Masterclass

READING BODY LANGUAGE

I

t is to a pointinherent in humannatureto read body
language.Weareconditionedfromchildhoodtoreadthe
intricate signals thatanother person’s body gives off in
order to determine what emotion they are feeling. It is
generally thought that around 60 to 80 per cent of all
communicationbetweenpeopleisofanon-verbalnature,
illustratingjusthowpowerfulacueitcanbefortheportrait
photographer.

Bodylanguageisnotjustabouthowweholdandmoveour
bodies, it can also encompass the following:

• Howwepositionourbodies,ourposture,andthegeneral
  way we carry ourselves.


• Thespacebetween usand otherpeople and howthis
  changes as we warm to them or they become more
  comfortable with us.


• Thefacialexpressionswemayinstinctivelymake.Facial
  expressionsintheirrawandsimpleststatewilloverride
  any language and cultural difference, with the six
  universalfacialexpressionsthateverybodycanrelateto:
  happiness, sadness, disgust, fear, anger and surprise.
  More subtle facial expressions are harder to read.


• How the eyes make contact and move around whilst
  interacting with another person.


• The way in which we physically touch others and
  ourselves.