04/23/2026
During a sunset photography session, the light is constantly changing as the sun dips below the horizon. Each direction I face produces a completely different color profile, affecting both the sky and the overall mood of the image. The red rocks shift in tone depending on how the light hits them, and when the sun moves in and out of the clouds, the colors can change dramatically from one moment to the next. These variations don’t just impact the landscape—they also affect the colors of my clients’ outfits, often requiring detailed adjustments during editing just to keep tones consistent. It’s not uncommon for me to spend one to two hours refining clothing colors alone.
Because I choose to edit in rich, true-to-life color rather than muting tones or pulling colors down into a more subdued style, the editing process naturally takes more time. Maintaining vibrant, accurate color across an entire gallery requires a higher level of precision, especially when the lighting conditions are constantly shifting throughout the shoot.
While this level of color inconsistency could be minimized by staying in one location or using a lighting system, I intentionally choose not to. I value movement, variety, and capturing multiple backdrops throughout a session. Introducing a lighting setup would slow down the shoot and limit the number of poses and locations we can achieve, which takes away from the dynamic experience I aim to create.
Beyond color correction, each final image is carefully built with multiple layers—often around 20 per photo. Exposure adjustments shift throughout the session, and images are refined to ensure balance, including straightening horizons so the landscape feels natural and grounded. There’s no “one-click” solution for this process. Editing is a detailed, time-intensive craft, where each image is individually shaped to create a cohesive and visually consistent gallery.
