Why Style Needs Consitency?

Adrian:

Are photographers nowadays switching aspect ratios and film simulations so often that they need a dial for quick access? It feels like a reflection of the modern creative mindset: constantly changing things, never sticking with something long enough to master it. There’s always a new, shiny trick that promises to change the game. Except it never does.

I’m starting to feel old-school when I advocate for consistency: the value of committing to a tool, a format, or an aesthetic for some time. If one photo is 3:2 and color while the next is 1:1 and black and white, our work might end up feeling cluttered and directionless. It’s not just about cohesion in a portfolio, it’s about developing a personal vision.

A style doesn’t emerge from constantly switching things. It comes from working within some boundaries, constraints that force us to solve problems through creativity, instead of avoiding them.

I’ve found that working with the 4:3 format has brought valuable consistency to my photography. This aspect ratio helps me focus on composition and, most importantly, teaches me to view the world through a lens of elimination. Whether shooting in color, monochrome or black-and-white, the format makes it easier to nail the compositional elements of each image.