My Evolution of B&W
Finding Your Style
Photography ~ July 29, 2011
I have just
recently hit the place in my business where I can look back on my images from this time LAST year and still like them. Isn’t that STRANGE? I’m so so picky. You have no idea. I’m picky about my style, my post processing, the images I choose to blog…… I think “obsessive” would be a good way to describe it. I desperately want “my style” to be consistent. I want my editing to also be consistent. One area of editing that has really changed for me are my BLACK and WHITE images. It’s taken me forever to really figure out what I love!! For the longest time, I had a sepia tone to my B&W shots. It wasn’t over the top
…. but after a while, I realized that I didn’t see that as “timeless”. I look back on those images now and think “hmmm… I don’t know if I like that anymore”. My style is clean and crisp and TIMELESS. That’s the key word right there… I want my images to be TIMELESS. When I look back at some of my albums 10 years from now, I don’t want my images to look “out of date”. I don’t use vintage actions or complex editing techniques, I want it to look natural. This is just what I want for ME….so if you’re a vintage-y photog, you keep doing your thang!! This is all just a matter of preference!
So after several different phases of B&W editing… I’ve finally come to realize that I just love the basics. I love black and white that is crisp and classic. Like this image of Stephanie and Andrew shown below. It’s the perfect example of what I want my B&W’s to continuously look like! Some still have a little warmth added to them so that they don’t look blueish at all, but for the most part, my “sepia” days are over.
Here is an image from 2010! I LOVE this shot of Anna and Justin! Two of my favorite people!!! However,this shows the difference in my B&W’s. This was taken LAST June and my style has changed since then!
AH! This is me being REALLY vulnerable!…. HERE is a sepia image from 2009! WHEW!!! Throwback. This was back in the day when I thought that COLORED LOGOS were COOL!!! Omg. Britt and Ryan I have to apologize. The coral logo was definitely a bad choice! This was also taken back when I was “Inspired Designs”. We refer that to that time period as the “good ol days”. So! If you notice, this image from 2009 is not only is the image sepia toned, the contrast is REALLY over the top!! I’m so thankful that I have gradually learned how to edit more naturally.
Isn’t that CRAZY how different those three images are?! I like to call it my “Evolution of B&W”. I think I’m finally getting it now. I have found what I love and I’m sticking to it! The same goes for ALL of my images, not just the black and white. My colored images have remained pretty consistent that last few years. It was just my b&w’s that really needed some help! Here are some images that I have shot recently… trying to get my act together!
Ps. Matt and Clare are featured on the Bride’s Cafe today!! Check them OUT!:)
So if you’re a new photographer, trying to find “your style” and getting frustrated….. just give it some time and PRACTICE. Obviously this didn’t happen for me overnight! It took time to develop my “look” and make it consistent!! I hope this is somewhat encouraging and helpful!! Don’t go telling people I used to have multi-colored LOGOS!!!
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Laura Holderfield: ( August 8, 2011 2:56 pm ) I remember the Inspired Designs days!!! Your style just keeps getting better and better. :)
Anna Burke: ( August 2, 2011 1:21 am ) I'm a little behind in my blog stalking :) LOVE that picture of Andrew and Steph and I REALLY LOVE the picture of me and Justin! That one was one of our favorites, sepia and all :) LOVE YOU!
stephanie: ( August 1, 2011 12:54 am ) I do love that black and white picture of us!!!!
Annia: ( July 31, 2011 3:50 pm ) Katelyn, what a refreshing and insightful post! Thank you for putting yourself out there and daring to be, as you say, vulnerable!
Lydia: ( July 31, 2011 1:24 am ) Yes, your b&w is exactly what I love! I just have a hard time getting my pictures to look like that!
Meredith Sledge: ( July 30, 2011 12:48 am ) This was a super interesting post. Gosh, so strange how editing changes for everyone.
Michelle: ( July 29, 2011 10:35 pm ) Thank you so much! As a newbie who struggles with so many things, black and whites among them, it's so helpful to know that you've experienced some of the same challenges. I love your b&w's - they definitely match your style, which I LOVE! I hope to one day attend one of your workshops so that I can learn how to create such amazing, crisp images!
Abbey: ( July 29, 2011 5:28 pm ) OMG!!!! I was just talking to my husband about this very topic this morning in the car. I'm at the point where I'm paying more attention to my black and whites and think I've found what works for me. Perfect timing!!!!
sherri lynn: ( July 29, 2011 4:28 pm ) That picture of Stephanie and Andrew is definitely my favorite b&w image of yours!! I like how your b&w images are now crisp and clean like the rest of your style!
Robin McQuay Anderson: ( July 29, 2011 4:14 pm ) In defense of your changing style - all style evolves no matter how "set" we believe we are. If we didn't evolve we'd be static, boring, and probably tired of our own work in no time. By evolving, changing, and growing, we all become photographers with open minds and creative curiosity.
Kimber Wassenberg: ( July 29, 2011 3:24 pm ) I absolutely love the photo of Steph and Andrew...so simple, crisp, and GORGEOUS! :) :) I also really like the first photo on the post. Thanks for the tips on B&W...I'm still trying to figure out my own editing! :)
Camille: ( July 29, 2011 3:22 pm ) Ahhh Katelyn, I can't even tell you...last night I was doing some editing, focusing on B&W and getting so frustrated that I gave up and was going to tackle it today, with not much excitement. YOU WIN for this post and the timing of it. Thanks for sharing. I have a little more excitement now! :D
Mallory: ( July 29, 2011 3:16 pm ) GREAT post!!! I love looking back, just posted something similar not too long ago! I love your black and whites now!!
Kristina W.: ( July 29, 2011 3:12 pm ) Yay for black and white being timeless! :) Love your posts!