Finding your photography style
When I first started out I thought I needed to edit a certain way or post certain pictures just because that’s what other people were doing. I was overly concerned with other peoples opinions and lost sight of why I love photography in the first place.
1. Start with what moves you.
What drew your interest into photography in the first place?
What kind of images are you drawn to? What is it about those pictures that you like so much? What kind of stuff gets you excited?
Because those are the type of pictures that are going to bring joy and life to your heart.
2. The look and feel of images:
A distinct characteristic of style is the look and feel of the image.
For instance are the pictures adventurous, editorial, classic, elegant, moody, playful, emotional. The look and feel of images starts long before you take them into Lightroom, it starts with your why. Your why, “why you do what you do”, deals with how clients respond to you and how they look in your images and how you shoot them.
3. Go with your gut.
Shoot what you like, shoot what you’re most drawn to. Edit the way you think looks good, don’t psych yourself out worrying about what will other people think about it.
Do you like what you’re creating? Perfect because you will begin to attract what you’re putting out. Don’t get down if someone doesn’t like what you’re doing, who are they to even hold a voice in your life. BUMP THAT NOISE.
The beauty of it is not everyone will like your work +style, that is just the honest truth, but the moment you accept that and know you can’t please everyone is the moment you’re on to something extraordinary. It wont be everyone, but someone out there will connect with your work and that’s when you find your niche.
4. “Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken”
It comes back down to the quote, shoot what you like and own it, it is exhausting trying to mimic someone else. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t know your style, you’re in a really exciting place. Just stay true to yourself.
5. Now that we know what we are drawn to & aspire to be, how do we achieve that?
Study Light
The use of light is one of the biggest factors in style + consistency.
Play with different lighting situations, study how the various lighting changes the images.
It is important to know the type of light you like so you know where to look for it.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
push the limits, take a leap, don’t worry if it doesn’t work out, failure teaches us more than success.
Nail it straight out of camera
If you like brighter, cleaner images then try shooting brighter in camera. Over expose slightly.
If you like darker images, shoot a stop or two under exposed so you have all those rich details.
Learn the ins and outs of lightroom
Presets are a great tool, but you’re going to be frustrated with them if you don’t first understand how to manipulate the settings in lightroom. You’ll be able to get more creative and make your own presets when you know how to make the settings do what you want.
