Why I use color management

When did you start your photography?

Oh gosh! I was a 9 year old kid running around trying to express herself with some old Kodak point and shoot my parents gave me. I was probably around 12 when I did my first ‘’editorial shoot ‘’ with the same Kodak. Had my beautiful long legged friend pose for me on an awful green Ikea table. When I hit 16 I managed to work & save enough money for a compact Sony camera and had it with me every single day capturing absolutely everything until I was 22 when it was stolen from me. At 26, while rocking my social media management career path, I started creating photos and videos for clients for a few creative agencies I worked for. The passion came back even stronger and never left…

Is photography your hobby or your profession?

It’s my profession. I could not imagine myself not doing it ever again. Times are changing and there might come a time that I will have to temporarily or part time do something else and I think you’ve got to be prepared for that. You have to be prepared for something going wrong, without shaming yourself for or feeling like a failure. Business is not easy and always includes so many different factors we can’t control so being able to navigate the world while still having a clear goal of what’s driving you is essential. I had to start from scratch when I moved to the UK in 2018 and I think I am on a good path making my name and work known.

Who and/or what inspires you most?

Fashion has always been something that drives me creatively. I was glued to TV and then the internet once I had it and scrolled endlessly through paparazzi photos of celebrities to find some inspiration. I need a visual stimulus to get my brain going all the time. I definitely analyse the world through my eyes and it really pays off creating photography and videos.

Another great inspiration is people themselves. I take my time getting to know my clients. How am I going to best portray them? Their life stories shaped them into who they are and why they are that way. It’s so inspiring! While shooting events like weddings I get to notice and capture all those tiny special moments.

What’s your photographic focus?

To tell a story and invoke emotion. I don’t want to just snap a photo. Anybody can do that. I want people to be able to feel my photographs and feel my videos.

What’s your next photo project, your next challenge?

It’s sort of ongoing, really! With my life and business partner Lel Burnett we are opening a wedding videography and photography business. We are doing 360 visual coverage from photos to filmmaking, providing high-end clients with a tailored approach to their own unique special day. Our first client is a stunning young couple who are getting married this August and requested us for our editorial approach to capturing their special day. We are so excited, stay tuned for the footage!

Do you include color management in your photographic workflow?

Of course! Colours can make or break a photo. A lot of people use colour management without even naming it, too. Your creative selection process while editing is a part of that. But it doesn’t start there. It starts as early as picking out your monitor, your laptop, your tablet and also picking out which log footage to shoot a video on, etc.

For a year now, I have also used Datacolor’s Spyder Checkr Photo, Spyder Cube and Datacolor Monitor Calibrators to help me maintain the colours I like to edit with. They give me peace of mind that my basics are covered and all I need to do is focus on my editing!

Why is color management and color calibration important to you? What does your process/workflow look like?

Professionals in creative and visual industries do things with intent. Colour choices matter and the best explanation is based on movies. Could you imagine Blade Runner in green tones? Absolutely not. It does not suit the message of the movie. Colour choice is almost an actor on its own – it plays the part, it sets an emotional tone, it becomes this movie’s identity. It’s the same way we work with our clients. Especially commercial ones where we work on very specific briefs and colour schemes that are based on a brand’s visual identity.

Workflow is very automatic now. I always calibrate my monitor at least every few months and with the Spyder products it’s so easy – just set up a reminder within a software so you don’t even think about it until it notifies you it’s time! On the shoot, I often use the Spyder Checkr Photo for further colour calibration in camera and easier colour correction in post production. At the beginning this might feel overwhelming but once you get used to this, it takes a second on set and saves you loads of time later. Not to mention increases your Perceived Production Value in the eyes of your client!

Why do you use color management?

Because colours matter. They create the emotional dimension to your photos. They are the 3D layer to your photo that helps you understand the scene. Having accurately calibrated monitors and displays gives you full control over the colour grading process.

What’s your experience with the X2? How has it helped you? How has it changed your photography?

Oh I am delighted with it! My favourite tab is the Analysis Tab. I am not the biggest tech girl out there but I am always hungry for knowledge and I like how visually it’s presented so I can learn with Datacolor as I perfect what I do best.

What do you do with your photos? Do you print them, post them on your social media accounts or your website, or do they simply stay on your hard drive?

At the moment it’s all mostly digital. Some of course stay on my hard drive in hopes one day I will get back to them (spoiler alert: never do!) but a few lucky ones have been published and printed in fashion magazines. With our new wedding photography and videography business we will start doing wedding albums and prints This is something we are both very excited about. Lel has already run his print shop before so I will lean on his expertise. We have Datacolor’s equipment helping us with it, way ahead of the first album even going to the printing house. Print colour needs to be 100% matching our digital output and I think it’s essential to be using all colour management possible to make that happen.

What’s your photographic goal? What do you dream of?

Never stop doing it? But also I would love to shoot big campaigns one day for some of my favourite brands – especially Adidas and Ives Saint Laurant. Hopefully one day…

Rysia Rhys, a UK based Photographer & Filmmaker, is the go-to choice for brands and individuals seeking unique content with an editorial twist. With 10 years of combined experience in the creative industries and 3 years in commercial photography, Rhys specializes in visual storytelling and creating captivating portraiture, fashion, and commercial imagery.