What Is Your Photography Without You?
Musings on developing your own styles and presets
If you’re asking me, a signature look in photography is about identity. The best photographers don’t just capture scenes. They imprint their perspective onto them. But how do you develop a style that’s truly your own? Well, a good part of it comes down to how you’re editing your work. Specifically with respect to presets and styles.
This week, I’m sharing why developing your own customer library of looks matters, how it can speed up your workflow, and why learning the hard way pays off in the long run.
The Details
I captured this image with the Leica SL3-S and a fully extended Sigma 60-600mm Sport lens. With an aperture of F9.0, ISO locked at 100, and a shutter speed that landed at 1/640, my goal was to highlight the details of penguin fresh out of the water.
The Specifics
When I look back at my favourite images from my first trip to Antarctica, this one stands out. I was curating a series for the expedition team, and my goal was to break away from their usual creative direction. I wanted to capture details and colours that offered a more humanist perspective on the environment. Tighter compositions, bolder colours. It was a calculated risk that paid off.
This image was, by far, the team’s favourite. The composition played a big role, but what truly made it stand out—at least in my eyes—was the colour. It’s a look I developed during my time in Antarctica, with the intention of adding a visual signature to my series. And that’s what I want to discuss this week: the importance of developing your own styles and presets.
Crafting A Visual Identity
The presets and styles market is big business for photographers. Hell, I even have my old collection available for sale. These tools can be useful for learning but I’ve always emphasized the importance of developing your own look over time. Why? Because your visual identity should reflect your creative journey.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve come across images that feel like a copy of a copy of a copy. Can someone send the memo? The 2010s called—we don’t need any more high-contrast, low-saturation, orange-and-teal edits. We’re good.
Whether you shoot in colour or black and white, your visual identity should evolve with you. It’s part of embedding your unique perspective into your work. Slapping someone else’s preset onto your image might save time in the short run, but in the long run, it’s a disservice to your creativity.
Consistency And Speed
Another reason I value developing your own styles is the advantage it brings in speed and consistency. The reason I could craft this look in Antarctica so quickly is because I had spent years doing this already. I pulled from past inspirations, adapted them for the environment, and applied them across an entire series, making only minor tweaks when needed. The result? 70+ images delivered to the expedition team within two weeks of my return.
Developing your own presets and styles takes time, but it significantly shortens your editing process in the long run. It’s the classic “go slow to go fast” principle: taking the time to build a strong foundation ultimately allows for greater efficiency. Once you’ve honed a look that resonates with you, applying it at scale becomes second nature. Which in turn frees up more time to actually practice photography.
Learning The Hard Way
The biggest reason I advocate for creating your own styles and presets is because of the learning opportunities. When you dive deep into curves, tone adjustments, and colour theory, you build fluency in the editing process. You internalize the relationships between light, colour, and contrast in a way that simply applying someone else’s preset never will.
Let curiosity be your guide. Instead of thinking, “This tool is really hard,” ask yourself, “What would my work look like if I fully understood this tool?” Shift your mindset to focus on the opportunity, and take it one step at a time.
Subscribers can learn my process behind building styles from this story here.
Your Work Must Be Your Work
Developing your signature look is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about making your work truly yours. The overall edit, whether it’s subtle or bold, is a critical part of that process. Today, I’ve shared three key reasons why crafting your own style matters:
Builds a unique visual identity: Your work should reflect your perspective, not someone else’s preset.
Increases consistency and speed: A well-developed look streamlines your workflow and improves efficiency.
Deepens your understanding of the craft: The process of trial and error makes you a better photographer.
Ultimately, we owe it to our creativity to make our work as personal and intentional as possible. Otherwise, we’re just repackaging someone else’s vision.
Make your work your own.
Special Thanks To Aether Apparel
This week’s story was sponsored by Aether Apparel. When I was preparing for my trip to Antarctica, I needed to layer up but I was having trouble finding outerwear that could accommodate this trip. I needed something that was comfortable, could withstand tough winds, had multiple easy access pockets, and just looked clean. Aether ticked all those boxes.
Aether caters to the adventurers. Their apparel is guaranteed to last. And they just have an incredible selection of options for whatever your next trip might hold. The Aether team kitted me out for the Antarctic and I can honestly tell you, I’ve been wearing their jackets beyond that—well throughout this Canadian winter at home.
If you’re looking for an upgrade to your outerwear, especially if you’re planning a big trip, take a look at Aether.
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LAST CALL: March Contest
This month, I’ll be giving away a $200 gift card to the Moment Shop where the winner can save big on their next camera, lens, bag, or courses. Moment has so many creative products to choose from and $200 can absolutely make for a great deal.
How will I pick the winner? Make sure you’re signed up for this newsletter then leave a comment on at least one post from this month. I’ll be randomly picking one person, confirming they meet the requirements and contacting them directly before announcing the winner publicly.
Once again, this contest is void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
My thanks to the team at Moment! Not only for this contest but for being the longest supporter of my work online. They’re a lean team of passionate creators that truly believe in supporting other creatives on their journey. Whether it’s a new camera, lens, workshop, or just some great articles, visit ShopMoment.com today.
What’s Next?
Right now, I'm knee-deep in wrapping up some photography edits from last year. There’s been a bunch of work that my team and I captured during the Leica SL3-S campaign that’s waiting to be released. This is all to say, April is looking like a month where I’ll be behind my desk during most days.
That being said, if you’re gonna be in New York the first week of May, let me know. There’s some great events being planned for the photo community and I’d love for you to join.
GB
Thanks for the insight and perspective Gajan! Been editing since CS2 and LR1 and have yet to create my own presets. Everytime I edit I end up slightly changing the style based on what I felt and the conditions. Lately I've caught myself re-editing and unable to pin down a style, especially photos from a Japan trip a year ago. Maybe this is the sign to slowly lock it in.
Thanks for this insight. I really need to do this. I've never tried any presets, but I've gotten to the point where I make the same consistent changes to most pictures. It's folly at this point not to make a preset. Thanks for another insightful post!