Six Ways to Capture Emotion at Your Next Session
We love a good emotional photo, here are six ways that you can capture emotion at your next session.
focus on facial expressions
One of the best ways to show emotion in photos is to watch for facial expressions during your session as they naturally happen. It’s the sideways glances between mom and dad, the little scrunched up nose face mom might make at her toddler, the adoring look between newlyweds..the love happening around you can always be found in the faces of the people you’re photographing.
use movement to tell a story
Whether it’s movement that’s been prompted or just a dress flowing in the wind, movement is going to elevate your photos and evoke emotion out of the viewers. Don’t overcomplicate it! Let the wind blow the hair and watch as steps splash in the tide pools. Movement will happen naturally and doesn’t always have to be prompted.
evaluate your environment
Take in your surroundings — and then use them! Get creative with how you scout your locations for photos. Use the buildings, the grasses, the sands, the mud and anything else you find visually interesting.
look for storytelling details
If you know that your clients have sentimental details or really meaningful moments happening during their sessions, focus on capturing them. These photos might not evoke emotion for any viewer but guarantee they’ll mean a lot to your clients.
capture the connections
Be intentional about capturing the connections between your clients and their loved ones. Watch for the gentle touches and the direct eye contact. Focus on the love behind the moments and really try to convey those feelings in your photos!
use the colors around you
Color helps us connect to a time and place. Whether it’s the golden hue of the sunset, the purpley-pink sky during blue hour or the turquoise waters of the ocean, using the colors around you help to immediately place your clients right back in the moments they spent in front of your camera.
