I’ve spent a good while wrestling with the idea of creating a consistent look for my bird photography. Should I stick to a certain crop? A fixed mood? Always go cold? Always go warm? The short answer: no. But the long answer… that’s this post.

This is a visual style guide for my work at mycamera.life. It’s not a manual. It’s more of a compass. A way to keep things cohesive without locking creativity in a cage. Here’s where I’ve landed — for now.

🔹 1. Cropping: Based on the Image, Not the Format

Every photo starts life in a classic 3:2 (or 2:3) aspect ratio from the camera sensor. But from there, it’s all about what feels natural.

I crop my images in Lightroom as the first step in editing, based on the content and composition of the shot.
There are no set aspect ratios for publishing. No square, no golden rule. Just what fits the moment.
Sometimes the bird is tight in frame, sometimes it's all about its habitat. Sometimes, the best shot is just part of the bird. That’s okay.

Freedom to crop is freedom to tell the story the photo wants to tell.

🔹 2. Color and Mood: Arctic-Inspired Light, Not Artificial Looks

I lean toward colder tones — the kind that come naturally when photographing under blue skies or on frostbitten mornings. But natural doesn’t mean flat. It means controlled, honest, intentional.

To keep things cohesive, I’ve developed a set of Lightroom presets that I use as starting points:

✅ Arctic Natural

Cool and clean. Preserves true tones, softens harsh light. Works beautifully in open landscapes or clean bird portraits with a blue sky backdrop.

✅ Arctic Warm

A softer, warmer take for when the light has that golden touch. Think sunsets, autumn leaves, or mellow light through tree branches.

✅ Arctic Natural Green

Yes — a cool green. Not a contradiction if you’ve been deep in a shaded forest or a misty morning field. Gives greenery a calm, desaturated elegance.

✅ Arctic Warm Green

A warm touch for lush surroundings. For when the grass glows, and the light wraps the woods like a soft blanket.

Presets aren’t shortcuts. They’re just a direction. Every photo still gets individual attention.

The image on the left shows the natural, unedited version — clean but a bit flat in tone. On the right, the Arctic Warm Green Deep preset brings out gentle warmth and richer greens, adding depth and a soft glow without losing the natural feel. It’s subtle, but the difference makes the photo come alive. Arctic Warm Green Deep doesn’t add any harsh heat — it’s more like the subtle Arctic warmth I often see out in the field when photographing.

If you're interested in the Lightroom presets I create, please visit my sales page. I will do a future article on how I "cook" these presets together.

🔹 3. Let the Scene Speak

I’m not interested in creating ultra-processed, high-impact eye candy. This isn’t about chasing attention — it’s about honouring the atmosphere of the moment.

I don’t replace natural tones with cinematic colours.
I don’t overexpose, oversaturate, or oversharpen.
I let shadows stay shadows, and light stay gentle—unless the moment demands drama.

Sometimes, the bird is the main character. At other times, it’s just part of the world it inhabits. And that’s the beauty of it.

So there you have it — a living, breathing style guide for my photography. One that stays true to the bird, the light, and the place. The editing serves the photo, not the other way around.

Let me know what you think — or better yet, take a look through the gallery and see how these ideas come alive.

-juha-

📸 My Visual Style Guide: Natural, Personal, Distinctive