Photography enthusiasts have five exceptional new books to explore this September 2025, each offering unique perspectives on the art form. From a celebrated agency's 20th anniversary retrospective to practical smartphone editing guides, these carefully selected publications showcase the diverse world of contemporary photography.

The Myop agency celebrates two decades of groundbreaking work with "My Eyes, Patient Objects," a substantial 512-page manifesto featuring 20 photographers. This anniversary publication serves as both a comprehensive showcase and artistic statement. "We believe in the power of images - as long as they reach out to others, open the field of our curiosity, our reflection and our emotions," the authors write in the book's afterword. "This work embraces the entire contours of life, it never stops." The book stands out for its Swiss binding style, reminiscent of a photo album, and matte black paper that makes the photographic narratives pop off the page.

For practical photography enthusiasts, Agnès Colombo demystifies smartphone photo editing in "Retouching to Reveal Your Photos." This accessible guide focuses on simple tools and essential adjustments including cropping, exposure, contrast, and saturation to enhance everyday snapshots. Colombo emphasizes the importance of "diagnosing" an image before making changes, ensuring improvements don't compromise the photo's original spirit. The 112-page manual addresses current trends like artificial intelligence integration while encouraging measured and creative approaches to photo enhancement.

Music and photography intersect beautifully in Claude Gassian's "Patti Smith Horses Paris 1976," which captures the raw energy and fragile poetry of the iconic singer during her early career. Shot in 1975-1976 when Smith's debut album "Horses" was released, these previously unpublished images show an unknown artist building her European reputation. Gassian's intimate photographs reveal both the concentrated intensity and vulnerability of a musician finding her place in the industry, offering glimpses that feel more like vacation snapshots than formal reportage.

The Institut pour la photographie explores uncharted territory with "R is for Looking: Children's Photography Books," co-published with Photo Élysée and Spector Books. This 264-page study examines photography books designed for young readers, featuring over 100 albums from the 1930s to today. The publication traces the evolution of this editorial genre, highlighting works from Edward Steichen and Mary Steichen Martin's educational primers to contemporary creations by Tana Hoban, Sarah Moon, and Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin. The book examines how photography has shaped young readers' visual literacy and understanding of the world.

Finally, Phaidon publishes an elegant exploration of the relationship between Yves Saint Laurent and photography following an exhibition at the Rencontres d'Arles. This bilingual volume combines iconic images with confidential selections from the Yves Saint Laurent Museum archives. Featuring work by legendary fashion photographers including Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Sarah Moon, Peter Knapp, Jeanloup Sieff, and Juergen Teller, the 162-page book demonstrates how these masters helped build the fashion house's reputation for elegance and glamour while Saint Laurent provided them with material for their finest images. The publication reinforces how the designer understood that capturing light meant inscribing his name and signature into eternity.