Finding Your Photography Voice
Photo of myself after receiving my first tripod
“Photography is the story I fail to put into words. ”
Photography has always been a love, a fascination, a passion, curiosity... but the older I got, the more serious I became about it. Looking back now, I can see how my journey—and my brand—has evolved through so many different phases, each one teaching me something new about myself and my art.
Where It All Started
My first camera was a Disney princess film camera that I used all the time. I was that kid who carried it everywhere, documenting everything from family gatherings to backyard adventures. As I grew, I got my first red digital camera and truly went wild with it. I took hundreds of thousands of pictures of my family and especially with my friends when we were bored and wanted to do "photoshoots."
Those were the days when we took crooked pictures on purpose and everything "in style" was emo, boy bands, and neon pink and green. Looking back at those photos now makes me laugh, but they were the foundation of my passion. Every awkward angle and oversaturated edit was teaching me something about composition, color, and what made me excited to keep shooting.
The Evolution of My Style
My style has been on quite the journey. I started with very natural, warm temperature pictures—very posed with high vignette effects. Then I swung completely the other direction into very cool-toned, overexposed photos that I thought looked artistic at the time. From there, I dove into higher contrast, heavily edited photos with high texture and high clarity. I thought more editing meant better photography.
These days, I still edit with a little more contrast than some photographers, but I tend to go more minimalist and natural with slightly warmer tones. My "poses" have evolved too—they're more like natural, warm, and romantic moments that happen as naturally as life flows. They might feel a little awkward to some clients at first, but they always turn out to be the best and most true to who my clients really are.
What I Want to Be Known For
I want to be known as the photographer who is warm and welcoming to everyone—the one who makes her clients smile or happy cry because each photo brings back beautiful memories that were frozen for just a moment. That's my brand now: authentic connection, genuine emotion, and timeless beauty that feels real.
The Art of Feeling
I've been painting recently, and it's fascinating how certain colors and contrasts can create feelings and emotions. Just like certain paint colors are better for creating specific atmospheres, photography does the same thing. A picture of a mountain or beach is soothing and feels peaceful. A shot of modern art may make you feel stylish, artistic, and creative.
Soft pastels in a nursery photo evoke tenderness and new beginnings. Bold, dramatic lighting in a portrait can make someone feel powerful and confident. Golden hour shots create warmth and romance, while moody black and white images feel timeless and emotional. Even the way I pose couples—those slightly awkward, in-between moments—creates an authentic, intimate feeling that polished poses simply can't capture.
This is what I've learned: photography isn't just about technical perfection. It's about the emotion it evokes, the story it tells, and the feeling it creates years later when someone looks at it.
For Photographers Finding Their Brand
If you're struggling with your brand, I encourage you to continue trying even when you're struggling or don't feel "good enough" or "capable enough" to be a successful photographer. Try new things even when they're hard or they "fail," and find what brings you joy and passion.
Study other photographers and what they do, then test it out for yourself. Take note of what you love and what you don't really care for as much. What type of photography gets you excited to keep trying? What shots make you think "I just have to capture this"? That excitement is your compass.
The Mistakes I Still Make
The biggest mistakes I've made are ones I still make today sometimes, but I'm trying to improve. I constantly self-sabotage and think I'm not good enough, but that always makes it worse than if I just go in, take a breath, and trust the process. Sometimes you truly have to fake it until you make it, along with continued trial and error, practice, hard work, consistency, and education.
We have so many resources to learn online nowadays, and it should be taken advantage of. The key to success is consistency, practice, hard work, and balance. The problem I've had in the past is not being balanced with my edits—sometimes you can go overboard. But at the same time, photography is art, and art is subjective. Art is emotional and gives you a feeling and creates a vibe.
Your Brand Will Keep Evolving
Here's what I wish someone had told me earlier: your brand doesn't have to be perfect from day one. It's going to evolve, and that's not just okay—it's essential. Every phase of my journey, from those crooked Disney princess camera shots to today's natural, romantic style, has been necessary.
Your brand should grow with you. Stay curious, keep experimenting, and don't be afraid to let your style evolve. The photographers who stay stagnant are the ones who get left behind. The ones who keep growing, learning, and adapting? They're the ones who build lasting careers doing what they love.
Trust the process. Embrace the awkward in-between phases. And remember that every photo you take, every edit you try, every "failure" you experience is just part of building the unique brand that only you can create.
What phase of your photography journey are you in right now? I'd love to hear about your own brand evolution in the comments.
