What Is the Subject Matter in Photography?

The subject matter of a photograph is the primary object being photographed for a project or the primary subject of interest on which a photographer focuses. Subject matter varies for every photographer, and there are no finite categories of subject matter.

Some examples of subject matter are landscapes, faces, skyscrapers or candid street images. When photographers look for subject matter, they either have a specific idea of their goal, or something may catch their eyes and spark inspiration. The subject matter sets a tone for images, and all aspects of the photograph should define and accentuate the subject matter for the best photographic effect.