If a man takes off his sunglasses, I can hear him better.
– Hugh Prather, US writer
Two customers recently asked me to retouch some of their vacation photos. The pictures included a mix of cell-phone selfies and professional shots. (When travelling to a popular holiday destination, tourists can often hire a local photographer to capture their holiday memories.)
In the selfies, everyone was wearing sunglasses and the lenses were filled with distracting reflections. Most importantly, no eyes were visible.
One customer had some family photos taken by a local photographer and everyone in these images was wearing sunglasses. No eyes were visible. Despite the people’s smiles, the absence of visible eyes reduced the emotional impact of the photos.
Both of these customers asked if I could make the hidden eyes more visible. Unfortunately that wasn’t possible.
Eyes are the primary way we express emotions and connect with others. Our eyes communicate our feelings, intentions, and personality, and they help establish a connection with others. When sunglasses cover your eyes, you lose that emotional impact, making the photo feel less personal and less engaging.
The next time you take a selfie or pose for a photo, whether on vacation or at home, remove your sunglasses. Unless you’re specifically photographing the sunglasses themselves, it’s best to take them off. Visible eyes make a significant difference in the emotional impact of a photo.
