Eye Contact in Photography
image by kkelly2007In our 10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits tutorial I talked about ‘Playing with Eye contact’ (point #2) as being one technique to add change the feel of an image.
Today I was flipping through an old photography magazine (called ‘photography focus guide’) and a quote about eye contact in portraits jumped off the page at me:
“Without eye contact, the whole mood of the image changes – the camera is now simply an ‘observer’ and this is a great opportunity to show a subject in a different way.”
I like that quote because it puts words to something I’d been feeling for a while but hadn’t known how to express.
There’s nothing wrong with having your subject look away from the camera (or to have them look down the barrel either) but it does alter the mood and style of your shot. Having it can create real intimacy with the viewer of your shot while not having it can give an image a sense of watching someone without being seen by them.
Do you tend to use eye contact or avoid eye contact in the portraits that you take?
PS: as I was about to hit publish on this it made me think of these two photos that photographer Jasmine Star took of me in a recent photo shoot. Two shots taken within a moment of each other but one with eye contact and one without – creating shots with different feels.
36 Responses to “Eye Contact in Photography” - Add Yours
July 26th, 2008 at 6:41 am
It largely depends on what I’m trying to achieve. Sometimes I make my subjects look directly at the camera, other times I ask them to look away.
And in regards to the photo used for the post, actually I think it’s gorgeous. It explains the whole point of drawing the viewer’s eye into the eyes of the subject. I also like the composition. It’s beautiful and mysterious at the same time.
July 26th, 2008 at 8:27 am
I prefer eye contact; it usually is more interesting and engaging to me. I don’t think the photo in this article is using eye contact, since the lady has a blank stare. She’s not connecting with the viewer at all. That can be good too, though.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am
This question brings us all back to the one thing that is most important in every photo you take, and that is, what feeling or emotion am I tring to share in this picture. Wiether you use eye contact or not is solely dependent on what type of feeling you want in the shot. Search for that feeling that moves you when you take the picture and it will help you decide which way you want to go.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I agree with Christina & Bob – the picture used as an example for this post isn’t necessarily an example of great eye contact… In fact, the picture has an almost distracting effect instead of attracting us to it.
I also completely agree with all of you who have said that it totally depends on the mood & emotion you’re aiming to capture. Very, very rarely will I just tell someone to look straight into the camera, posed and with a certain ‘look’. It hardly ever turns out looking the way I’d like… That’s just my opinion though. I enjoy really natural, unposed photos; I like to capture the person the way they are in real life! Almost as if just by looking at the snapshot, you feel as if you could know them.
There’s only one picture I could find that I did a pretty good job of getting nice eye contact… And it was practically an accident. I was taking a few pics of my sis last year after a wedding she was in, and she definitely wasn’t ready for this shot: Striking Beauty
Ultimately, good eye contact depends on both the subject & photographer.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
two of my favorite portraits are of a woman about 75 yrs old with a wonderfully lined and creased face and brilliant blue eyes. in one, she’s looking at me. in the other, i told her to remember something in her past, when she was about 20-30. Because of the subject’s looks, and the faraway look in her eyes, the portrait looks stunning – like she’s remembering a lost love, or something bittersweet. I love it. However, i also love the one looking right at me – her eyes are remarkably clear for her age,and full of knowledge.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I agree that it depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the picture. I find that when out with friends just taking shots when nobody is paying attention can capture very candid and potentially better shots than having them pose or look at the camera.
July 27th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Never shoot until you can see the whites of their eyes!!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 1:39 am
I want to add that eye contact also works for wildlife and pet photography. Often the most impressing shots of animals are when the animal looks right at the photographer.
July 27th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks for your interesting tute.
It’s not a contest between candid or direct portrature. There are plenty of examples of memorable (and bad!) photographic portraiture which uses both styles on Flickr.
The image of the girl above is great, imo.
July 27th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I tend to avoid eye contact. I think it makes photographs more “mysterious”.
April 11th, 2010 at 6:18 am
That image of the girl is terrifying. It’s far beyond even “over-photoshopped.” The eyelashes are even drawn in!
April 11th, 2010 at 6:45 am
You are absolutely right the difference is dramatic. With direct eye contact it makes the viewer part of the story and without it, it becomes an entirely different plot.
April 11th, 2010 at 10:53 am
When I’m in a large group of people and I am NOT in charge of photographing the moment, I will tell the people, “when you see me, don’t look AT me, but do try to have a face you want remembered.”. If I am expected to have photos of an event, then it’s a mixed bag, Some posed and looking at me, some just candid. I tend to shoot in rapid fire, so I get a bit of everything that way. When I want them to look at me I just say “eyeballs” and they look at me, so far that’s worked for me.
April 11th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
@paige I think I will use your phrase, “have a face you want remembered,” that is great.
It is really interesting the difference lens eye contact makes and doesn’t, I am thankful for the final example in this post as without it the words themselves did not portray just how different eye contact can make a portrait. I like them side-by-side and will borrow that idea as well for my next shoot.
April 11th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Certainly, eye contact and err… eye non-contact can produce different feelings in a photo. But, I’m a bit surprised at the number of responses describing “what you’re trying to do.” Essentially we’re capturing a moment in light. I would imagine the effect of position of a subject’s eyes, has a great deal to do with the context of the image. Some of this can be contrived, some just “happens.”
Sometimes direct eye-contact can dominate a photo, be distracting, or even unpleasant.
http://unalienate.com/index.php?showimage=38
Of course a studio or photo-shoot provides an opportunity to direct the subject, but even then, it seems that most often we’re trying to capture a sense of the moment. Bottom line: I don’t think there’s any rule to be learned here. However, when selecting captures for print or production or whatever, taking note of the eyes is great advice.
I’m pretty curious to see what kind of pursed-lip, knitted brow, cocked hat, Zoolander-esque, expressions result from a direction like “try to have a face you want remembered.”
-ry
April 11th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
I think it depends on the situation. For some portraits like senior portraits there should be some of both just for a variety, but for traditional family portraits it is obvious..
April 11th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
I would like to share some examples of direct or indirect eyecontact:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthiashombauer/4439408032/in/set-72157623826993396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthiashombauer/4484429116/in/set-72157623826993396/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthiashombauer/4228855268/in/set-72157623826993396/
April 11th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I agree with everyone else that it depends on what you’re trying to achieve or simply which looks best assuming you shot more than one photo of the person.
The photo of the woman is stunning. I don’t care if it’s post processed or not.
Darren, I actually like the photo where you’re looking away from the camera better. But that’s just me.
IMO, eye contact can be fierce as in the photo above or mundane as in smiley family snapshots.
If I am shooting a person, I always take a lot of frames. I have one photo in particular where a friend was reading something to me and I was just sitting there going click, click, click.
He got annoyed and glared at me over his reading glasses at me and that was the shot. I’d post it but I have so many photos and no idea where it is.
Also agree about wildlife photos. Much better to have eye contact there. Maybe because animals eyes are always so watchful. They’re not thinking about how they’re going to look but about whether you’re a threat or not.
April 12th, 2010 at 8:57 am
I agree, but don’t make the final decision until editing.
Shoot all but make your choice later
My 3 examples are of contact of one very foxy mama are;
direct eye contact,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42942201@N06/4512455940/in/set-72157623709274741/
averted eyes, http://www.flickr.com/photos/42942201@N06/4512456686/in/set-72157623709274741/
and none / distanced attention,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42942201@N06/4512455054/in/set-72157623709274741/
The story of foxy mama is on my blog today, http://www.arppworks.blogspot.com
Thanks Darren
April 13th, 2010 at 1:45 am
I’ve been doing quite a few self-portraits recently and messing around with eye contact. It really does change the look of the picture.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Amazing stuff, I know photoshopped pictures like this isn’t for everyone, heck it maybe not even for me, but I do enjoy the way people can now express themselves. The contacts is just another means to do so. Great job!
April 14th, 2010 at 1:36 am
Animals have a true sense of real and sincere eye contact. They are looking at YOU, not some memory of the past. I’m always amazed how their eyes are drawn to my eyes. Perhaps it’s the chance of getting a treat.
As I take my daily walk, this guy is always there to meet me. He gets the occasional carrot or apple and in turn rewards me with some wonderful eye contact and great photos. I wish I could capture that same sincerity with people!
April 16th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Hi, I completely agree, eye contact makes some images much more intimate (see below) but the lack of it, in the right image can also add something.
April 16th, 2010 at 1:35 am
I often prefer images where the subject is looking away, engaged with something or someone else. However, I have noticed that many clients dismiss these images out of hand – “Not that one, he’s looking away.”
April 16th, 2010 at 1:40 am
Eye contact plus self portrait !!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rodri200000/4492402770/
April 16th, 2010 at 1:40 am
In almost all cases, I HATE direct eye contact to the lens. I prefer a real candid approach, meaning eyes
off camera, but I do want to see the eyes. I do not want an overly posed setting,
which looking at the camera is overly
posed. It is also the easy way for the photographer, rather than seeking a situation in which
the subject is “normal.” I see many magazines in which the editor has asked for
direct eye contact with subjects, and in my opinion the value of the photo as showing personality
of the subject is destroyed, although it makes the job of the photographers easier. The exception is a studio head shot used for employment and formal occasions. I am the radical in my camera clubs.
April 16th, 2010 at 4:36 am
It’s funny….I always crack up when I see people post stuff like “ALWAYS” and “NEVER” when talking about our craft.
Rules are made for breaking…..they are put there as guidelines. Ive seen images that have been knock down gorgeous (and have made a LOT of money…I might add) that have not one shred of white in the eyes showing….the eyes are cast down. It can be very, very effective.
I ask my models very often to look away. Depends on the situation/time/place/lighting, etc. I agree wholeheartedly with Al Holliday – a lot of the times direct contact just looks too posed. But then again, direct contact can work too – depends on the situation.
Just my two cents.
April 16th, 2010 at 5:01 am
i love both eye contact and just being an observer. I am a headshot photographer for actors, so my clients always have to look into the lens, but sometimes I get a little *slice of life* from them w/out them knowing
. I love them – they say something completely different about each client.
April 16th, 2010 at 6:21 am
I also find that direct eyes contact often look too posed. For portraits of people, I generally prefer no eye contact, as the result generally gives off the feeling that the photographer, as an observer, has captured the subject’s mood, feeling, etc., (a slice of life, as Jackie put it) rather than interfering with it or “stealing” the model’s naturalness by pointing the lense in their direction.
On the other hand, good “chemistry” between the photographer and the model can make all the difference in the world. A model who feels comfortable will obviously look more natural, and good results may come from eye contact. From my experience, I’ve found that eye contact works best not only when there’s a fun, relaxed mood, but also when the subjects gives off an emotion, of any kind, strong enough to outweigh the fact that he/she is posing for a picture. Either way, it’s usually a good idea to try both. You never know when an apparently bland model might surprise you with a glimpse of intensity…
April 16th, 2010 at 7:42 am
they say that the eye is the window of the soul, eye contact gives a more emotions on your subject. Great Job!
April 16th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Like some others have said, usually it depends. When I’m photographing some kind of event with people talking or doing some kind of activity, I would rather they didn’t look directly at the camera, so It’s like the camera is more of an “observer”, and people can see what it is more really like, not just “Hey get together and look over here so I can take your picture”, if anybody knows what I mean.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Re: Eye contact:
Sometimes I see portraits or especially ads where the person, usually a pretty woman, appears to be looking at me and I find those are attention-getting shots. Some of our kitty calendar images are like that and my wife and insist “the cat is looking at me!” We can be at either side of the calendar. Those are special images for us.
Stan
April 17th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Hello,
Eye contact is eye catching, definitely. But in my opinion eyes away tend to be more natural, intimate and somehow authentic. When shooting for fun (no particular expectation or foreseeable use of the pictures), I tend to do both. In a magazine, eye contacts are stronger on the cover or on the first page of a long interview. Then on the other pages, I think eyes away are more intimate and relevant.
There still is a particular case; (small) group shots. Is that situation, my preference is to have one person looking at the camera, and the other ones interacting between them; i.e. if i am shooting a woman and her husband, I often ask her to look at me, and ask him to look at her. Same for a family. It gives the ‘reader’ an opportunity to see how my subject interacts with others, rather than just have a clue on what they look like!
April 25th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Right Darren, You are very correct. Eye contact most times gives a feeling of synergy between the image and the photographer. It also depict the mood. Nice one .
February 26th, 2011 at 1:51 am
I think psychologically we’re hard-wired to look at people who are looking at us – which is why advertisers use many images of eye-contact shots – If you’re sitting in a traffic jam, you can’t help but look at the billboard photo of the face looking at you. Also, we “read” people through their eyes, “windows to the soul” and all that. We instinctively want to know what other people are thinking and might be trying to communicate. Portraits without eye-contact have, I believe, inherently less impact than those that do.
February 17th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Much of my work starts with introducing myself to a complete stranger and buying them a cup of coffee and a sandwich. A chat session about life in general usually follows.. Nothing is ever mentioned about photography as my equipment stays in the bag. A lot of these folks share stories of better times. Sometimes these chats just seem to naturally transition into an improptu street portrait session. Most times the subjects feel completely comfortable just gazing down the barrel of my lens like they are sharing a part of their lives. I am always gratefull that they give me permission to share.
Leave a Reply