After having gone through tons of images in various websites, and heck, even through photos coming out of camphones, have you ever asked yourself the question, "how do i make my work stand out versus the others?"

The talent out there is so vast and up until a few years ago, so readily accessible. DSLRs have made photography a relatively cheaper hobby. And marry that with the Internet and you have the ease of showcasing your work in a short period of time to so many people.

Let's not even go beyond DPP. Look at the level of talent here. Freakin 'amazing relative to number of years in photography.

Personally, I'm still "searching" for my own brand of photography. I don't try to overanalyze it with every shutter press but it does make me think every so often and, yes, sometimes, it keeps me awake at night. Thank God that this is just a hobby, otherwise, I'd go bankrupt faster than 1/4000sec.

Do you guys ever wonder about your own brand of photography?

Hope you guys can share :)

Nice topic Raul... :)

I guess in my case I want my photography to be inspirational... To be simple yet complex... To be able to tell the story on its own without words or captions... To show what's underlyingly beautiful... To be able to touch the face of God and the hearts of man... etc. etc. aaaahhhhhh soooooo little time...

... Thank God that this is just a hobby, otherwise, I'd go bankrupt faster than 1/4000sec. ...

Actually, you know what, if I made this just a hobby, I'll be bankrupt in less than 1/8000 sec. That's why I want to earning on the side while sustaining this hobby isn't that bad :Grin:.

Like you, I am still searching for my style. All I know is I want to photograph people, especially weddings. I browse the websites of our master wedding photographers here trying to get some inspiration. When I get the inspiration, I try to make it better. Though I might never be at their equal, I try to do my best to make it even to at least 50% of what they do and accomplish :).

Pretty interesting topic we got here. I am just new to this form of art. And I must admit that my knowledge and skills are still thin. So I guess, right now, I am not thinking of comparing my photographs to others yet. I just want to have a pciture that will make me smile. And I think that matters for everyone-pro or hobbyist :D

My brand of photography is based on whatever my clients want it to be (I work for a large ad agency and sometimes freelance too).

A very nice thread Raul and something to ponder. I noticed though how you call it your own "brand" of photography rather than your own style.

The problem with having your own signature style is it gets copied the minute you publish it.

I just don't stop thinking of new concept or ideas. If I become the source of something to copy, then mission accomplished. :)

The problem with having your own signature style is it gets copied the minute you publish it.

I just don't stop thinking of new concept or ideas. If I become the source of something to copy, then mission accomplished. :)

Setting the trend... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... :Grin:

hi

for me its also like studying music, you borrow licks(copying styles from different artist) , combine all of what you learned and slowly you will define your sound, On John mayers latest cd when you read his thank you's you'll read : Thanks to Eric clapton, for letting steal from him and is cool with it :)

so photogs and artist can copy music and lighting styles ,techniques in the short term and slowly ,gradually you will be able to mix them up and create your own style:)

@Dino and Pat

I totally agree!:)

My work is usually the work with the least comments on sites like deviant art :P haha

hi

for me its also like studying music, you borrow licks(copying styles from different artist) , combine all of what you learned and slowly you will define your sound, On John mayers latest cd when you read his thank you's you'll read : Thanks to Eric clapton, for letting steal from him and is cool with it :)

so photogs and artist can copy music and lighting styles ,techniques in the short term and slowly ,gradually you will be able to mix them up and create your own style:)

this is so on the money!!! thank you pat for making it look cool, hehe...

seriously, yes...its best to get inspiration from others who have gone before you. remember the saying that "not much of photography is original anyway..."

the thing i'd like to add is, your brand of photography should extend beyond the moment you hold, focus, and click on that shutter. photography should extend to the visualization of the photo you want to take, to the exploration for unique subjects. for thinking of novel lighting ideas or waiting for the right break in the clouds. think of new angles to shoot from, new vantage points to try. i dont mind returning to the bay to shoot another round of night shots. basta everytime, i try to do something new. if i did a 5 minute exposure last time, im going to do 10 minutes without the moon now...just to see what it'll turn out... explore and pry more insistently!

and more importantly....you should have a unique way of post processing your photos. this is often neglected. the power of digital photography lies within your desktop/macbook. so many of the photographers i admire have a unique style that is not often characterized in their shooting methods (hey, they also shoot rocks and clouds and children and beautiful women...things i shoot too)...but it is in how they interpret their images in post-processing that really allows them to leave a "brand" on their images...

look at parc! look at manny librodo! look at rebbekka! or merkley! one look at their photos and you know...ah..."si ano kumuha nito!"

we've always know ansel adams to be the legendary photographer that he is. impeccable shooting technique and fastidious methods in taking a landscape capture. but most dont know that he is an excellent chemist. he knows his silvers and finishing liquids...he is a curator of rare paper! his dark room prowess is an integral part to his legend.

see a black and white print of anything yosemite and you'll immediately be saying "ansel adams." parang synonymous na name nya with monochrome!

that's the same with us. we have to extend our skills to the post-processing side of photography, our modern digital darkroom, if we want to make for ourselves a "brand" or "style" of photography that we can call "my own." :)

hi guys,

interesting posts. my apologies for not having had the time to answer back. i got sick, and still am, actually, but you can't really resist logging into DPP, now can you? it's almost as sickening as the damn hobby itself : )

i guess i used the word "brand" loosely and would define it as a lot like style that can be associated with your work and one that helps put your message across.

i don't want to go into the argument of "being original". i don't think that exists anymore.

actually, this issue of "brand" or "style" came about when i signed up for a pbase account.

suddenly you're faced with 300gb worth of possibilities.

what do you want to say? and to quote those essay contests... "in not more than 500 words"

well, the vision is still there and it helped me design my gallery. i'd rearrange it every so often but the vision remains the same... to put out photos that will put our country in a balanced light... take note, balanced. i didn't say positive. balanced. and with all that, to still try and make a case for coming here to either live or invest.

of course, after that big picture deal, you then go drill down and think about your photos...

i do travel. i do cars. i do freebie glamour whenever it's available (i don't mind paying ,btw) c/o the likes of ross capili for the most part (idol ko 'to si ross, if you're ever looking for an artist/entrepreneuer who has vision but is oh so grounded, it's mr. capili). all of that is "Pilipinas" :)

anyway, would like to hear some more from you folks. it doesn't matter if you're old or new, shared thoughts are always appreciated :)

honestly,, not to sound mayabang,, i only satisfy myself in every picture,, i know that there are tons of people that has better picture,, heck some of you may think my pic is not good,, but the satisfaction you get once you know you got something you are proud of,,

how will i distinguish my photography from others? that's the question right? for me there are hundreds of ways.

some use messages or meaning, some even go to some extent of shooting at a single focal length, single light source or tint some post-processing technique only achievable via Photoshop.

but in reality, the reason why some styles get branded and associated with photographers is timing. if you're the first to do it and get recognized, you suddenly become a guru.

I honestly have difficulty distingushing Parc's pictures from Mykl nowadays at first glance; looking much further you see subtle differences in their PP. I both enjoy their work and post-processing techniques which goes beyond photography.

I also enjoy clear cut no-pp photography which I am used to and actually prefer. Again, there is no right or wrong.

Eventually it is not only the photographer who picks and chooses his style, I believe we evolve and those viewing the pictures are the ones who see your style different from other photographers.

Similar to paintings, you can easily spot a Manansala from a Rembrant; but for those who are not familiar with impressionism, you will be hard-pressed to differentiate Monet, Degas and Renoir from each other.

You won't find your brand of photography, it will find you.

hey, i like that... "you won't find your brand of photography, it will find you".

i agree. and i'm still too young in "photography" years to even be bothered about these things. shoot first. ask later ;)

Upping this useful conversation...

Wow this was from almost four years ago!?
I was reading it like it was just from yesterday. =o

I mostly observed works of others, gather tips and tricks along the way. At the end of the day I mix it up with my creativity and visions and create what I perceive is something new out of the ordinary.

How do I distinguish my photographs from the others? Easy. Mine sucks, the others don't. :D

honestly,, not to sound mayabang,, i only satisfy myself in every picture,, i know that there are tons of people that has better picture,, heck some of you may think my pic is not good,, but the satisfaction you get once you know you got something you are proud of,,

I have to agree with Daryl... It is the satisfaction you'll get in every photos you took....

Personally, I like to look at photos taken by others and learn from their photo... It kinda helps me visualize my next shoot(sorta inspiration).... Also looking at others work help me see things and try things that I have never done before...

As to my personal "style" or "brand", that I haven't thought off... For I care now is to take photos... And yeah as to what Marty said 'It will find you"


Just my thoughts....:Grin:

My brand of photography is still looking for me... hehe

My brand of photography is still looking for me... hehe

Haha! We're on the same boat then. ;)

Personal style is exactly that - personal. It is your own.

Once we got it , the urge to differentiate will dissappear. Because, in a way, you are different from others.
We all know how it works. He who looks outside discovers and he who looks inside awakens.

Our signature style will only find us when we are ready.

Upping this useful conversation...

nice thread to resurrect sir david. :)

in having the brand or the style of my photography, I say, its hard to produce something new, yet would be acceptable to many people.. so i think what im doing right now, is looking for inspiration from others, browse for pictures, etc(weddings), then for me, i'l say this ones good, then i'll try to incorporate that one for the next shoot, and see what would it turn out..

so i guess, i have no permanent style right now, but i am positive that i am evolving skills in this craft..

how do i differentiate my work/pictures against the others? simple...

mine's blurry and not sharp :p