IELTS Speaking
photography
Practice questions
- 1.How has the way you take photographs changed over the past few years?
- 2.What kinds of moments do you most enjoy photographing, and why?
- 3.Do you think people take too many photographs nowadays?
- 4.How can a photograph influence the way people remember an event?
- 5.Would you rather take photographs with a phone or a dedicated camera? Why?
Model answer
A few years ago, I took photographs mainly to record special occasions, such as birthdays or trips. I would take a quick picture, save it on my phone, and rarely look at it again. These days, I’m more deliberate about what I photograph. I try to notice details that might otherwise go overlooked, like the light falling across a street or the expression on someone’s face when they’re absorbed in conversation. My phone has made photography much more accessible, so I can capture everyday moments without carrying extra equipment. At the same time, I’ve become more thoughtful about composition. I might move around to find a better angle or wait for the background to become less distracting. I also edit some pictures, but only lightly, because I want them to feel authentic. Overall, photography has shifted from a way of collecting proof that I was somewhere to a creative habit. It helps me pay closer attention to my surroundings, and I enjoy revisiting the pictures later because they bring back small details I might otherwise forget.
Target vocabulary
composition
The way visual elements are arranged within a photograph.
capture a moment
To photograph or preserve a particular instant.
natural light
Light from the sun or sky, rather than from a lamp or flash.
angle
The position or direction from which a photograph is taken.
candid
Taken naturally, without the subject posing for the camera.
authentic
Genuine and not made to look different from reality.
photo library
A collection of photographs stored together, often digitally.