Creating a Signature Style

The Trap of Being Good at Everything

When we start photography, we want to shoot everything. Macros, portraits, street photography, sunsets, and architecture. We are hungry to learn.

This creates a chaotic portfolio. If a viewer visits your site and sees a black and white street photo next to a vibrant sunset landscape, they do not know what to expect from you. They cannot trust your vision because your vision is changing with every frame.

A signature style does not happen by accident. It comes from decisions. It comes from choosing what to shoot and, more importantly, what to leave out.

Consistency in the Field

Editing cannot fix a lack of vision. Consistency starts when you are standing behind the camera. Many photographers chase "good light" without defining what good light means to them.

I realized years ago that the harsh midday sun and even the peak of a bright sunset often worked against the mood I wanted. I started shooting earlier in the morning or later in the evening. By returning to similar lighting conditions, your images start to look like they belong to the same family.

Treat Presets as Film Stock

Think of your editing process like choosing a film stock. A photographer using Kodak Portra 400 knows how the colors will render. They do not switch to a black and white film in the middle of a roll just because they feel like it.