Under development

DIFFERENt.

What happens when you get on Instagram and get flooded with images from photographers who you consider better than you?? Do you go to his page and drool over his work, and then proceed to compare yourself to this photographer that you have never met?? I have. If you are not careful, it can be easy to want to adopt another photographer's style instead of working on developing your own. If you do this, you are stripping yourself of your uniqueness as an artist. In an already saturated market, what will you have to offer that is different from other artists?? Understand that your style is directly related to your uniqueness as an artist-as a photographer.

This concept of style is something that I have had to grapple with on my journey as a photographer. My style is very different from that of other photographers...or so it seems. Most of the work that I see from other photographers (with the exception of a few, such as Peter Mckinnon and Brandon Woelfel) consists of a style that is very light and airy with subtle color saturation, while my style consists of saturated colors and punchy tones due to a high level of contrast. Here's what I am starting to come to terms with, though, when it comes to developing my own style rather than trying to replicate the images that I see from other photographer's across Instagram and other social media platforms: my style is the KEY to what makes me UNIQUE as a photographer. If I change my style to fit the style of another or to fit the style that seems to get the most likes on social media, I have lost the very thing that sets me apart from other photographers, and as a result, this also means that the client world suffers as well because, now, they have less options when it comes to the stylization of their photos.

For example, a friend of mine (check him out on Instagram: @photoandrewc) took the photo below. Notice that his style is very different from mine. He prefers subtle changes to an image. The colors are not as saturated; grain is present within the photo, but also notice how he added his own twist to his image by utilizing the sun flare and the hazy look. Two different styles-still great photos. Just because your style of images does not match the style of another does not mean that your photos are bad or that you suck as photographer. If everyone had the same style in photography, there would be no need for so many photographers, but because each photographer has a different style this creates options for clients. Photographers need to develop their own style because not every client is the same. Some clients may prefer a style like mine, and some may prefer a style like my friend, Andrew's, so keep in mind that by developing your own style, you are molding yourself in such a way that allows you to cater to the needs and wants of a certain clientele. Find your style and stick to it because YOUR STYLE is what makes it YOURS, and there are clients out there that are looking for exactly what you have to offer.

In the words of Billy Baldwin, "Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style."