The Power of Connection in Photography

I'm in the London Underground tube station. It's hot, it's busy. Everyone's looking miserable. Apart from me, of course.

As I make my way outside, a poster catches my eye. It's a portrait of an elderly man, part of a charity campaign. As soon as I locked eyes with him, the sounds, the people, the crowd—it all disappeared. We had this one-on-one moment, eye to eye.

He's smiling, but not the kind of smile you make when you're happy. It was more the kind of smile you do when you're trying to be brave. I can see his loneliness, his isolation in his eyes. He's smiling through his pain.

The Journey to Connection Through Photography

This image gave a voice to the voiceless. It started my journey into the profound power of connection in photographs—a connection that transcended language and turned a stranger into someone I could trust.

I wanted to encapsulate that magic and infuse it into the photographs I took as a photographer, so others could feel seen and heard. And whilst on that journey, I discovered the secret to looking good in photographs.

The Science Behind Emotional Connection

Research has found that when we look at a photograph of a person conveying genuine emotion, we connect immediately. We empathise and mirror back the same emotion. Your photo has the ability to transform from a mere image into a powerful tool of connection.

The more I focused on capturing genuine emotion, the more attractive the person looked. It was like an inner spark glowing from inside out. After 15 years as a photographer and thousands of images, I've not seen anything quite as transformative.

The Impact of Authentic Photography

Research by Santorini et al. found that a genuine smile is considered more attractive and more trustworthy. LinkedIn's data shows you're 21 times more likely to have someone click on your profile if you have a profile photo.

The Emotional Memory Technique

I use a technique borrowed from actors called the Emotional Memory Technique. Here's how to do it:

1. Start with the eyes - Look with intention, a slight squint that shows engagement
2. Think of someone you love - Your child, partner, or anyone who brings you joy
3. Recall a specific memory - A moment that filled your heart with joy
4. Focus on that emotion - Let it show in your face naturally

The Transformation

Using this technique, clients show remarkable transformations. They display more connection in their eyes, greater authority, and genuine illumination. Each person tells something authentic about themselves through their expression.

This technique works even virtually—I was in the UK photographing someone in Mexico. One client increased his LinkedIn impressions by 40% in 48 hours using a photo taken with this method.

The Message

The bravest thing you can do is step in front of the camera knowing you are enough. Use the Emotional Memory Technique to tap into your brilliance and illuminate your uniqueness. Find the person you were before society put you in a box.

When you do that, you won't just look good—you'll captivate.

If your photo could give you a voice, what message would you reveal?