood, a single block, your home, a train route)
• A routine (morning rituals, late-night moments, the in-between times)

Your idea should be something you’re curious about and want to explore over time.

If you pick a concept just because it sounds smart, there’s a big risk that you’ll lose motivation halfway through.

Pick something that you’re actually interested in.

By the way…did you know you can download my free ebook with lots of portrait photography ideas? More info below:

…but now, back to the blog post!

2. Know What You Want the Series to Say

A photography series doesn’t have to be deep or poetic, but it does need a purpose.

Ask yourself:

• Why this theme?
• What made you gravitate towards it?
• What do you want viewers to feel when they look at the series of images?

This could be as straightforward as:

“I want to show the way natural light changes in my apartment”, or “I want to document the different types of people in my neighbourhood.”

Clarity helps you make decisions later, especially when it comes to choosing which images belong in the final series and which don’t.

Portrait by August Sander, who is known for his series portraying workmen and everyday people. Image credit: August Sander, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

3. Keep Your Style Consistent

Visual consistency is one of the biggest characteristics of a strong photography series. 

It’s what makes the group of photos feel like a single body of work instead of random shots thrown together.

Think about:

Lighting

Are you using natural light? Flash? Soft or harsh lighting? Even lighting or backlighting? Pick a general approach and stick with it.

Colour

Do you want to use warm or cool colours? Are you going for muted or vibrant tones, or maybe black-and-white/monochrome?

Composition

Are your shots cropped in tight, or are you using a wide-angle lens?

Do you want to use lots of negative space?

Are you shooting eye-level, from above or from below?

Editing

Stick to one editing style. If one photo is muted and desaturated while another is bold and contrasty, they won’t look like they belong in the same series.

Consistency doesn’t mean repetition; your images shouldn’t look identical.

However, they should look related and similar in editing style.

Someone who does this really well is Cindy Sherman; she has created many different series, which are all very cohesive in style and visual language.

4. Plan Your Project, but Leave Room for Spontaneity

Some photographers like to plan everything (me, for example!). Others like to wander and see what happens. For a photography series, I recommend a mix of both.

Plan the Basics:

• Your theme
• Your locations
• Your subjects (if shooting portraits)
• Lighting choices
• A rough number of images you want

…But Stay Open to Surprises

(This is especially true for portrait and street photography).

Some of your best images might come from unexpected interactions, changes in weather, or moments you couldn’t have scripted.

The planning will give you direction, whereas the spontaneity will give your series authenticity.

5. Think About How the Images Connect

A good photo stands alone; a good series works together.

As you shoot more images, start asking yourself:

• How does each photo add to the story or theme?
• Does the series feel too repetitive?
• Is there a sense of progression or variety?

This doesn’t mean you need a literal storyline; a series can be purely visual or mood-based.

However, a sense of flow keeps the viewer engaged from start to finish.

6. Choose Subjects and Locations that Support Your Theme

For your series, choose subjects and locations that are aligned with your idea.

For example:

If you’re creating a series on “stillness”, you may want to use quieter backgrounds and minimal movement.

In turn, a series about “urban chaos” might incorporate busy city streets or crowds; a series about “identity” would work well with consistent backdrops to keep the subject the focus, and so on.

When planning your series, think about whether you want it to feature:

• Many different people
• One recurring person
• A mix of familiar and unfamiliar subjects
• Only strangers
• Only controlled/staged scenes
• Only candid/documentary moments

Your choices will shape the personality of the series.

Photo by Dorothea Lange. Part of a series all documenting a consistent theme (the Great Depression). Image credit: Dorothea Lange, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

7. Pick Your Visual Tools and Stick to Them

Every photographer has a visual “language,” whether intentional or not. 

For your photography series, it helps to intentionally choose the tools you will use to realise your vision.

These might include:

• Shallow depth of field
• Wide shots
• Direct eye contact (or no eye contact)
• Symmetry
• Motion blur
• Grain
• Natural vs. artificial light
• Colour palettes
• Repeating visual motifs

When these elements appear consistently, they create a recognisable look that will strengthen your series.

By the way, if you need help with photography basics, check out my posts on Shutter Speed and Aperture/Depth of Field.

8. Include Variety (in a Controlled Way)

You want consistency in your series, but your images shouldn’t be identical or too closely related.

You can create some “harmonious variety” through:

Distance

• Wide establishing shots
• Medium shots
• Close-ups (details, hands, textures)

Framing

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Square

Action vs. Stillness

• Movement
• Still portraits
• Environmental scenes

Emotion

• Calm
• Tension
• Connection
• Isolation

These variations keep the series dynamic without losing that unified look.

Photo from the series “Changing New York”, which includes a lot of visual variety. Image credit: Berenice Abbott, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

9. Edit Like a Curator

The curating step is one of the hardest steps for photographers, because you have to let go of some photos.

However, your series should be cohesive, and you’ll probably need to cull some photos that don’t belong in your series.

When selecting your final images, ask:

• Does this image support the theme?
• Does it match the style of the others?
• Does it bring something new to the series?
• Would the series be stronger without it?

It’s better to have 10 strong, cohesive images than 30 mixed-quality ones.

10. Present Your Series Well

Finally, it also matters how you present your photography series.

Here are some great options:

• A photo book or printed zine
• A gallery on your website
• An Instagram carousel or multi-post series
• A small exhibition
• A blog post with supporting text
• A slideshow or video sequence

Consistently presented series by Bernd and Hilla Becher. Image credit: Vidar00, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sequence Matters

The order of your images affects how they’re perceived. I recommend choosing two of your strongest images as your first and last photos.

Create a Statement

Finally, it’s a great idea to add a statement to your series for presenting it.

This doesn’t have to be long; just a few sentences about your theme, why you chose it, and what you hope viewers notice.

Your statement is the final touch that makes the series feel complete.

Finally…Why Working in Series Helps You Grow as a Photographer

Creating a photography series is a powerful way to grow as a photographer because it forces you to:

• Slow down
• Think beyond single shots.
• Pay attention to patterns
• Build a personal style
• Explore themes instead of moments
• Strengthen your storytelling
• Learn to edit your work. 

It’s one of the most effective ways to develop your artistic voice, regardless of whether you’re a portrait photographer, street photographer, or someone exploring more conceptual ideas.

BONUS: A Practical Workflow Checklist for Creating a Photography Series

Below is a step-by-step checklist you can follow, from idea to finished project.

Step 1: Define Your Concept

✔ What’s your main theme?
✔ Why does it interest you?
✔ What do you want the viewer to understand or feel?
✔ Is this a short-term or long-term project?

Step 2: Outline Your Visual Approach

✔ Lighting style
✔ Colour palette or black & white
✔ Editing style
✔ Composition preferences
✔ Lens choices
✔ Repeating elements or motifs

Step 3: Plan Your Logistics

✔ Locations
✔ Times of day
✔ Specific subjects or types of subjects
✔ Props or wardrobe (if applicable)
✔ Frequency of shooting (weekly, daily, occasionally)

Step 4: Start Shooting

✔ Explore your theme from multiple angles
✔ Capture variety in framing and distance
✔ Try different interactions with subjects (if portraits)
✔ Let unexpected moments into the project
✔ Don’t overthink-take a variety of images

Step 5: Review and Refine

✔ Look for emerging patterns
✔ Note what’s working
✔ Drop ideas or shots that don’t fit
✔ Tighten your visual style if needed
✔ Adjust your approach based on what you learn

Step 6: Do a First Round of Editing

✔ Choose your strongest images
✔ Make sure they belong to the same visual “family”
✔ Remove duplicates or overly similar shots
✔ Look for gaps; do you need more wide shots, close-ups, portraits, etc?

Step 7: Build Your Final Sequence

✔ Put your best 10–20 images in order
✔ Check the flow: does it make sense visually or emotionally?
✔ Swap positions until the sequence feels right
✔ Make sure the first and last images are strong anchors

Step 8: Write a Short Statement

✔ What’s the theme?
✔ Why did you choose it?
✔ What should viewers pay attention to?
✔ Keep it brief (3–6 sentences max.)

Step 9: Export and Prepare Your Final Files

✔ Consistent sizing
✔ Final colour grading
✔ Sharpening
✔ Clean presentation (no distracting watermarks)

Step 10: Present or Publish Your Series

✔ Website gallery
✔ Instagram or social series
✔ Printed zine or book
✔ Exhibition or portfolio review
✔ Blog post
✔ Portfolio submission to competitions or magazines

And that’s it for today’s post! If you have any feedback, let me know in the comments!