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The 8 Best photography reference books of 2024

Are you trying to find photography reference books among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling photography reference books on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 15 hours of research and did 39 photography reference books tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best photography reference books you can buy today

SaleNo. 1
Fundamentals of Photography: The Essential Handbook for Both Digital and Film Cameras
  • Hardcover Book
  • Ang, Tom (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 352 Pages - 11/25/2008 (Publication Date) - Knopf (Publisher)
No. 2
Photography Tips: Composition & Lighting Cheat Sheet Cards | Pocket-Sized Quick Reference Cards for Beginners | Snap Happy Mom (Classic)
  • POCKET-SIZED QUICK REFERENCE CARDS - These 3x4 inch cheat sheets include 20 pages of beginning photography tips, printed on 11 double-sided plastic cards. The information is concise and easy to understand, with visual examples. A carabiner is included.
  • DURABLE PLASTIC - Professionally printed on glossy plastic to withstand years of use! They’re rip-proof, weather-proof and super sturdy.
  • WORKS FOR ANY CAMERA MODEL - These cheat sheets teach you how to take more professional, artistic pictures, no matter what kind of camera you have! Suitable for smartphones, point and shoot cameras, mirrorless or DSLR models of any brands.
  • NOTE: These cards do NOT include camera settings such as ISO, aperture, or shutter speed. See our other deck (DSLR Camera Photography) for specific camera settings and DSLR tips.
  • COMPOSITION & LIGHTING DECK CONTENT - This deck covers composition rules, indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, on-camera flash, specific scenarios (portraits, group shots, silhouettes).
No. 3
The iPhone Photography Book (The Photography Book 3)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 275 Pages - 02/05/2021 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
SaleNo. 4
The Landscape Photography Book: The step-by-step techniques you need to capture breathtaking landscape photos like the pros (The Photography Book, 2)
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 208 Pages - 06/07/2019 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
No. 5
The Flash Book: How to fall hopelessly in love with your flash, and finally start taking the type of images you bought it for in the first place (The Photography Book Book 6)
665 Consomer Reviews
The Flash Book: How to fall hopelessly in love with your flash, and finally start taking the type of images you bought it for in the first place (The Photography Book Book 6)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 211 Pages - 11/15/2017 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
SaleNo. 6
The Lensball Photography Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Refraction Photography and Creating Stunning Images
  • Lei, Marvin (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 112 Pages - 04/26/2022 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
No. 7
The Digital Photography Book: The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros'! (The Photography Book Book 1)
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 275 Pages - 06/11/2020 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
SaleNo. 8
The Travel Photography Book: Step-by-step techniques to capture breathtaking travel photos like the pros (The Photography Book, 4)
114 Consomer Reviews
The Travel Photography Book: Step-by-step techniques to capture breathtaking travel photos like the pros (The Photography Book, 4)
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 272 Pages - 03/08/2022 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
SaleNo. 9
The Natural Light Portrait Book: The step-by-step techniques you need to capture amazing photographs like the pros (The Photography Book, 5)
  • Kelby, Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 208 Pages - 12/17/2019 (Publication Date) - Rocky Nook (Publisher)
No. 10
Photography Handbook: Digital photography made easy!
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bray, Chris (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 01/11/2020 (Publication Date)
No. 11
DSLR Cheat Sheet for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Camera Accessories Quick Reference Cards Photography Guides & Tips: Settings, Exposure, Modes, Composition, Lighting etc 4×3 inch
  • 📷Must-Have Camera Accessories - Includes 30 pages of the most useful photography tips, these 16 double-sided DSLR cheat sheets are color-coded. Suitable for any camera model, Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.
  • 📷Photography Tips at Your Fingertips - Covers all the information you need when shooting! Concise and easy to understand. This Nikon D3500 accessories includes Exposure, Shooting Modes, Composition, Lighting, and more!
  • 📷Pocket-sized Photography Guides - Mearsurs 3×4 in, this camera accessories for canon is compact & highly portable. Easy to fit in pocket or clip to the camera bag. Makes great photography gifts for photographers.
  • 📷Great for Beginners & Advanced Users - Covers the most common shooting situations with specific instructions on how to capture fabulous photos, like fireworks, sunrise, sunset, portraits waterfalls, etc.
  • 📷No More Overwhelming Manual & Complicated Lingo - Comes with a metal carabiner and a sturdy keyring, this Canon Rebel T7 accessories would be the ultimate photography props for you to carry around!
SaleNo. 12
The Photography Deck - Photography Cheat Sheet Cards - Camera Settings Cheat Sheets - Photography Idea Cards - Essential Shooting Guide - Photography Tips Reference Card - Quick Tip Photo Cards
  • CHEAT SHEET - Each numbered card illustrates the most important rules and techniques about photography. Each of the court cards has uniquely designed camera artwork, doubling up as photography tip cards and playing cards.
  • PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS - Each of the suits contains one of the four different categories: Spades: Camera Basics, Hearts: Composition, Clubs: Technical, Diamonds: Shooting Styles. Cards can be combined to further improve the quality of the photos that you are taking.
  • PLAYING CARDS - The cheat sheet cards also double us as playing cards. The deck has a micro linen finish which feels great in the hands. It is very lightweight yet durable and suitable for rapid shuffling. The tuck-box is made from obsidian black, soft finish silk paper with silver and gold foil embossed decoration
  • IDEAL FOR TRAVEL - The playing card size photography cheat pack is the perfect addition to your photography kit. The compact size allows you to cram endless tricks and tips to improve your photos even in a small compact camera bag or pocket.
  • PHOTOGRAPHY GIFT - The cards make a unique gift for anyone who likes photography. No matter if you are shooting on a compact, mirrorless, DSLR or even your smartphone. Help your friends or family get the most out of their Canon, Nikon, Sony or any other DSLR camera.
No. 13
"Tamara Lackey's Capturing Life Through (Better) Photography Gift Box Set with 90-Minute DVD, 100-Page Book, and Quick Reference Guide" (Booklist Editors' Choice Award for Media 2011)
  • Turn your every day snapshots into little works of art.
  • Learn simple tricks and tips using the equipment you already own.
  • Feel confident in capturing those unmissable moments in your life.
  • Rex Ballard (Director) - Rex Ballard (Producer)
  • Audience Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
No. 14
DSLR/mirrorless Photography Cheat Sheets Credit Card Size Reference Card Fits in Pocket/Wallet/Camera Bag. Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure Triangle & Manual Mode, for Canon, Sony & Nikon
  • 📷 QUICK PHOTOGRAPHY REFERENCE CARDS - Printed on PVC plastic making them waterproof and durable.
  • 📷 EASY TO UNDERSTAND – these cards offer a quick visual reference for aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, white balance, ND filter calculations and flash settings. They are suitable for any camera: Nikon, Canon, Sony etc. and FILM cameras as well.
  • 📷 BEGINNING, INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHERS – these cheat sheets are appropriate for all levels of photographers. They also make for great stocking stuffers for any aspiring shutter bug.
  • 📷 POCKET / WALLET SIZED Photography Cheat sheet - the size of a credit card, it fits in your wallet or any camera bag. 3.37" (85.6 mm) x 2.125" (53.98 mm)
  • 📷 For advanced photographers the card includes Neutral Density filter calculations too.
No. 15
Read This if You Want to Be Instagram Famous: (Tips on photographic techniques, captioning, codes of conduct, kit and managing your account)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 128 Pages - 05/02/2017 (Publication Date) - Laurence King Publishing (Publisher)
No. 16
The Handy Art History Answer Book
  • The major art pieces, most important artists, and significant artistic movements from 35,000 BCE to today are collected together in this easy-to-read resource
  • nearly 150 color images illustrate artistic concepts and highlight important and memorable artworks.
  • Loaded with 800 questions and answers on art principles, techniques, materials, forms, colors and styles, movements, schools of thoughts, evolution and meaning,
  • A fascinating journey around the world and through the ages
  • English (Publication Language)
No. 17
Camera Accessories DSLR Photography Cheat Sheet Cards - Digital Camera Quick Reference Cards by Out of Auto, Beginner Photography Settings Using Manual Mode - for All Nikon Sony Canon DSLR Models
  • Waterproof PVC Photography Reference Cards with clip to attach to camera bag, 16 double sided durable cards
  • Must have Camera Accessory for any Beginner / Intermediate Photographer, take them with you and never miss that perfect shot again, no more trying to remember what settings to use
  • Exposure Triangle, Shutter Speed, ISO, Aperture, Camera Setting Guide all included in Out of Auto
  • Recommended camera settings for different environments, eg. waterfalls, full moon, landscape, portraits, wildlife, sports, macro & night sky
  • Universal / generic cards to suit all camera types including Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Sony. DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras
No. 18
Marie Antoinette
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis (Actors)
  • --- (Director) - Sofia Coppola (Writer) - Ross Katz (Producer)
  • English (Playback Language)
  • English (Subtitle)
  • Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)
No. 19
Suicide Squad: Behind the Scenes with the Worst Heroes Ever
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Bergstrom, Signe (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 176 Pages - 11/01/2016 (Publication Date) - Harper (Publisher)
SaleNo. 20
Venetian Concert (Mini Earbooks)
  • Hardcover Book
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 80 Pages - 04/25/2024 (Publication Date) - Edel Classics Gmbh (Publisher)

How to choose a good photography reference books

Does the idea of finding a fantastic photography reference books make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in photography reference books. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top photography reference books products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top photography reference books on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top photography reference books brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top photography reference books based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the photography reference books were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good photography reference books, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your photography reference books.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting photography reference books for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our photography reference books. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what photography reference books should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on photography reference books.