What makes a great photograph?
Do you ever wonder what, exactly, makes a photograph truly great? As the saying goes, yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And we certainly know it when we SEE one. But there are a few key elements to a great photograph.
The first is setting. As a photographer, I’m always on the hunt for beautiful spots for client portrait sessions. A beach at sunrise, mountains in the distance, or lots of spring flowers in bloom all make for compelling backdrops. While the setting needs to be easy on the eyes, I also tend to lean towards spots that are quiet, without a ton of foot traffic. I find people generally do best and get more comfortable in front of the camera without an audience of strangers scoping out the scene.
The second element to a great photograph is a lack of distraction. What I mean by this is – there is not a lot of “stuff” mucking up the frame, aside from the subjects you wish to highlight. A great photograph generally doesn’t have an obvious streetlight or road sign, or other object that turns your attention away from your clients. Beware, too, of the phantom photo bomber from afar that sneaks into your frame. Because without these things in the picture, we’re left with what matters: the people and their connection on full display.
The third element to a great photograph (and possibly the most important) is light. Great light is the thing all photographers are chasing. With great light, you get flattering skin tones, catch lights that dance in your subject’s eyes so that they sparkle, and – if you’re really lucky – or just know the right time of day to schedule your sessions – a beautiful golden glow that shines on your subjects and the full frame. Great light can be manipulated in studio thanks to technology and electricity, but when you’re out in the elements, it’s all about the time of day. Setting isn’t even as important – I’ve put my own daughters and my nephew in the middle of a road (don’t worry, it was a quiet one!) so that I could catch the sun setting behind them. Photographers are known to take their clients to some crazy places in pursuit of the light – but I promise there is a method to the madness!
The final component to a great photograph is emotion. A belly laugh shared among sisters in mid-stride? A mama embracing her little boy with such love that her eyes squeeze shut? The baby with her hands placed lovingly on her daddy’s cheeks? This is the good stuff, people. These are the photographs that make people feel, that send them back in time, right back to that moment and touch hearts. Capturing that emotion in a frame…it’s magic.
These are my top elements to a truly great shot. Tell me yours!