Recently, a few clients have sent me over a questionnaire that I could tell was prepared by AI, to see if I'm the right photographer for them. One of the questions asks if all of my photos have the same mood, tone and fluidity. If each photo in the final gallery delivered has the same appearance. This has always been something that kind of plagued me. I remember several years ago when I participated in social media, I would post my photos on Instagram and they were not at all exactly the same but instead eclectic. Which is actually how I see myself as a human. I love such a wide variety of things. I take things I love from every religion, philosophy, ethnicity, place, etc. and I apply those things to my life. I’m a free spirit. I never want to be doing what everyone else is doing. I jumped on the preset and filter train very briefly before I jumped off, and I never looked back. I run a business with zero interaction on social media. I don’t even use YouTube anymore. It’s just not for me.
So my reply to the questioning clients was that there is no way that all of my photos in the gallery will look the same. If that’s what they are in search of they should continue searching. A couple of them did and I was okay with that. I’d rather them get exactly what they want and not be disappointed. I am an old school photographer. I love timeless photos which by my definition means that they are sharp, framed correctly and the subjects are the main focus. I like capturing people and places in their most natural form. Things that are the most important to me are exposure, framing, catch light in eyes, posing, etc. the environment around us is the bonus. I like to accentuate my subjects with lighting. I am a lighting nerd! I get very excited about it. I use off camera flash, grids, Magmods, Neo lights, reflectors, etc. I’ve taken lighting workshops with some of the world’s best photographers. I’ve shot weddings alongside some of Oahu’s greatest. I lightly edit my photos because I use technique and skill to get them as perfect as possible in camera. I want my photos on your walls to look amazing in 25+ years when all of the trends die off. Here are some examples of a typical gallery of mine.
Below: Off camera flash to my right. Notice the catchlight in their eyes.
Natural Lighting. No flash.
Off camera flash to my right.
On camera flash. Catchlight in her eyes.
