Adapting Master Cinematography Principles Without Pure Imitation?

Hey everyone, I'm Miguel, a drone operator branching out more into ground camera work. I'm prepping for a short film, a mood piece about urban isolation, and I've been poring over material that analyzes the masters, guys like Deakins and Hoytema. The advice is always 'study, don't imitate,' which makes total sense, but I'm struggling with the practical application.

For example, I love Hoytema's use of practicals and natural light, and I've tried to incorporate that into some recent commercial shoots, letting natural window light define the scene with just a Forza 500 II for fill, rather than building elaborate setups. It felt good, but I worry it just looks like a watered-down version of his aesthetic, not distinctly 'mine.' On my C70, it just doesn't hit the same way it would on, say, a VENICE 2 with a full crew.

My current approach feels like I'm picking elements I like and trying to force them onto my projects. How have you all genuinely adapted the principles from your favorite cinematographers into your own unique visual style, without just outright copying their look?