Why I Don’t Let Filters or Presets Define My Photography

When photography and technology converge, we get incredible tools, one of the most popular being digital presets, image filters, and stylized looks. They promise consistency, speed, and a recognizable “vibe.” At first glance, that sounds amazing. And I’ll be honest, I get the appeal. I like how some filters can look. They can create a mood, a feel, a tone that’s immediately striking.

But here’s something I’ve learned after years behind the lens: A look should come from your eye and your intention, not from an algorithm or a one-click style pack.

But over time, I’ve come to believe this: a photographer’s voice should come from how they see, not from a downloaded look.

Photography is fundamentally about seeing. It’s about understanding how light shapes emotion, how color and contrast reflect narrative, and how form and context pull a viewer in before any editing is applied.

• how the light falls

• where the shadows live

• how the colors interact with mood

• how the frame feels

Those decisions are why you recognize a photographer’s work. Not because of a preset. Not because of a look someone downloaded.

This is also why good glass matters to me. Quality lenses don’t just resolve detail, they render light, space, and tone with character. That character becomes part of the image at the moment of exposure. It’s something no filter can truly recreate.

Great optics and intentional shooting give you control at the moment of making, not just at the moment of editing. That control is where I believe genuine style and true connection begins.

I want my work to be recognizable regardless of the camera or lens I’m using. That, to me, is authorship. When a specific preset becomes essential to achieving a look, authorship starts to drift. The image risks becoming dependent on a tool rather than rooted in intention.

Presets and filters can speed up a workflow, but they don’t teach you how to see. They can suggest a mood, but they don’t create meaning. Used without understanding, they can quietly flatten nuance and standardize emotion.

Why I Won’t Let Presets Lead My Process: I want my work to be recognizable even if,

• the camera changes

• the lens changes

• the sensor changes

To me, that’s a mark of authorship. Over-reliance on filters or presets can create uniformity, but it can also create dependency, a reliance on a look, rather than crafting a vision.

Here’s what I observe in my own workflow and in conversations with long-time professionals:

• Presets can make editing faster, but not better - They can standardize color, but they don’t teach you why those colors matter.

• Presets and image filters can suggest a mood, but not create one - A photograph’s emotional power should come from what was in front of the lens, not what was on the it.

• Presets and image filters can define a style - But only if the photographer already defines themselves. Using someone else’s style without understanding its mechanics can produce uniformity but not individuality.

What I Want For My Clients

When someone sees my work, I don’t want them to see: “Oh, this was made with a cool filter.”

I want them to feel: “This is how Jun saw this moment.”

That’s the difference between a look, and a voice.

Photography is storytelling and stories are human. They come from empathy, observation, presence, and intuition. A filter can enhance them. It should never be where they begin.

I believe photography is not about freezing time. It’s about learning how to be present inside it.

If this though and feeling resonate with you and you’re curious about how I approach light, composition, and editing without relying on presets, image filters and over editing, check out my workshops and join me for an one on one session or group photo walk where I break down how I balance craft and technology in every shoot.

Photograph & written by: Jun Tagai