photographingpeople;afterallitistheexpressionthatis
mostlikely tocreateanemotion intheviewer,far more
than a perfect pose.
Constantconversationwillallowthephotographertokeep
eye contact with the sitter, enabling them to feel more
comfortablewhentheactualimageisbeingtaken.Ifthe
subject isnot able to givethephotographer eyecontact
theyareuncomfortableandinsecureinthesituation,and
more work is needed to relax and reassure the client.
Aswearesociablebeingsoureyesaremoreexpressiveif
engagingwithanothersetofeyesratherthanwiththelens
of thecamera. In some instances thephotographer may
wishtoframetheshotincamera,andthenlookabovethe
cameratoengagewiththesubjecttoachieveamorenatural
expression.Thistechniqueworksverywellwithchildren
andadultsalike;thephotographercanpullfacesandpush
foremotionsandexpressionsiftheyareengagingwiththe
client.
Youmustalsobeawarethatthesittermayreadfromyour
facial expressions when looking to the camera display.
Theyneedreassurancethatwhattheyaredoingiscorrect.
Bygainingyoursubject’sinterest,youwillofcoursethen
allowthemtorelaxintothesitting,andaleveloftrustis
gained.
Thedirectionofthesitter’seyescanmakeorbreakagood
portrait. Many portraits will have the subject looking
straightintothelens.Lookingintothelensforanyperiod
oftime canbecomedisconcertinganduncomfortable for
thesitter,asthereisnopersonalinteractionwhenlooking
intothecameralens, andmixingdirecteye-contactshots