Rick Raasch Photography Editing Styles
When you choose a photographer, you’re really choosing two things: how your story is documented and how those moments are preserved in the edit. Before I started shooting film in 2024, my editing style was all about pushing the limits of digital cameras—crisp sharpness, strong contrast, rich vibrant colors, always chasing the newest gear and tools.
Then I fell in love with film and the history of photography. I started collecting old photo books, experimenting with mist filters, and diving into the slower, more intentional process of shooting film and all its imperfections. Somewhere in that journey, I realized that my “modern” look didn’t feel as much like me anymore. I still wanted to keep shooting digital images with the gear I’d invested in, but I also longed for my work to reflect how I was growing and changing as an artist and person. I wanted your photos to look true to life so they instantly bring you back to that moment while also elevating those moments with a touch of beauty and character only the camera can create. Something authentic, timeless, and beautiful.
Over this past year, I’ve been refining my look and I’ve realized it’s less about the presets and more about how I see and capture things. As a drummer and musician, it reminds me of genres of music: no matter what genre a well known drummer is playing, it still sounds like them when they sit down behind the kit. In the same way, cameras, lenses, tools, and technology will continually change but what makes a photographer unique is their eye, perspective, personality, and the experience they create with you. As we head into 2026, I’m proud to officially introduce my editing styles that each speak to me in their own way and, more importantly, give you the freedom to choose the look that speaks to you-so together, we can create the best most honest version of your story.
To keep things clear and consistent, I edit every gallery in one of three. All three are intentional, cohesive, and designed to age well.
Here’s what each one actually looks and feels like…
Signature
Based on a European filmic preset, used for most of my 2025 wedding work. Perfect for weddings, engagements, and sessions that crave a touch of stylized beauty.
Classic
A less stylized and more true-to-life version of Signature. Best suited for families, lifestyle sessions, and casual events.
Modern
My true-to-life look used for everything before 2024. Available upon request.
Signature
Short version: romantic, luminous, soft, and slightly dreamy. My default preset.
Signature is the look I used for my 2025 weddings and artistic family sessions and is going to be my main look moving forward. It’s built on a European film inspired preset, which was originally designed as a luxury wedding preset with refined skin tones, soft blues in the highlights, and greens that feel elegant rather than neon.
In practice, that means:
Skin tones stay natural and flattering without looking overly warm or saturated
Colors are gently softened so nothing screams at you in the frame
Highlights that lean toward a soft, airy feel with a whisper of coolness that keeps things refined
Greens & blues that feel cinematic and curated, not electric or overly saturated
The overall effect is romantic and editorial, but still grounded in reality
Classic
Short version: clean, polished, and slightly editorial. Artistic yet true to life and grounded in beauty.
“Classic” is an new look adapted from the Signature preset from 2025. It keeps most of the same DNA from Signature—balanced skin, refined greens, and a subtle, luxurious color palette—but with a bit more neutrality and versatility for everyday life.
What that looks like in your photos:
Clean highlights that feel bright without blowing out your skin or dress
Natural greens that look true to how the scene felt in person
Skin tones that stay warm and soft, with just enough polish to feel elevated
Overall vibe: contemporary yet classic with a taste of quiet luxury
Best suited for:
Family portraits
Weddings when desired
Lifestyle portraits (in-home, beach walks, downtown hangs)
Casual events where we still want character, vibes, and a cohesive feel
It’s intentionally flexible so it works just as well for kids running around in a park as it does for a couple on their wedding day. If you want your images to feel timeless, elevated, not overly stylized and still very “you,” this is the style.
Modern
Short version: crisp, vibrant, and true to what you saw in real life.
Modern is the look I used before 2025 and still use in specific situations where we want that clean, real-world color, some pop and vibrancy. It’s defined by:
Warm, flattering skin tones
Vibrant colors
Clean contrast that feels sharp and professional
True-to-life color with just a touch of warmth so things don’t feel cold or clinical
Best suited for:
Available by request only starting in 2026
Modern is less stylized than Signature or Classic. It’s meant to feel clean, vibrant, contemporary, bold and true—perfect for situations where your images are doing double duty as both keepsakes and professional assets.
To Conclude
If you’re drawn to one look in particular, you can absolutely mention it in your inquiry or questionnaire. I’ll always match the style to your desire, location, and type of session providing you with photographs that will still feel good 10–20+ years from now.
