Maine & New Hampshire Wedding Photographer // Mentor Series:Mentor Series Blog: Moody Ain’t Muddy: Edit Like You Respect the Day (and the Humans in It)

Let’s have a little heart-to-heart, photog to photog.
Yes, I’m a dark and moody photographer.
No, that does not mean I suck all the color out of your wedding and call it “art.”

We’re not out here throwing VSCO filters on precious memories like it’s 2012.

Let’s talk about editing with intention—and why moody should never mean muddy.

People Pick Wedding Colors on Purpose. Respect That.

Your couples didn’t spend 6 months picking out a sage green that matched eucalyptus and didn't clash with the groom’s navy suit just so you could slap a brown overlay on it and call it a vibe.

Editing should enhance the moment, not erase it.
Those florals? They cost a mortgage payment.
That bridesmaid dress swatch went through 12 revisions.
The linens? They finally matched the Pinterest board after 4 meltdowns and a returns policy violation.

So yeah—honor those colors. Don’t wipe them out.

Let’s Talk Skin Tones, Because I’ve seen some shit..

I’m just gonna say it:
People are not orange.
People are not gray.
People are not desaturated husks floating in some weird sepia-toned wasteland.

Unless someone truly went ham on the spray tan, skin tones should look like skin.
Warm? Sure.
True-to-life? Absolutely.
Looking like they got dunked in a vat of bronze paint? Please, no.

Your editing should showcase your subject as they are, not turn them into a sunburnt marshmallow or a sad Tim Burton character.

Dark and Moody ≠ Dirty and Murky

“Moody” doesn’t mean “gloomy,” “muddy,” or “flat.”
A proper moody edit still has depth, contrast, and COLOR.
It’s about using shadows, light, and emotion—not sucking the life out of the image.

Here’s what I keep in mind when I edit:

• Are the whites still white?

• Are the skin tones still flattering and accurate?

• Can you see the difference between burgundy and burnt orange?

• Does the image feel like the moment felt?

If the answer is no… back to the drawing board (aka Lightroom sliders).

Real Talk for Photographers

Editing is not where you fix everything.
It’s where you refine it.
You want a consistent style? Awesome. But that doesn’t mean flattening the life out of your couples’ wedding day just to match your grid aesthetic.

Moody photographers: we can still give people clean, rich, timeless images.
You can be artistic and true-to-life.
You can create drama without turning skin into Velveeta.

Keep It Real. Always.

Moody isn’t a preset. It’s an intentional use of light, shadow, and color that supports the story—not erases it.
Respect the colors, protect the skin tones, and for the love of golden hour—don’t make everyone look like a crusty filter from 2009.

Let’s elevate the work and keep it real.
Moody ain’t muddy, friends.