Why the Eyes Matter: A Toronto Family Photographer's Tips for Captivating Photos

When it comes to beautiful, emotive family and couples photography, the eyes definitely have it. In my last post, I discussed the important role our hands play in photos. Equally important, if not more so, are our eyes. Just like our hands, our gaze says so much about our relationship with the people who are in the photo with us. This is especially true for family and couples photos, where the images are all about emotional connection. So what do we do to help those beautiful eyes make your photos shine? Read on for family photos tips that will help make you a posing pro in no time.

Tip 1: Focus on your people

When I was growing up, my parents always told us to "smile at the camera" when they were taking a photo. That type of photo absolutely has it purpose, but it doesn't do much to tell us the story of the people in it. When it comes to family and couples photography, I will always tell you to behave as if I'm not there: I want the camera to document your relationship with the other people in the photo, and that means keeping your gaze connected with them. And heck, we love looking at the people we love, right? So if it feels natural during our shoot, just keep your eyes on your people and the rest will take care of itself. And if it doesn't make sense to be looking at the people around you, just make sure your eyes show that you are completely present in the moment. Whether they are caught in a laugh or a sideways glance, the most important thing is that they show that your focus is on the people with you.

Tip 2: Closing time

What about moments in during a photo shoot in which looking at the other person in the image would make for an awkward body angle? Let's take these images as examples. The women in the front cannot easily turn around to look at their husbands behind them. So in the first image, I simply had her close her eyes, conveying a peaceful, intimate moment between wife and husband.

In the second image, I asked her to cast her eyes downward as her husband told one of his patented jokes, and we created an intimate image that captures the more lighthearted side of their relationship.

Another option in a situation like these is for the person in front -- and only that person -- to look at the camera, as in the photo on the right. This creates an image with two layers: a portrait of the person gazing at the camera and an image that communicates closeness between the people in the photo.

Tip 3: Stay in the moment

Now that we've gone over the "do" list, I want to mention the one big "don't," and that's a little thing I call "wandering eyes." Our lives are busy and it's very easy to have random thoughts creep into our minds during a shoot. At times like these our eyes are the first thing to show that our attention has drifted. When we're thinking about something that isn't in our physical space, our eyes automatically go down and to the side. In a photo, this reveals that our focus has moved to something other than the people around us and has wandered on to a different subject. Trust me when I say there is no bigger destroyer of a good photo than the dreaded wandering eyes! So do your best to keep your gaze in the game, and stay in the moment with your loves. Your photos will thank you!

Preparing for you photo session doesn't have to be intimidating. You just need to know a few simple tricks to crush your shoot. With the right wardrobe mix and a few simple posing tips, you'll be a pro in no time. And remember, I'm always here to answer any questions along the way. So when you're ready to capture some beautiful memories, drop me a line!