The Slightest Difference in Expression Makes a Difference

One of the things I enjoy most about my work is meeting people with different backgrounds and expertise. In doing so, I get to know them a bit, both personally and professionally, and this helps me when working with them to create images that both will be of most value to them, as well as ones they’ll love.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Jackie Dobson, who is an Access Design & Resource Specialist. Her business, Solutions for Accessibility, helps homeowners, businesses, and organizations create and implement designs that meet the specific needs of people with medical conditions and disabilities.

Jackie is writing an article for This Old House Magazine and hadn’t updated her image in a while, so she came to my studio for an update. One of the things I do with all my clients is to discuss the kinds of looks they’re going for – ones that support/amplify their branding, sends the right message and creates the best first impressions. This drives a variety of decisions/options around lighting, background color, clothing, etc.. But most importantly, it’s the expression that grabs the viewer, assuming the other elements are playing their supporting role.

For her business which is under the healthcare umbrella, the combination of experience, confidence and compassion were the key elements that she wanted to convey. So we worked on expressions and looks that showed her deep experience in helping people create environments to support people living with disabilities.

Here are 2 great examples from our session – the differences in expressions are subtle, and either image would work well with her brand. They each emphasize something a bit different – the image on the left has a lot of positive energy – Jackie’s eyes are smiling along with her mouth and her expression is very genuine. There’s also a bit of determination in her look as she’s looking directly at the viewer.

In the second image, her eyes are also smiling with her mouth and it too looks genuine. Her eyes are “smiling” a bit more and her head is tilted slightly – this image emphasis warmth/compassion, while still showing her experience and energy.

Both images would be great for her brand and the article, but they definitely convey/emphasize something different. Even the smallest differences in expression can make a significant difference.

Which is my favorite? I keep going back and forth – which do you prefer?