What's your style?

Alrighty, time to dig in ;) I know Kambria, Susan, Diane, Amey and Rebecca are still due for a check in but I want to get started! I've got a question for you all that really instigated a lot of growth in my own photography and still does today. I'm curious what you all have to say about it. What's your photography style?? What three words do you think best describe your photography and how do you stick to those words in editing, composition and all of the other aspects of your photography? If you run a business how do those words translate into your clients experience and if you don't have any idea of what your style might be what do you want it to be and what are the feelings you want your photos to evoke?

Exploring my style has been on ongoing process that initially started with my need to get the editing under control. I noticed that everything was getting hidden under layers of editing especially after I got photoshop. I really wanted to make a statement with the photos I was producing but I was having a hard time making the same statement over and over. Sometimes I'd go really contrasty, sometimes things would get super sharp and bright, sometimes my photos would end up vintage, sometimes light and airy, sometimes dramatic etc.. My composition was the same; sometimes crooked, sometimes straight, sometimes angled and sometimes wide etc..  I was all over the board and when I started doing photos for people it was anyone's guess as to what "style" they would get. I was a real Dr. Jeckel /Mr. Hyde!! I finally decided, after some encouragement from peers and some photo blogs that I followed, to pick three words and then see if I could convey those words over and over. My three words are heirloom, classic, connected. I want my photos to be treasured by lots of people in the family; heirloom, to be able to transcend the test of time; classic, and to bring back a connection to the emotion of that moment. Heirloom is a word that was hard for me to come up with because I am somewhat vintage but I love color and didn't want everything to look washed out or heavy with actions (preset photoshop edits). Classic was a given because I think most people want to have photos that last a lifetime but I hadn't thought about the fact that what I was producing fit a trend in photography, not something that I had uniquely developed through my own eye that could and would lend itself to all generations and time frames. Connection was also something that was very important to me because I have photos that I love to look at because they connect me to the memory. This allowed me to not get the perfect "everyone looking in the camera" shot but that candid shot of mom kissing the baby, dad throwing the toddler or a couple secretly kissing after a ceremony. I really began to look for opportunities to exemplify these three words. Now that's not to say that I stopped editing my shots or experimenting. I just kept the words in mind and it helped me reign in my over zealous editing and my attempts to go with the trends. In my business I use the three words to interact with my clients. I want them and their families to enjoy the experience of having their photos taken so much so that it will be talked about for a long time; heirloom. I want it to be something not totally off the wall but unique enough to make a statement; classic and I want them to look at their photos, connect with the memory captured and with the experience of having the photo taken. I also look for opportunities to convey these words after the session or wedding by branding myself in a way that is consistent to these things. I don't always function in this box of three words but I really love the fact that my editing is consistent within the limits of creative liscense, my composition is unique and yet people know what kind of photo they are paying for and my business style has been narrowed and developed to provide that link between the photos, photographer and experience.

So what's your style? What are your words?? And if you don't have words might I encourage you to think about it.

And because all posts are better with photos here are my three words in photo form :)

Heirloom;

Classic;

Connected;