What Is True to Color Photography?
There's a lot to cover when answering the question, "What is true-to-color photography?". Professional photographers use it for everything from documentary work to product photography, portraiture, or any other subject where realism and authenticity take precedence. The true to color photography style is about creating an image that captures what any human viewer would see through the lens when the shutter clicks.
The emphasis is on accuracy. Capturing your subject's natural color range is like holding up a mirror to it. The goal is for the image to look, well, true to life.
Keep reading for more about what it means to be a true to color photographer, the techniques involved, and how to use true to color Lightroom presets to enhance your work.
Achieving Color Accuracy
Achieving accurate color representation starts long before you open files from a shoot in Lightroom. Here are a few ways to give yourself a head-start when you get to the editing process.
Photographing in RAW
Professional photographers use the RAW format because it captures the most data. This means you have more to work with during editing, which gives you greater flexibility. RAW files capture a much broader color range and more detail than other file formats.
Using Kelvin WB Mode
Another setting you’ll want to check is your white balance. Using Kelvin WB mode on your camera helps you maintain a consistent white balance while shooting, which will help you reproduce accurate color.
Viewing Your Images
It doesn’t matter how well your camera captures natural color if you’re viewing it on a monitor that can’t display it. You want to invest in a high-quality, color-accurate monitor. This means that the colors you see while editing are what you’ll get in the final product. Regularly calibrate your monitor to correct any color discrepancies.
Editing in a Color Neutral Workspace
You want to edit your photos in a space with neutral wall colors and lighting. Tinted lighting and colored walls can cause color cast that can affect how you see the colors in the image.
Using Multiple Devices To Check Color Accuracy
Consider a second display if you can afford it and have sufficient workspace. Viewing edited images on multiple devices can help you spot any color issues that might not otherwise be noticeable.
Wedding Photography Editing Styles
There are as many different wedding photography editing styles as there are wedding photographers, but true to color photography is a particular favorite with professionals.
A light and airy style can be characterized by soft, pastel tones and a bright, dreamy look with out-of-focus backgrounds, but it may not be the right choice for every new couple.
Some newlyweds might prefer a warm, bright editing style emphasizing warmth and vibrant tones, typically heavy on buttery golden hues.
Still, others might ask their wedding photographer to use a moody tone, whether with warm tones to create a more decadent feel, cool tones for a more serene and contemplative look, or deep shadows and dramatic lighting for a more mysterious atmosphere.
These wedding photo editing styles all have their uses, but most pros — and many couples — prefer true to color photography, which captures the wedding day exactly as it looked, complete with natural light and skin tones.
Mastin Labs Custom Preset Package
For photographers wondering how to get accurate color in their photography, the right true to color presets can make all the difference. When it comes to capturing true to color results time after time, Mastin Labs’ carefully curated pack oftrue to color presets is your go-to.
Whether you use Lightroom presets tailored to achieve accurate color representation, edit texture in Lightroom for analog-like film grain, or adjust the tonal range of your photos during skin tone editing for a real-world balanced look, Mastin Labs has you covered.
Our color presets are based on real film scans, which means your final images will look consistent, polished, professional, and authentic every time. We have specific Lightroom presets for Adobe Camera RAW formats that work with the data you capture to present the full range of color and every detail of your photographs.
True to Color Photography vs. Moody Portraits
Understanding the differences between true to color photography and moody photography can help you decide which style best suits your creative vision.
While moody photography involves lighting setups designed to allow ample use of shadows, deep contrasts, and often muted color palettes to create mystery and drama and evoke a strong emotional response, accurate color representation takes a back seat to creating a particular atmosphere.
Like sepia tones, which were once popular for a nostalgic, vintage vibe but have seen a decline in favor of more natural and true-to-life color representations, moody photography may be on the decline.
True to color photography is focused on capturing the world as it is, preserving authentic color tones and details. It’s becoming more popular for roles like wedding photography, where accurate skin tones and natural light are the most important considerations.
Use True to Color Presets To Enhance Your Photography
For authentic documentation and the ultimate representation of realism when photographing a subject, true to color photography is where it’s at. It’s also a remarkably versatile style, lending itself to everything from weddings to portraits to nature photography.
Your clients will love true to color photography for accurately representing their memories. To start making authentic, genuine, true-to-life images, check out Mastin Labs’ True to Color Lightroom Presets today.
