Facial Expressions

(Click on photos to enlarge)

If a picture setup includes the model’s face, a great expression is critical, though it doesn’t have to be intense or overly dramatic. Most times, subtlety is best. And, of course, the expression must work well with everything else in the photograph. 

This pose was all Judy’s idea. For me, everything in this photograph screams “Monday morning” - her arm as a headrest, the extreme leaning, her grip on the coffee cup, and the far off empty stare.

When shooting with an inexperienced, non-actor model, getting the expressions I want may involve a concerted effort from both of us. This can happen when I ask for different looks from shot to shot, but they unknowingly repeat the same one each time. In that case, I might walk them up to a mirror and have them try a few expressions, making sure each is different. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try talking them through specific poses. For example, if I want “surprise”, I may say “Try raising your eyebrows” or “Open your mouth a bit”. This can be time-consuming, but it usually solves the problem.

She’s merely eating a cracker, but I think her expression oozes pure evil. There’s nastiness brewing.

Sometimes, the model will go overboard with a look, making it too big and too obvious, especially for a close-up. If this is an issue, I’ll gently mention it and ask them to reduce its intensity. By the way, it’s usually easier to tone down a model’s expression rather than trying to build it up. On the other hand, big and obvious can work well sometimes.

These were college roommates. Not a couple, but good friends who liked goofing around together. I had them try a variety of facial contortions. I think this was one of the best.

Many times, a shot is not completely dependent on the model’s expression. In terms of the whole image, their face may be less important. This frequently is the case when other elements, such as body positioning, props, or settings, are just as critical. In fact, sometimes having a toned down expression is what the photo calls for. Anything more could take away from the rest of the picture.

The expression is subtle, but strong enough to show her anticipation. I think both her coat and its upturn collar, her relaxed stance, and the strong grip on the gun convey her readiness to take on whatever's about to unfold.

What's really cool about this image is that it took only a slight distortion of the lips to create a goofy expression.

There's something especially sweet and maybe even a bit haunting about Dominique's smile. She was enjoying the strong breeze from a large industrial fan that was just out of frame. (I'm not always happy with the photos of mine that are selected for book covers. But I thought this image was perfect for Jackie French's Matilda Saga series. And I think the artwork they added is stunning).

I love having an element of conflict in models' expressions when photographing them in pairs. I think this is evident in the three pictures below.

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