BISAC Subject Headings List

Use the information provided here to determine the specific codes that describe your book. An asterisk (*) denotes a new heading for the current year’s edition. Not sure how to select your code? Check out our FAQ.

If you can't find the code you're looking for after reviewing all the pages below, we recommend you use whatever codes currently best represent your book. If you want to propose a new code for future BISAC additions, you can submit a suggestion here.

To download and incorporate this list into your databases and systems, you’ll need to purchase an End Users' License Agreement

PHOTOGRAPHY

Multiple subjects in this and other sections may be used to describe a work fully: for example, a book of Mexican travel photography could be assigned "TRAVEL / Mexico" and "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Regional".

Subjects beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes" are generally meant to be used for works containing photographs relating to the subjects and themes specified; however, these subjects can also be used for works on the techniques used to take photographs of these subjects and themes. If a subject beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes" is used in this way, it is recommended that a subject beginning with "PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques" be assigned as well.

PHO000000

PHOTOGRAPHY / General

PHO025000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Annuals

PHO026000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Astrophotography

 

PHOTOGRAPHY / Basic Techniques see headings under Techniques

PHO003000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Business Aspects

 

PHOTOGRAPHY / Camera Specific see Techniques / Equipment

PHO004000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / General

PHO004010

PHOTOGRAPHY / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / Group Shows

PHO004020

PHOTOGRAPHY / Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions / Permanent Collections

PHO021000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Commercial

PHO005000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Criticism

PHO027000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Forensic

PHO010000

PHOTOGRAPHY / History

PHO011000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Individual Photographers / General

PHO011010

PHOTOGRAPHY / Individual Photographers / Artists' Books

PHO011020

PHOTOGRAPHY / Individual Photographers / Essays

PHO011030

PHOTOGRAPHY / Individual Photographers / Monographs

 

PHOTOGRAPHY / Nature & Wildlife see Subjects & Themes / Plants & Animals

PHO014000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Photoessays & Documentaries

PHO015000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Photojournalism

PHO017000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Reference

PHO023000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / General

PHO023010

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Aerial

PHO001000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Architectural & Industrial

PHO023070

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Celebrations & Events

PHO023080

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Celebrity

PHO023020

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Children

PHO023030

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Erotica

PHO009000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Fashion

PHO023110

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Food

PHO023100

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Historical

PHO023040

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Landscapes

PHO023090

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Lifestyles

PHO023050

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Nudes

PHO013000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Plants & Animals

PHO016000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Portraits & Selfies

PHO019000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Regional (see also TRAVEL / Pictorials)

PHO023060

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Sports

PHO023120

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Street Photography

PHO023130

PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Underwater

PHO018000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / General

PHO022000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Cinematography & Videography

PHO020000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Color

PHO006000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Darkroom

PHO024000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Digital (see also COMPUTERS / Design, Graphics & Media / Photography)

PHO007000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Equipment

PHO012000

PHOTOGRAPHY / Techniques / Lighting

 

PHOTOGRAPHY / Travel see Subjects & Themes / Regional

 

PHOTOGRAPHY / Videography see Techniques / Cinematography & Videography

If your title does not have subject content, i.e. a blank book, please use the Non-Classifiable term below. Otherwise, use the Subject/General term in the closest descriptive area. NON000000 NON-CLASSIFIABLE

© 2022, Book Industry Study Group, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of these lists or any attached documents may be distributed or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the Book Industry Study Group, Inc.