Your processing style?

MobyDick · 26 Mar 2012 at 12:35

I've been trying to get my own PP style so that my photo's don't look like every other photo on the internet or look like I just applied a downloaded preset. The main thing I'm looking for is consistency.

Do you think it is important to have a consistent look?
Is your processing consistent or do you have a range of different looks depending on mood or type of photo? High saturation? Muted colours? Cross processed or split toning? :confused:

When I'm processing photos I feel that some might look better with a little bump in saturation, some might look better with a little blue hue in the shadows etc.
Then I think to myself, just keep it consistent and process them all the same.
Sometimes I just frustrate myself :mad:

Clown · 26 Mar 2012 at 12:38

I freestyle. I process depending on what mood I'm in and what I feel is appropriate for the image. As much as I want my recogniseable own style, I'll do what I feel is correct for the picture. I do try and keep it consistent within a set though.

bigredshark · 26 Mar 2012 at 14:46

I have a lot of styles but to an extend I like consistency of a few styles within a set, variations in saturation and the like in a processing style which is otherwise the same really annoy me when presented together. That gets hard when you shoot with multiple cameras of course but hey. Mix colour, black and white and even cross processed shots in a set but small variations in otherwise identical styles just looks sloppy...

Rojin · 26 Mar 2012 at 16:29

I do black and white but that's about it. I like the colours straight out of camera, even shooting RAW. It just has the Adobe 2010/2012 process applied and that's normally good enough for me. I might add contrast if it needs it.

D.P. · 26 Mar 2012 at 16:55

I try to keeping things simple with a less is more attitude. Sometimes each photos deserves to be treated slightly differently but if you are making an album or presenting a set to a client you need to keep a consistency.

As Rojin says, I apply an appropriate Adobe colour process, for me often slightly elevated saturation and contrast because of my landscape work.

Steve M · 27 Mar 2012 at 17:41

I have no consistency. Whatever goes.

Typical example of my random processing in this set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemillward/sets/72157629675502411/

I know many say to stick a to a consistent processing style within a set, but to me that's boring.

D.P. · 27 Mar 2012 at 17:57

Steve M said:
I have no consistency. Whatever goes.

Typical example of my random processing in this set here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemillward/sets/72157629675502411/

I know many say to stick a to a consistent processing style within a set, but to me that's boring.

It kind of depends what you do with the set also. if you are printing out a wedding album and al your photos are randomly processed it wont be very pleasant. If you give the set to a customer to use then they wont be so happy with the inconsistency.

If the photos sit on your hard drive for your own viewing then it is not a problem and infact trying different processes it beneficial. If you print then out to put around your house it doesn't matter of course, but will look nicer if at least photos in the same place have a consistency.

You find that most pros have a consist style and the customers are paying fro that style.

I admit that I find it very hard to keep a consistency as I find different photos deserve different treatments. To help I usually try to minimize the amount of processing. I also agree that if every photo is processed identically there can be too much repetition and things become stale if you are not careful.

Steve M · 27 Mar 2012 at 18:02

Mine are just for fun and i love random processing but yes, i certainly take your point that a customer may not be too chuffed with the randomness.

Guitarman0 · 27 Mar 2012 at 20:35

If I was processing for a customer then I would try and keep it consistent but since I am processing for myself I process each image to make it look the best it can be in my eyes. However, when I do a rugby/football shoot I usually will create a preset based on a 'standard' image from the set, apply that preset to all of the photos and then go through them one by one making any minor adjustments I need to (e.g. boosting contrast/exposure in places or lifting shadows etc.) but the end result tends to be a fairly consistent album.