What Elements Create the Look of an Image

Lighting, Expression, Background, Clothing

Lighting is critical to all photography – it creates mood, shows/hides details, and directs the viewers eye to the most important elements of a photograph. The eye is naturally drawn to brighter areas of a photograph, as well as to areas of contrast (ie, light vs. dark). Darker areas of a photograph can create more of a somber, dramatic feel, which can also be associated with power. Shadows are often used to “tell” the viewer (subconsciously) where to focus their attention. For headshots, you want the viewers eye to focus on the subject’s eyes and mouth – the eyes convey confidence, the mouth friendliness and approachability (more on that in a future post). By creating a slight gradual shadow as you move from the center of the subject’s face towards the ears, you’re telling the viewer to look at those elements.

The transition from the lighter areas of a photograph to darker areas can be gradual or quick/harsh. The term “hard light” describes a light that has rapid falloff from light to dark, and can also create some shadows even within the lighter areas (ie, crevices on the face). On the other hand, a softer light has a more gentle falloff between the lighter and darker areas, and the crevices are also not as harsh. The results are different looks/impressions/moods that the viewer experiences when viewing the image.

The examples here show how lighting, expression and clothing can combine to create very different looks and impressions. Neither is right or wrong – it depends on your branding and impression you want to create.