In our life there is a single color, as on an artist's palette,
which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love.
MARC CHAGALL
It isn't often in the world of wedding and portrait photography that I have a moment to thoughtfully consider exactly what I create and why. However, during the past year, I have experienced an intensity of emotion, energy, memories and love - which have subtly influenced my artwork, transformed me in ways that are hard to define and encouraged me to contemplate my journey. Of course, photography as an art form has experienced an equally intense metamorphosis. With each passing year, I welcome the liberation toward creativity, the coalescence of the formerly independent words art and photography, and the unprecedented expressiveness of color.
Right now, in this particular moment...portrait and wedding photography is more uniquely defined by the creative vision of the individual photographer than ever before. As my own artwork quietly evolved into a portfolio of muted, sentimental, intimate imagery...I contemplated my philosophies toward photography and expressive color. I see now that, in my mind, color invokes memory and that photography is the color of love. A softly toned image gently pushes away all other thoughts and lulls the single, remembered moment, dreamlike, to the surface.
These days there are countless talented wedding and portrait photographers, so I feel it is the perfect time for each of us to put down roots in this place, to let our clients know exactly what we create and why. For me, I see that my approach to imagery and color are intrinsically bound to the way I want my clients to experience their most loved memories...in a familiar dream of calm and love. My hope is to offer all my clients heartfelt artwork formed in thoughtfulness, that beautifully suspends a singular moment through peaceful composition and color.
I share this in-depth discussion of my artwork, and the significance of color, for two reasons. First, I want to express a clear vision of the inspiration behind the artwork I create for my clients. And second, I feel it's essential to discuss color, because it is a signature look for my studio and my clients often ask me about my approach and what finished style of images they can expect to receive from me.
Within the past few years, as digital photography has evolved, my clients' wish lists have evolved right alongside changing technology. In that time, I started offering high resolution images to clients, in either standard color or stylized color, and am often asked what the difference is between the two color processes and what it means for them.
If you think of color processing as a two-step process...with standard color as step one, and stylized color as step two - it's easy to distinguish between the two processes. In the first step, I balance images for basic color, brightness and contrast - this is the standard color style you see in your online preview gallery and on the disc of standard color high resolution images. In the second step, I take the images through the final process of custom color-stylizing, skin-polishing, retouching and sharpening - this is the stylized color you see in the prints, books, wall art or stylized high resolution images you order through me, or that you see on my blog, website and Facebook.
Essentially, I view the standard color process as a preview or proof...while the stylized image represents my signature color philosophy and style of artwork. I can't possibly express every single thing I feel about color...how it moves me, inspires me, calms me, urges me to remember. I simply hope, above all else, you can see that this is the color of love.
Within the past few years, as digital photography has evolved, my clients' wish lists have evolved right alongside changing technology. In that time, I started offering high resolution images to clients, in either standard color or stylized color, and am often asked what the difference is between the two color processes and what it means for them.
If you think of color processing as a two-step process...with standard color as step one, and stylized color as step two - it's easy to distinguish between the two processes. In the first step, I balance images for basic color, brightness and contrast - this is the standard color style you see in your online preview gallery and on the disc of standard color high resolution images. In the second step, I take the images through the final process of custom color-stylizing, skin-polishing, retouching and sharpening - this is the stylized color you see in the prints, books, wall art or stylized high resolution images you order through me, or that you see on my blog, website and Facebook.
Essentially, I view the standard color process as a preview or proof...while the stylized image represents my signature color philosophy and style of artwork. I can't possibly express every single thing I feel about color...how it moves me, inspires me, calms me, urges me to remember. I simply hope, above all else, you can see that this is the color of love.
Beautiful, and heartfelt. I love it!
(10.27.10 @ 01:40 PM)Amy...What an insightful explanation of color and how it relates to our lives and the events of our lives. Beautifully thought out and well done.
(08.06.11 @ 08:44 AM)