Why I Edit My Photos This Way: My Color Philosophy
Photography, for me, has always been about feeling. Every adjustment I make, every tone, every shadow, is an attempt to bring back the emotion of the moment I captured. My editing style reflects the memories that first drew me to photography, as well as the moods I love to explore today.
Growing Up With Film: Where My Eye Was Born
My journey started with a pink plastic film camera, the Argus Giant Achiever. My father would take me traveling around Spain, and I’d carry that tiny camera everywhere, clicking away without knowing what the final image would look like.
After each trip, we’d return home, and he would disappear into his “dark room.” There, he developed the film and printed the photos on paper. Every photo was a surprise, sometimes slightly off in color, sometimes imperfectly framed, but always full of life.
Those experiences taught me to value patience, intention, and the subtle beauty of imperfection. They shaped the way I see light, color, and storytelling — lessons that still guide my editing today.
Nostalgic, Film-Inspired Edits
When I edit my digital photos, I chase that same feeling of discovery and warmth. My vintage-inspired style is all about bringing back the tactile, personal quality of film prints:
Soft, film-like tones: gentle reds, muted greens, and warm shadows.
Subtle contrast: shadows and highlights breathe naturally.
A touch of vintage orange: a nod to my first camera and the warmth of memory.
Unlike modern digital photos, which often feel too perfect and disposable, this style carries weight. Each image feels like a memory you can hold — timeless, personal, and emotional.
Cinematic Nights: Another Side of My Editing
While my vintage style celebrates daytime nostalgia, I also love exploring the world after dark. Night photography has a magic of its own: glowing lights, stretching shadows, and reflections that turn ordinary streets into cinematic scenes.
For these images, I use a cinematic night preset that enhances:
Deep contrasts and moody tones to create drama without losing detail.
Glowing highlights from neon signs, street lamps, and reflections.
Storytelling colors that guide the viewer through the scene, almost like a frame from a movie.
This is my way of capturing the world’s quieter, more mysterious moments — cinematic yet still grounded in reality.
Editing as a Way of Honoring Memory and Mood
Both styles of presets, nostalgic film and cinematic night, are about storytelling. One preserves the warmth of memory; the other evokes the thrill and mystery of nighttime. Together, they let me explore the full emotional spectrum of photography, turning fleeting moments into images that linger.
Editing is more than a technical process for me. It’s a way of remembering, of reliving, and of sharing the feelings that first drew me to photography. Whether through vintage daylight tones or cinematic nights, my goal is always the same: to make every photo feel alive, intentional, and timeless.
