DEVELOP YOUR EDITING STYLE
EMBRACE CREATIVE FREEDOM AND LEARN TO USE EXPERIMENTATION TO HONE YOUR OWN SIGNATURE POST-PROCESSING RECIPE
Discover how to hone your own unique post-processing ‘recipe’ with our indepth guide to developing a style
For many photographers, post-processing is a fundamental step in the finalising of an image, but is not necessarily a desirable artistic opportunity. For other creatives however, photo editing has become the dominant stage in the production of their signature photographic style, with the majority of work done at the computer, rather than behind a camera. some may dispute that this stretches the definition of traditional photography too far, yet with care and consideration we can create images that would otherwise be impossible using traditional photographic methods. With so many photographers producing imagery, this can be beneficial for introducing unique qualities to otherwise similar compositions of already well-studied subjects. While it is possible to become overly preoccupied with finding a style, especially as a beginner, devising a balance of exposure, colour and detail that best suits your favoured shooting style will help you develop a sense of creative identity. This can have commercial benefits if you are able to demonstrate that you can introduce unique ‘looks’ to potentially formulaic image setups. The initial stages of this process are not without their challenges however, as without care it is possible to override an existing style that has merit but is as yet under-developed, thereby inhibiting the evolution of the photographer’s technique. Over the following pages we will discuss the core areas on which we can focus to identify our creative likes and dislikes, and in turn, define the parameters for crafting an individual editing style with intrigue and character.