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Introduction
Sometimes in IELTS Speaking you will need to describe a photograph you like, and maybe discuss the topic of photography in more detail. Do you have the vocabulary to do that?
In this free IELTS Speaking lesson on the topic of PHOTOGRAPHY, you will learn how to talk about different kinds of photos, how to take better photos, and how the industry has changed.
Table of Contents
IELTS vocabulary for photography
Try to fill in the gaps in these sentences, using words related to photos.
- I snapshot all the time, I am an amateur _photographer______
- I have a knack for taking good _photographs_____
- I am following a _photography______________ course online at the moment.
- I look terrible in photos, I am not at all _photogenic_______________
- How do you remember all that information? You must have a _photographic__________ memory.
See answers
- phoTOgrapher
- PHOtographs
- phoTOgraphy
- photoGEnic (adj.)
- photoGRAphic (adj.)
An important part of vocabulary building is word families
Common Collocations
- Take a photo of someone
- To shoot a photo
- To take some shots (n.)
- To snap a picture/photo (casual)
- To take a snap (n.)
- To capture the moment (to catch)
To pose for a photo
I hate posing for photos, ‘cos I am just so not photogenic
- A digital photo
- Colour photos / black and white photos
- A high-resolution photo
A photo opportunity
Having all the family together for my birthday was a great photo opportunity
- Photo editing (n.)
- To crop a photo
- a photo frame/album
- A photo session
- to be in focus
- to be out of focus
Photos you like to take
I tend to take_______
- Landscape photos
- Portrait photos
- Cityscape photos
- Seascape photos
- Panoramic views
- Picturesque views
- Selfies
- Group photos
- Daily life photos
I like taking pictures of_____
I like to capture / shoot ______
I like to photograph (v.)_____
Cities / nature / people / animals / spontaneous (=not planned) moments / everyday situations / food / different scenery / different scenic views
I love to take photos and post them on social media.
Everything and anything, it is all just one click away.
I am camera shy (= I don’t like to be in photos)
Photos that give me good memories / bring back good memories
I adore looking back at my wedding pics
Screenshots of brand new jewelry
Video activity: Topic of photography
Watch Stan the Man’s Photography MasterClass in the video below.
Watch and fill in the gaps in thes following phrases
- Change ______________ (use a different angle)
- Shoot ______________ above or ______________ below
- Give your photos a sense of ______________(proportion or balance)
- Use ______________ out of nature or man-made ones
- Put your photos ______________ of focus (the blurry effect)
- Use Depth of ______________
This Masterclass was based on tips from
Answers
See answers
- Change perspective (use a different angle)
- Shoot from above or
- from below
- Give your photos a sense of symmetry (proportion or balance)
- Use lines out of nature or man-made ones
- Put your photos out of focus (the blurry effect)
- Use Depth of Field
IELTS Speaking part 3 tips
- Develop your answers.
- Choose one focus and develop that.
- Don’t plan too much – talk as naturally as possible.
Common Question Types
How has the way we take photos changed in recent years?
You can break your answers into three simple parts.
- The past
- The change
- Now
- Reason
- Example
- Well, in the past, _________
- But recently there has been a huge change
- Now, we can see __________
- This change is due to ______
- For instance ________
Students questions about photographs
Keith, what kind of photos do you prefer to take?
Well, I am a bit of an amateur photographer and I really do like taking different kinds of photos, but if I had to pick one kind, I think it would be different scenic views. Right?
Landscapes, I particularly like landscapes because I live near the countryside.
I am surrounded by nature.
So, I love to get out into the countryside and to snap some mountains or rivers, something natural.
That’s the kind of photo I prefer taking.
Keith, how often do you take photos?
To be honest, I think I take photos most days.
It’s so easy nowadays just to take out, to whip out your phone and to snap anything you see around you,
whether it’s food in a restaurant or a spontaneous moment when you walking down the street, and, I love to capture those moments.
I always have my phone with me so, to be honest, yes, I am taking photos most days.
Useful Links
If you want to hone your photography skills
https://expertphotography.com/a-beginners-guide-to-photography/
Tips to take better photos
More Free IELTS Speaking Lessons
If you enjoyed this lesson, go and find more materials and videos from recent live lessons below.
NEWS in IELTS Speaking. Learn vocabulary of national, international and personal news, as well as tips on IELTS Speaking Part 2.
PRIZES in IELTS Speaking. How to talk about prizes and rewards at school and in the workplace.
SKILLS in IELTS Speaking. Learn the collocations and adjectives to talk about skills we learn and need.
