Don’t talk to me about styles.

Don’t talk to me about styles.

You know what’s hot in photography? I’m mainly speaking of Real Estate and similar photographic works. There are certain styles that if you spend any time looking at marketing images for homes and spaces, you’ll quickly see.

First, day to twilight conversions: My all-time biggest retina burner. This goes way past making me want to vomit. I mean, just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should. And I’d like to keep my stomach acid where it belongs.

Sky replacements are super-easy now. Just about anyone with a little experience can replace any sky in just about any image. So of course these “day to twilight” shots are everywhere and exponentially multiplying. Please don’t ask me to do one of these. You’ll be wasting your time.

I don’t do them because I can’t think of a decent one that I’ve ever seen. Oh, they stand out all right. But for all the wrong reasons. They look like garbage. Really. It’s bad. Actually “garbage” may be a compliment. That’s how bad these things are. And the more they pop up, the worse it gets.

Why do they suck? Ok, it’s all about the light and the directions it’s beaming. And we’re talking reality here. Real Estate and most Architectural images are representing the “reality” of the structure. And these look like garbage “LSD deranged” fantasies.

You want twilight? Shoot at dusk. If you can’t then just provide an awesome daylight shot. It’s that simple.

Next are the ‘super bright’ interiors. Everyone wants their listings brighter than everyone else’s. I was first exposed to this phenomenon years ago when mastering music.

Back then everyone wanted their CD to be louder than everyone else’s. We called it the “Mastering Wars”. Problem is that the glass can only hold so much and once you fill it completely, you lose all dynamic range and with that goes the “soul” of your music.

Same with visual. When you ditch your shadows, you lose depth and emotion. Your sense of space is reduced or eliminated. But hey, it’s really, really bright!

I don’t do that stuff. And I really don’t care what the “in” style is at any given time. I’m going to photograph “my style” and “my way”. Even at the expense of losing a gig or many gigs.

I want to be hired for “my style”. Even knowing that there are hundreds of hungry photographers (in my area) who will give you an attempt at whatever style is hot. Not me.

I’ve come too far for that garbage. Love my photography or hate it, at least it’s my work.

End of rant (that is until I see my next ‘day to twilight’ shot).