Many of his pieces evoke the duality of Kazakh life today, rooted in the nomadic culture of the steppe yet partaking of the joys and miseries of modern life. His photographs are able to portray shared cultural heritage and capture moments of private contemplation. Amankulov's career began in photojournalism and quickly grew to include other types of photography. Now, having made a name for himself in documentary, fashion, and artist genres, he has come to be seen as one of the preeminent photographer in Central Asia. His work has been exhibited and featured across the region and Europe. It has also been published magazines such as Forbes, Harper's, Bazaar, and Esquire.