25 Words Only Photographers Use
THE LIST
Slang that only photographers know.
Photography has its own language, and if you’ve ever sat through a conversation between two shutterbugs, you know it sounds like code.
Whether you're a confused onlooker wondering what a “gobo” is or a photographer too embarrassed to ask what “SOOC” means, this guide is for you.
Here are 25 photography slang terms and technical words only photographers use, with quick, no-fluff definitions to help you sound like a pro (or at least pretend to be one).
Blown Out
An area in a photo, usually highlights, that’s so overexposed, all detail is lost. Think bright white skies or glowing foreheads
Blue Hour
That short window before sunrise or after sunset when the sky turns a deep, moody blue, perfect for cinematic photos.
Bokeh
The dreamy, blurry background in photos. Good bokeh makes lights look like soft orbs.
Catch Light
That little sparkle or reflection in someone’s eyes. It brings life to portraits.
Chimping
The act of constantly checking your camera screen after each shot. Pros do it too, don’t worry.
DOF
How much of your image is in sharp focus from front to back. Shallow DOF = blurry background. Deep DOF = everything’s crisp.
Glass
Photographer slang for lenses. Expensive, fragile, and often more important than the camera body.
Golden Hour
The warm, golden light just after sunrise or before sunset. It makes everything look magical, even a parking lot.
Gobo
An acronym that stands for “GOes Before Optics.” A light-blocking tool used to shape or block light. Think shadows with purpose.
HDR
High Dynamic Range. A technique that blends multiple exposures to keep details in both shadows and highlights. Great for landscapes, easy to overdo.
High Key
A photo style with very bright lighting and minimal shadows. Think clean, glowing, and studio-lit. bright lighting to blow out most or all harsh shadows in an image.
Histogram
A graph that shows the exposure of your image, from pure black to pure white. It’s like an X-ray for your photo’s light balance.
Hot Shoe
That little metal bracket on top of your camera where you mount a flash or other accessories.
ISO
Stands for ‘The International Organization for Standardization.’ Controls how sensitive your camera is to light. Higher ISO = brighter image (and more grain). Lower ISO = cleaner, but needs more light.
Low Key
A dramatic lighting style with deep shadows and contrast. Think moody portraits and film noir vibes.
Nifty Fifty
A 50mm prime lens, affordable, fast, sharp, and perfect for portraits and everyday shooting.
Prime
A lens with a fixed focal length (no zoom). Usually sharper, lighter, and better in low light.
RAW
An uncompressed image file that captures all your camera’s data. Huge in size, but gives you full editing control.
Scrim
A translucent fabric placed in front of a light to soften it. Like a cloud for your light source.
SOOC
An image exactly as the camera captured it, no edits, no filters, just raw vision.
Spray and Pray
Taking tons of photos quickly and hoping one turns out good. Less art, more luck.
Tonal Range
The spectrum of light to dark in a photo. Rich tonal range = more depth and drama.
Uncle Bob
The well-meaning wedding guest with a DSLR who gets in the way and thinks he’s the hired photographer.
Underexposed
When a photo is too dark because it didn’t get enough light. Details in the shadows often disappear.
White Balance
Adjusts the color temperature of your image so whites look white, not yellow or blue.
