Photography is much more than images on your Instagram; it's an art form that captures the essence of a moment. Whether it's a candid laugh shared between friends, the serene calm of a sunrise, or the joy of a summer festival, photographs have the power to encapsulate these experiences in a way that resonates on a profound level. In this month's blog, we explore how using photography to evoke emotion can transform everyday scenes into lasting memories and provide tips on capturing meaningful moments during the summer.
Expression tells story
Imagine a high-end fashion show. Picture the models walking down the runway. Most models are instructed to stare straight ahead with no expression. This creates a dead-eyed stare that borders on the uncanny valley. This is done on purpose because the model is not the focus of the photo; the clothes are. When models strut their stuff on the runway, they must not outshine the clothes they are meant to be selling. If the model has done their job right, you will not feel any kind of emotion when you look at their face. In fact, you probably won't even remember what they looked like, but you will remember the clothes.
So, let's extrapolate from this example. What can we learn?
- Expressions catch our attention.
- Viewing another person's expressions evokes emotions from the audience.
- We are easily distracted by expression and feelings.
Why does this matter when it comes to photography?
Capturing a candid moment is easy. Capturing a moment at the right time is not. You need to be good at reading people and understanding where the narrative of a moment is going so you can plan to capture the perfect candid photo. The perfect candid photo is eye-catching, draws our attention, makes us feel something, and tells a story.
The Storytelling Power of Photography
A single photograph can tell a complex story, conveying themes of love, despair, joy, or adventure. Skilled photographers are storytellers who use their cameras as pens to write visual narratives. They know how to capture the right moment—the expressive glance, the unexpected smile, or the tear rolling down a cheek—turning fleeting emotions into permanent keepsakes.
How to Elicit Specific Emotions from Your Viewer:
- The Eyes: The first thing humans look at when meeting another person is their eyes. Through evolution, we have learned that we can tell if someone is a threat or not based on the expression the eyes are portraying. We can use this evolutionary instinct to create an instant connection with our viewer. Make sure your subject's eyes are in focus and reflecting the emotion you wish to portray.
- The Mouth: Similar to the eyes, we have also learned through evolution to look from the eyes to the mouth. Our brain wants to know if teeth are showing and if we should worry about it. Our brain then takes the information it has seen about the mouth and the eyes and makes a conclusion about the emotion it is seeing. Open mouth with wide eyes = startled or shocked; squinty eyes with raised corners of the mouth and teeth showing = laughing and happy. All this is to say you want to make sure your eyes and mouth are portraying the same emotion. Dead eyes with a smile will make your audience believe that your subject is not actually enjoying themselves. That’s not the message you want to portray.
- Body Language: Ursula had it right; when you don’t have your voice, body language can speak for you. The example I like to give my clients when I am doing couples photos is that I can tell how happy a relationship is based on how the couple poses themselves when I tell them to pose together. If they lean towards each other, they are probably in a loving and happy marriage. If they lean away from each other, they probably won't be together much longer. Every couple I have photographed that leans away from each other is now divorced. How you carry yourself, pose, and interact with each other speaks volumes.
- Lighting: Lighting is used to create ambiance. Think of when you are watching a movie. When there is a sunset, the mood is often reflective, fun, and light. When everything is dark, looks blue, and is foggy, we associate that lighting with fear, spookiness, and tension. Lighting is universal in its storytelling. We can take the same lighting that we see in movies and mirror it in our photos to elicit the same emotions.
Photography is a powerful tool for emotional expression and storytelling. By capturing the right moments with the right approach, you can create images that do more than just show; they evoke feelings and tell stories that connect on an emotional level. This summer, whether you're documenting family gatherings, travel adventures, or quiet moments of reflection, remember to capture not just the sights but also the emotions and stories behind them.
Consider hiring a professional like Amanda Swanson Photography to ensure that your summer memories are beautifully and expertly captured, allowing you to relive those moments exactly as they felt, time and time again.
