Just like fashion, decorating and hair styles, photography also has trends.
Some trends are welcome, like a return to classic black and white portraiture. Others will quickly date your photos. I am providing examples of 3 different photo editing styles for you to review.
As a photographer what do I think?
As a photographer I tend to steer away from the trends. My goal is that photos will look like the best version of real life. When I photograph I am looking for contrast, vibrant color and well planned shadows (side note: did you know that shadows are slimming?).
As I edit I deliberately work to keep my editing undetectable to the viewer. Working to keep detail in the dark spots. I want the viewer to look at my photos and think this is exactly how this person looks. I feel this is particularly important when thinking of milestone photos like Senior Portraits or Wedding Photos.
Currently in photography there are three trendy styles that will quickly go the way of pouf sleeves.
Color Pop
Color Pop or Selective color as professionals is the worst offender in my opinion. This trend I view much like Jelly Shoes. Sure it is cute and fun. No doubt it is on trend but will leave you with blisters and sincere regret. Usually in this style the item left in color is something insignificant. A flower, a car, a small detail. By leaving these things in color the attention is pulled to the color item and away from the subject of the photo (usually the person). If this a a portrait that means you are no longer focusing on who is in the photo. You are thinking why is the rose in color and nothing else?
“Airy” Photos
The first is an overexposed and blown out white “airy” feel. If the sky is white and the colors are muted, this is an overexposed photo. The problem in this trend is that the eye is naturally drawn to the lightest part of a photo. This is one of the big reasons a bride dresses in white for a wedding day. Usually in an ‘airy’ photo this means a white sky. Again this pulls your attention away from the skin tones.
The second is all the way to the other end of the spectrum.
“Matte Look”
The blacks lack detail and are “blocked up”. This is an underexposed image. Details in the photo are more difficult to discern. Personally I blame Instagram for the rise in this styles popularity. To me it looks like someone used a cheap camera to make a portrait. Eyes and eyelashes become less of a fine detail and more of a blob. If you are hiring a photographer I think it is to capture the details unique to each person.
In my three examples featured in this post I have done a quick alternative edit to show you examples of Airy and Matte editing. Soon this trend will be over and we will be on to the next photography trend.
My Goal as a Photographer
My goal is to have timeless images for my clients. Images that instantly transport the viewer through time and space to the day the photo was taken. Trendy editing can never do that.
