I recently read a blog post by a pair of excellent wedding photographers on style. I really enjoyed it and I got to thinking about myself and my own style. I believe that style is something that constantly evolves, and I think it comes from viewing millions of things and then seeing things through your own eyeballs. I was speaking with a photographer friend of mine the other night and I realized that I have different eyeballs for different things…I have my solo shooter wedding eyeballs, my second shooter wedding eyeballs, my landscape eyeballs, and my competition eyeballs…each set looking for a different feel. Yet in my everyday life, I do see the world through stills…my everyday eyeballs 🙂 Studying with Buissink taught me to slap my leg every time I see something photographic and don’t have a camera. This is to train the mind to click the shutter faster and faster as you see things. The camera is an extension of your body and honestly when I am out without I find I feel a little less confident. My camera and I can do anything! I think the most important thing about developing your style (and trust me mine is still snowballing over itself everyday I am no expert) is that you shoot the way you love. That you tone your images the way your eye sees they look the best, that you put out there the work that you think is amazing no matter what the trends are or what others think. This is much easier said then done especially when half of your facebook friends are photographers themselves. Justin and Mary said it best…”I think finding your own style (photography, writing, or otherwise) really just comes down to recognizing the sound of your own voice. And training yourself to listen for it, even through the roar of the hurricane of other people’s ideas. Because the more that you listen for your own voice, the louder it becomes. The easier it is to hear and distinguish from all that’s happening around you. So if you really want to know if something feels like your style, just ask. And listen for yourself.” When I looked through my own work it was very apparent that I like things that are different. I have a wide taste but often find I go back again and again to the “moments” I capture on the dance floor or through a special smile. I think those true moments where people don’t see or hear the camera are the ones that best paint the picture of what the day was. They will always bring you back to the comment that made you smile so big, or the feelings behind that passionate kiss. To me this is what I photograph the best…the things that belong in your wedding day album that will tell the story of your day. I also find I love heavily processed and creative imagery like the photographs I have been taking of still life and models for my personal projects. I LOVE lots of color and wobble back and forth between the elements of simplicity and the elements of collages. I personally am always finding inspiration all around me, in others work, in colors, in ads, magazines, grocery stores etc. I believe that this keeps my mind working and keeps me challenging myself to shoot new and interesting things.