Successfully capturing the emotion in your subject can be quite tricky if you haven’t got any prior experience. But over time, you’ll improve if you stick with it. Researching is an excellent place to start, and you’ll find our top tips for achieving this skill below.
1. Capture Their Eyes
The easiest way to tell how someone’s feeling, or what they’re thinking, is by looking into their eyes. In photography, that’s no different; the best way to capture emotions is by focusing primarily on the eye area of the subject.
Capturing the subject’s emotions through their eyes is especially useful with portrait photography. You can dramatically change the look and feel of your image, making it a great way to guarantee that you achieve your desired results.
To capture the subject’s eyes more clearly, consider using a prime lens like the 85mm and focusing on their face. Alternatively, you can use something like a 50mm lens and get a little closer.
2. Talk to Your Model and Build Rapport
Many people think that you don’t need talent (other than looks) to be a model. That, however, is inaccurate. Anyone that has been the main subject in a photoshoot—regardless of whether that was professional or not—will tell you that it can be a nerve-wracking experience.
If your subject is nervous, this will be obvious in the photos you take. You must make them trust you beforehand, and the best way to do this is by building rapport and getting to know the individual better.
Ask your subject questions like their background, what they enjoy doing, and so on. If you can, meeting up before the day of the event can help build a closer connection.
3. Be Discreet With Your Camera
If you’re photographing a model on a planned shoot, they’re going to know that you’ll have the camera, and this point isn’t relevant. Street photography, however, is a different story.
When you’re out taking photos in a busy town or city, the outcome of your photos will depend massively on whether you can ensure that people maintain their genuine emotions. If you have a bulky camera, this will draw attention to you and potentially make some of your subjects feel uncomfortable.
Street photography is a lot more genuine if you can remain discreet. If you plan on doing this genre frequently, consider investing in a smaller camera; you’ll find plenty of high-quality mirrorless ones on the market.
The lens you use can also make a difference. An 85mm, for example, might draw attention to you if you stand close to people—but it can also help you capture your desired shot without being in your subject’s face. On the flip side, a 35mm might be more discreet, but you’ll need to stand closer to the person.
4. Don’t Start Snapping Right Away
One mistake that many beginner photographers make is going out with their cameras and not thinking about what will impact their pictures. They’ll hop straight into a photoshoot or street scene without any prior planning and little direction—and it often shows in their results.
If you want to get better at capturing emotions in photography, it’s a good idea to take some time to yourself before snapping away. Scout your location for a little while, and stop to take in everything—the smells, sights, sounds, and so on.
By holding back before you begin taking photos, you’ll put yourself in a better position to achieve the results you want. Moreover, you’ll save plenty of time sifting through countless scattergun shots that don’t meet your standards.
5. Adopt a Hands-Off Approach
Many creatives, photographers included, want to control as much of their endeavor as possible. But the reality is that most things lie out of our control, and applying pressure usually has the opposite of the desired effect.
If you’re out taking pictures of one person, you can go out with a rigid itinerary on the poses you want them to do. However, lacking flexibility means that you’ll miss out on plenty of opportunities you previously couldn’t have planned for.
Try to be as hands-off as possible. Let your model naturally pose and try to capture those spontaneous moments. Your photos will be a lot more genuine as a result, and your audience will clearly see this.
6. Consider Lighting
Lighting plays a huge role in photography, and the conditions you shoot in can significantly impact how your images portray emotions. Taking photos on a gloomy day might be good if you want to give the shoot a moody feel, but it’s not ideal for cheerier photoshoots.
Before you photograph someone else, think about the best time of day. Golden hour, for example, will make them look younger, additionally, it will bring forth emotions of freedom, happiness, and optimism.
If you’re unsure when the best time to shoot is, experiment. One helpful exercise worth considering is asking strangers if they’ll allow you to take pictures of them; doing this will also help get you out of your comfort zone, and you might even make a few new friends.
7. Think About Your Editing Style
The time of day and your environment will dramatically impact how well you portray the emotions you want in your images. However, what you do in the post-production phase is just as crucial.
Once you’ve grabbed your shots, import them into your preferred photo editing software. There, you can experiment with colors, exposure, and more, which can either highlight or suppress your subject’s emotions.
Capturing Emotion Is a Valuable Skill
Photography has many more components than a lot of people think. Yes, you need to have technical skills—but being aware of your surroundings and what can influence your photos is also essential for anyone looking to succeed in the long run.
Capturing emotions in your photography is an excellent way to stand out, and it’ll make your shots much more flattering for the subject, as well. Perfecting this takes time, but you’ll succeed if you stick with it and learn from your mistakes.
