The 20-70-10 Approach to Photography
Natural. Romantic. Real.
Photography is rarely about pressing the shutter once and moving on. The strongest images often come from patience, observation and allowing yourself time to move beyond the obvious frame.
Over time, I have found that one of the most helpful ways to think about this process is through what I would describe as the 20-70-10 approach to photography.
It is not a technical rule in the traditional sense. It is a practical way of working. A way of slowing down, covering the essentials properly, and then giving yourself the time and space to create something more thoughtful and distinctive.
For me, the idea is simple. Spend the first 20% of your time securing the dependable images, the next 70% refining and improving the work, and the final 10% allowing room for something more creative or unexpected.
It is a calm, professional rhythm that helps photography feel both reliable and artistic.
What Is the 20-70-10 Approach?
The 20-70-10 approach is about how you use your time and attention during a shoot.
The first 20% is about creating confidence. This is where you make sure you have the photographs that matter most. Clean composition, accurate exposure, strong focus and the essential moments all come first. These images give you a solid foundation and allow you to move forward, knowing the important work is already in place.
The next 70% is where the real photography happens. This is the stage where you refine, observe more carefully and begin to look beyond the first obvious image. You may adjust your angle, work more deliberately with light, simplify the background, step into a stronger position, or wait a little longer for a more natural moment. This is often where the most elegant and meaningful photographs are created.
The final 10% is for creative freedom. This is where you allow yourself to experiment. You might play with reflections, movement, framing, silhouette, depth or atmosphere. Not every image from this stage will be the strongest, but sometimes the most memorable photograph comes from giving yourself permission to try something different.
Why This Approach Works
One of the easiest mistakes in photography is to stop too soon. It is tempting to create a single pleasing image and feel that the job is done. In reality, the first image is often only the starting point.
The 20-70-10 approach works because it encourages a more thoughtful process. It begins with structure and reliability, then spends most of its time on refinement. That middle stage matters. It is where the image becomes stronger, more polished and more intentional.
Rather than rushing from one frame to the next, this approach encourages you to stay with the subject for longer. It helps you notice more, respond more carefully to light and atmosphere, and create photographs that feel more considered.
It also helps maintain balance. You are not chasing creativity before you have secured the essentials, and you are not becoming so safe that the work loses character. You are allowing professionalism and artistry to work together.
The Importance of the 70%
The most important part of this approach is the middle 70%.
That is because beautiful photography rarely lives only in the first safe frame or the final experimental one. More often, it is found in the quieter process of refinement. It is noticed that the light is better if you step two feet to the left. It is waiting for a more natural expression. It is in simplifying the frame, improving the composition, or seeing a little more depth in the scene.
This stage is where good photographs often become better ones.
It is also where a photographer’s style becomes more visible. Not through gimmicks, but through care, patience and the ability to recognise when an image can be improved.
Using the 20-70-10 Approach in Wedding Photography
In wedding photography, this way of thinking is especially valuable.
A wedding day is full of genuine, unrepeatable moments. Some are quick and emotional, while others are quieter and more atmospheric. The first 20% of the process focuses on ensuring those moments are captured with confidence and professionalism. The essentials matter, and they should always come first.
The middle 70% is where a wedding gallery gains its depth and elegance. It is where light, atmosphere, composition and emotion all begin to work together. It may be the way a couple naturally hold each other during portraits, the softness of a room during bridal preparations, or the quiet detail that helps tell the wider story of the day.
The final 10% is where there is room for something more creative. Perhaps a more unusual portrait, a reflection, a silhouette, or a more artistic way of framing the scene. These images are not there to replace the important story of the day. They are there to add another layer of beauty and individuality.
That balance is something I value greatly in wedding photography. It allows the work to feel natural, refined and personal, while still making space for creativity.
A Professional Way to Slow Down
What I like most about the 20-70-10 approach is that it encourages photographers to slow down in the right way.
Not slow in a hesitant sense, but calm and intentional. It reminds you to cover what matters, stay with the subject, and keep looking for something stronger before moving on.
In a world where it is easy to rush, overshoot or chase constant novelty, there is something valuable in working with more purpose. The photographs often feel better for it. More complete. More thoughtful. More personal.
Final Thoughts
The 20-70-10 approach to photography is not about rules for their own sake. It is simply a way of working that brings together structure, refinement and creativity.
Begin by securing the essentials. Spend most of your time improving and shaping the image. Then leave a small amount of space for experimentation.
For me, that is where photography feels at its best — calm, considered and quietly creative.
If you enjoy photography that feels natural, thoughtful and beautifully refined, you may also enjoy exploring more from Marcus The Photographer.