things I’ve learned when it comes to photography

I am slowly coming into my own photography style. Of course I’m influenced by others but I know what I like and I do a lot of that. At my sister-in-law’s graduation ceremony last year they played a video slideshow. All of her classmates had included pictures throughout their school years and most put in their Senior pictures. It was pretty awesome to see so many of “my Seniors” up on the big screen. What was even more awesome was to see the definite style my pictures had compared to the others shown. It made me more determined to become sure of my style and sure of how I run my business.

So here are a few things I’ve come to realize about my business/style:

- I don’t do angles. I try but end up deleting them. I hate turning my head to really get a good look at a picture. I can’t imagine others liking it much either.

- I avoid fads. You know how I feel about selective coloring…

- I try to keep colors as natural as possible. Over-saturated just isn’t for me.

- I don’t mess with the eyes. I’ve seen a lot of photographers (especially child photographers) bump up the eyes so much that it’s scary. I just avoid it all together now.

- I don’t do props. Occasionally with kids I’ll stick them in something but I don’t really understand the couch in the field thing.

- I’ve decided not to watermark anymore. Does Annie Leibovitz watermark or would Ansel Adams? Yeah, I don’t think so. Not that I’m anywhere to their talent but still I feel like if you want to be great you should take tips from the greats. I really feel like it takes away from the picture, even when it’s a small watermark in the corner.

- During a session I sometimes have to move a person a few times to find just the right light. I don’t apologize for taking a few extra minutes to find it. The pictures make it worth it.

- I will say no. I cannot take on every new client request. I just don’t have the time. In the past I have squeezed in every last person…not anymore. My work is better if I don’t feel stressed or am thinking about how I’d rather be sitting at home. Sometimes I do want a Saturday off (mind blowing thought!).

- I’ll do what I need to to get the shot, even if that means it’s noisy and grainy.

- After this year we will not be shooting weddings. I finally decided that as much as I love the day of the wedding, I don’t like the any of the other stuff. And I absolutely hate taking pictures inside churches. Yes, it’s the money-maker but I have never once been in this for the money.

- I like lens flare which I will just not apologize for. I also will never, ever fake it.

- Post processing will be kept to a minimum. I much prefer my pictures to look natural. That being said, I do love me a good black and white.

- I really like serious faces, just as much as the laughing ones. But I will not force it. If someone doesn’t want to smile, so be it. If they can’t be serious (which happens often with my husband around), then I’ll get some awesome laughing shots. I want the client to be themselves.

There are so many styles in the photography world. What might not be interesting to me, could be the best thing to someone else. The key is as a photographer, finding your own voice and developing it. Being who you are as a photographer and not apologizing for it. It has been kind of a huge breakthrough for me to get to this point. I feel like finding my voice through my camera has helped me find my voice in life. And that…is an amazing thing.