Creating Cohesion in Your Photos
PHOTO CHALLENGE |
Post three photos on Instagram that shows some through-lines of cohesion, whatever that looks like for you.
Be sure to visit each other’s social media’s and comment on one another’s photos! Can’t wait to see you there!
There are many style choices out there to choose from, but there’s no rule that says you have to stick to one that already exists. The fun thing about photography is that you can make it whatever you want, it’s completely yours, and in the end, should be fully representative of you. The more of your personality that you imbue into your work, the more unique your style becomes, making you recognizable.
Create a story board | Pinterest is a great resource for this and quickly gives you a visual overview of things that have stood out to you and offer inspiration any time you need it. Create a board that represents only want you love, what stands out to you, and what you’d like to aspire to.
Look around your home | Do you notice any consistent patterns, colors, or themes?
Scan your portfolio | If you look over the past few years of your photos, can you see through-lines?
If you like darker, moodier tones and textures, start focusing on embracing shadows and learn how to take pictures in lower light situations. If you love bright + white, start paying attention to when and where the light is brightest. If you like punches of color, look for areas that offer the most impactful color contrast, and so on…
Don’t be discouraged if this process takes you a while or if your photography style morphs and changes. As you grow and your eye for photography improves, your style will change and improve right along with it. That’s ok, that’s how it should be!
While social media is a quick resource to pinpoint cohesion, don’t let that define your work either. Let it be a positive influence to improve your vision, but not the driving force behind your shooting style—it’s a showcase of your photos.
Once this point is reached there is often a bit of a push back, suddenly we find ourselves saying things like I don’t want to specialize in one thing, I want to shoot a bit of everything. Wanting to shoot a bit of everything isn’t a problem, that’s a great way to learn. Sometimes the subject matter is a big part of your voice though and your voice will come through despite your subject matter.
Since developing a cohesive body of work isn’t simply about choosing a subject matter, a processing style or one way of using light, what is it about? Developing a cohesive set of images is about figuring out your voice: What makes your work yours? What do you want your images to say? What themes run through your work?
