How many frames does it take to get a great flawed expression?
January 20, 2010 by Joe Edelman
Filed under Shooting Portfolios
I am a very heavy shooter. In a full day modeling portfolio shoot, I will shoot 10 – 12 outfits and average anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 frames.
I have had two separate experiences recently where I found myself in a discussion of how many frames it takes to get a great shot.
The first situation was with my young assistant who is trying to perfect her craft. I assisted her with a modeling shoot and watched as she fired frame after frame while keeping my studio strobes working with little time to recycle. I began to realize that she was doing what she “thought” she saw me do all the time – shooting heavy. I also realized that she was doing because she thought she needed to and NOT as a way to get that perfect shot. While helping her edit the shoot she observed that she wasn’t thrilled with the facial expressions.
The second event was a conversation with a fellow shooter in Denver, CO. I stumbled upon a shot that he had on his blog of a young lady in lingerie. The shot was well lit and attractively posed but the facial expression was very flat – almost a dead stare. I asked him out of curiosity how many frames he thought he had shot to get that image. His reply was approximately 10 frames.
So we have one shooter with tons of frames and weak expressions and one shooter with only 10 frames and weak expressions.
So the question arose – how many frames does it take or how many frames should it take to get a great shot?
Well before we can even attempt to answer that question we have to determine what defines a “great shot”?
Example of a "flawed expression".
Obviously, good lighting, exposure, composition, makeup, and styling ALL play an important role. That should be a given. You can only get out of the camera what you put in front of it.
In my opinion, one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of great people photography is the facial expression. I can’t even begin to tell you how many portfolios I look at – especially in the web modeling world – where the model shows two expressions in 20 or more photos. A full blown “cheese” smile and the mouth closed attempt at a “sexy” expression. In other words BORING!!!
Expressions that are flawed, not perfect – are MUCH more engaging and interesting to look at.
If you actually pay attention the images that you see in magazines, in advertisements, on billboards, etc. you will notice that you actually don’t see a lot of perfect smiles or closed mouth sexy looks. What you see are “flawed expressions”.
Expressions that look real. Expressions that look like the person was saying something or reacting to something
It all seems so logical yet if I am a betting man most of the people reading these articles are guilty of the two expression photo shoot.
Let’s put some more logic and science behind this observation.
Let’s start with the dictionary definition of the word: Expression Webster’s tells us that this word is a noun that represents the depiction of mood or sentiment.
We should also look at the definition of the word: Pose Webster’s explains that this is to put or set in place (as a model) in a studied attitude.
So we can pose the body but an expression is an action – a depiction – in other words it requires energy. I can pose a models body but I need her face to be expressive.
Science also teaches us that our brains process a tremendous amount of information without us even realizing this is happening. A perfect smile is an icon, a symbol that is immediately recognizable. As a result our brain will process this information and allow us to skip right over it as simply boring because it is readily identifiable.
Take a look at every teenagers MySpace or Facebook page. These pages are loaded with photos that are blurry, over or under exposed, poorly lit, etc. What we don’t see are the properly lit and composed school portraits that these kids sit for every year. In fairness to the school photographers, their portraits are better lit and composed than the cell phone snapshots that grace the profiles, yet nobody posts them Why? The expressions! The school portrait has a forced expression and all of the snapshots are spontaneous and flawed, hence they are much more real and engaging.
Ok, so if you are still reading… some of you have decided I think too much and haven’t answered the initial question and some of you are rubbing your chins and saying “wow – I never noticed this”.
So let’s get to the answer now… How many frames does it take to get a great flawed expression?
The answer: Only one! In order to get that one you may shoot 10, you may shoot 300. The moral to the story is that you have to pay attention.
Don’t be lazy and just shoot a few frames and don’t “spray and pray” expecting that you will get a good shot somewhere in the mix.
You must learn to see not only good lighting and composition but also what the eyes and mouth are communicating in the photo.
So for me – while I am a heavy shooter, it is not a rule. It is a process by which I am working with my model and pushing her to give me an expression that is natural, different, flawed and as a result – engaging.
Sometimes the shot comes quickly. Other times it takes a while. Either way – it is the expression that is most important. get that right and you will be amazed at what people will NOT notice in your images.
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Hi Joe
I must say that the first time my husband and I came across your web site in good old Aussie we were a little gob smacked. Why? Because we’re kidred spirits.
You won’t find us on a web address because we just never needed to do it. Both of us worked as models in Europe as well as Australia and went on to become photographers. For many years my husband Denis Ryan produced all the composites for all the model agencies in Melbourne, worked commercialy and sudmitted to stock lidraries which is what he focuses on now. I’ve been following your site and have a good chuckle reading your information as I am constantly saying similar things to new models starting out.
I’m a great believer that models are stills actors. Expression is everything and Believeability a must.
I feel a bit like a novice regarding this whole internet business but realize one has to get with the program. Pity I’m a one finger typist. Your workshops look interesting maybe one day.
This is one of those times when I was conscious of the fact that the flawed or natural expression was the one to catch, but now that you’ve put this together for me I can be competent about working towards getting that shot. Thanks!!!
I will say that some of my best shots were when they were not expecting me to shoot.
I completely agree about flawed expressions. I get so irritated at our fashion shoots when our models try to Magnum or Blue Steel their way through a look instead of just wanting to react more naturally.
It certainly is much easier to get that flawed expression in candid photography.
I imagine after shooting many studio portraits, you have developed not only skill and technique but an intuition as well….