Why do so many family photographers use a dull almost sepia filter on their photos?

[Anonymous]

I can't post any photos because they're owned by the photographers, but in looking at links that people have recommended, at least half of them have final products that look dull, muted, very warm, brown and yellow tones. Not quite sepia, but moving towards it. Why is this popular? What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

It covers wrinkles and blemishes

[Anonymous]

People think it looks classy. It’s dated.

[Anonymous]

I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

[Anonymous]

I chose my wedding photographer because her photo coloring looked very true to life, not washed out or overly contrasted. It is harder to find than you think. I have had good success finding local photographers on Instagram for what it’s worth. Including when we travel and I book photographers at our destinations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

Have you tried discussing with a photographer directly? Have you worked with a photographer who shares your background?

I've read many stories about lighting Black actors, how film was designed for white skin tones, etc. I have to believe there are photographers in DC who can help you achieve the look you are going for

Regarding natural sunlight. Have you considered trying any of those AirBnB or GetYourGuide digital photoshoots for tourists?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It covers wrinkles and blemishes

^^^ This right here. ^^^


-a pro photog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

Have you tried discussing with a photographer directly? Have you worked with a photographer who shares your background?

I've read many stories about lighting Black actors, how film was designed for white skin tones, etc. I have to believe there are photographers in DC who can help you achieve the look you are going for

Regarding natural sunlight. Have you considered trying any of those AirBnB or GetYourGuide digital photoshoots for tourists?

Is anyone still using film?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

Have you tried discussing with a photographer directly? Have you worked with a photographer who shares your background?

I've read many stories about lighting Black actors, how film was designed for white skin tones, etc. I have to believe there are photographers in DC who can help you achieve the look you are going for

Regarding natural sunlight. Have you considered trying any of those AirBnB or GetYourGuide digital photoshoots for tourists?

Is anyone still using film?

My point was just that the photography world has scientifically investigated how light plays on different skin tones and other colored items.

My first digital camera was a Kodak and it was said to benefit from Kodak's long study into representing greenery the way that people enjoy seeing it. That research traced back to Kodachrome film research.

There has recently been a Polaroid film type craze among young people but that obviously doesn't suit OP's needs.

Yes film is still available by mail order.

[Anonymous]

Everyone wants to look like someone else. I know a couple who had a nice wedding but the wedding pics had their wedding looking like something out of a magazine. Impressive but not reality.

[Anonymous]

OP again, someone just recommended their photographer who does "dramatic" and "dark and moody" photography and all I see is massive filtering/touchups. Yes, the photos are dramatic, but I also feel like if I took a picture of my family by the ocean and oversaturated it and lowered the exposure, I could come up with a beautiful dramatic, dark, and moody photo myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

Have you tried discussing with a photographer directly? Have you worked with a photographer who shares your background?

I've read many stories about lighting Black actors, how film was designed for white skin tones, etc. I have to believe there are photographers in DC who can help you achieve the look you are going for

Regarding natural sunlight. Have you considered trying any of those AirBnB or GetYourGuide digital photoshoots for tourists?

Is anyone still using film?

My point was just that the photography world has scientifically investigated how light plays on different skin tones and other colored items.

My first digital camera was a Kodak and it was said to benefit from Kodak's long study into representing greenery the way that people enjoy seeing it. That research traced back to Kodachrome film research.

There has recently been a Polaroid film type craze among young people but that obviously doesn't suit OP's needs.

Yes film is still available by mail order.

Can you post a link to a family photographer that is still using film?

As for green and digital cameras, see Bayer filtering. Sensors are grayscale and green is oversampled.

[Anonymous]

Photographers shoot in RAW format these days and can adjust the white balance, color and tone of their photos any way you like in post processing very easily. If they are outputting a sepia tone, it's because the client chose that look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a family photographer. I find that photographers do this when their technical skill is not as great. It hides non-sharpness. There’s one very expensive well known family photographer in DC who does this and I cannot figure out why. She’s actually very good technically but if you tried to print those photos they’d be all washed out

OP here, this is good to know! We are a mixed race family and anytime a photographer uses any sort of weird coloring filter, at least one member of our family ends up looking really off. I'm finding it really hard to find a photographer nowadays that doesn't use any sort of filtering. What happened to just natural sunlight?

Have you tried discussing with a photographer directly? Have you worked with a photographer who shares your background?

I've read many stories about lighting Black actors, how film was designed for white skin tones, etc. I have to believe there are photographers in DC who can help you achieve the look you are going for

Regarding natural sunlight. Have you considered trying any of those AirBnB or GetYourGuide digital photoshoots for tourists?

Is anyone still using film?

My point was just that the photography world has scientifically investigated how light plays on different skin tones and other colored items.

My first digital camera was a Kodak and it was said to benefit from Kodak's long study into representing greenery the way that people enjoy seeing it. That research traced back to Kodachrome film research.

There has recently been a Polaroid film type craze among young people but that obviously doesn't suit OP's needs.

Yes film is still available by mail order.

Can you post a link to a family photographer that is still using film?

As for green and digital cameras, see Bayer filtering. Sensors are grayscale and green is oversampled.

Do you actually want me to find somebody who shoots film?

My point wasn't that OP needs a film photographer. My point is that there are techniques and technologies that have been researched that can be more appropriate for PoC skin tones. Because OP wants her whole family's various skin tones to look pleasing to her when she purchases a portrait session.

Maybe it would help to be blunt. Maybe OP needs a photographer rec who is a person with exceptional skills at photographing non-white people. Does anyone have one?

I feel like I saw a photographer mentioned either on here or maybe the Washington Post. Those are the only DMV sites I read.

Maybe it was this lady? Lauren Sweet?

https://www.instagram.com/sweettouchphotos/