Most will agree that we are living in a visual world. From social media to branding and business marketing the world is leaning more towards visual connection than ever before. Therefore, what we say making sure your photos speak to your audience is important. There are many mixes of online presence but if you are one that is aiming to make a real connection online. If you are using your photographs to do this, then you can not disregard the one thing that connects the dots. Emotion.

As an online business owner or influencer visual content is the main connection between you and your audience. This connection is so important because it can determine the difference between a long time fan or a new customer. But how do you make the connection in your photographs that can turn a visitor into a loyal customer or new community member?

REASON #1

ADDING EMOTION TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE AND THEY CONNECT WITH YOU.

The primary attractiveness a photograph holds is the story it is telling. Every human connects to photographs because of how the person in the photograph is expressing emotions. This is how we connect to one another and why we are drawn into photographs so much.

Have you ever taken photos and felt as if you were trying to smile but it didn’t feel natural? Or you tried to look super serious but wanted to burst out laughing? Or maybe you’ve had a day when you didn’t feel your best and you had to push through your photoshoot. Yet you finished the photoshoot and the photos didn’t turn out as you had wished? When then happens we have emotions that we want to express but we suppress them.

Emotion is how we connect with one another every day in the workplace, in the grocery store, with your online community and social audience, etc.  Think about this, when you meet someone and they make you feel warm and welcoming you’re going to want to hang out with that person a little bit more. But if you meet someone who isn’t as friendly or maybe pushed you off a little bit you’re not going to be quick to reach back out to this person and ask if they want to go grab a cup of coffee. Because of how they made you feel. 

The one thing that your photos are missing but must have in order to make a connection is emotion.

Emotion can come in many forms. A few examples of emotions are joy, contentment, happiness, and cheerfulness. These emotions you can portray in your photographs. We all have many emotions and adding them to your photography can take your blog and brand to another level.

 

 

REASON #2

INCLUDING EMOTION IN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS MAKE TAKING PHOTOS EASIER. 

 

Adding emotion to your photographs will allow you and help you to actually take photographs easier.  When you are comfortable you become more confident. A lot of times you are not comfortable in front of the camera because you are consumed with thoughts of how you ‘look’ versus how you ‘feel’.

For example,  if you’re out on a photoshoot and you’re walking across the street with the photographer who is ready to capture your shot. You are nervous, your thinking about all of the ways this is going to look stupid! But what if you stopped thinking about how you look and started thinking about how you feel in the outfit? Say you are about to meet up with a group of friends who are waiting for you at the coffee shop across the street. You must cross the street to get to the coffee shop right? You are excited to meet up with them, you’re smiling thinking about all of the good laughs you are about to have. How would you feel when you walk across the street now? It would probably be easier because you are more comfortable with where you are going. Which makes the photoshoot easier to complete.

Your photos are a connection between your audience and your brand.

The best part about all of this is that your audience will see this excitement in your photos. They will see the emotion that you are expressing. As an extra bonus, it adds a story to your photo that you can tell your audience about on your blog or in your caption. People want to connect with one another.

 

REASON #3

EMOTION HELPS YOU BUILD TRUST AND BECOME RELATABLE TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

 

Last but not least reason number three why you should add emotion to your photographs is, you are able to build trust with your audience.  You build trust by sharing your story with your audience. I don’t know about you but sometimes I can struggle with not knowing what to say. But when I am ready to write I will look back at my photos first, and I immediately recall how I felt or even how they make me feel when I look at them.

You build trust by sharing your story with your audience.

Beautiful photos are great but when it comes to making an impact and influencing people, there has to be a connection. Start recalling how you felt when taking the photos. Then write your blog post, email, social media caption or magazine submission based off of the feeling. Now, this is going to be easier because you have actually used emotion in the photos so you can recall how you felt and share that story with your audience. Your audience wants to be able to connect and relate. When you are sharing a story with them they will begin to trust you and connect with you.

 

Emotion can come in many forms. A few examples of emotions are joy, contentment, happiness, and cheerfulness. Don’t be afraid to include these emotions in your photographs. We all have many emotions and adding them to your photography can take your blog and brand to another level.

I would love to know what emotions do you add to your photos? Leave a comment below and lets chat!

XOXO,

DeAna Fierce