Emotions are intangible and only visible on the outside as a smile, a frown, or a pulsing range in someone’s eyes. We feel emotionally connected to some photographs more than the others because, subconsciously, they remind us of something. It’s the same with music and taste (remember Proust’s Madeleine cake?).
For example, I immediately feel blue when I hear Lorde’s ‘’Liability’’ song because its melody triggers something in my brain and makes me sad.
Different people get triggered by different things and there isn’t a picture that will have the same effect on everyone.
I’ll try to explain some things I’ve figured out about emotional portraits:
SUBJECT
People are attracted to other people on images and that’s no wonder: we like what we’re familiar with.
I’ve seen (and done so myself) pictures ruined because the choice of the model didn’t fit the theme. It is up to the photographer to determine what kind of model is best suited for a particular story.
The atmosphere needs to be relaxed in order for the models to let themselves go if you wish to achieve emotional photos. It is the photographer’s job to catch that fleeting ‘perfect’ moment, a mixture of fragility and strength.
Talking, laughing, taking a break, having a muffin and easing into shooting are like a ritual of getting to know one another through the lens of a camera.
Shooting self portraits is sometimes easier than photographing other people because I know which emotions I want to convey and how I can show them on my face. Explaining to other people what you expect of them is harder, but working in a relaxed atmosphere helps a lot.
THEME
The theme can be very straightforward, but the images that make your eyes linger a bit longer are those with underlying stories that can’t be deciphered at the first glance.
Sometimes there can be ‘’no theme’’ or, rather, the mood sets the theme of the photograph and no words are needed to explain it. The mood is created by a myriad of different elements: the colours in the shot, lighting conditions, the model, the perspective etc.
Understanding what you want to say, as well as how you want to say it, plays a meaningful role in creating engaging emotional images.
You wouldn’t want to shoot a dark-themed image in the bright sun, unless you are going for something quirky.
COLOUR
Learning about colour and developing an eye for it is extremely beneficial in photographic work. Starting from the clothes, the subject’s features and the setting, all the way to Photoshop, colours help set the mood.
As someone who’s known for the colours she uses, Brooke Shaden’s yellows and blues make her images look timeless, dark and evoke nostalgia.
In the image above with Chiara, the red of her lips and shirt, as well as the green moss on the tree and her blonde locks, made a good base for a dark fairytale-like photo. The natural light is also something that set the mood; just imagine how much this image would look different if I had used flash-light or some other lighting source.
LIGHT
This is the key element in photography and emotional portraits can be achieved in many lighting setups, from soft window light to striking studio flashes. Knowing your aim will help you choose the light best suited for your shoot.
