Conscious Vs. Self-Conscious Expression
Have you ever been caught in a photo with an awkward facial expression?
When it comes to expression, did you know that when we all smile we all go to the same facial expression every time that we automatically believe looks good, DOES it? A professional photographer and expression coach can help with that.
Self-Conscious Expression
Over 90 percent of people go straight to that infamous “selfie smile”, but you aren’t fooling anyone. It’s OK, we are all unique in our own way and our facial expressions differ just the same. If you believe you have a killer smile or even if you're a bit self-conscious I challenge you to put it to the test.
Take a little time out of the day and look in the mirror. Practice your smile, laugh, smirk, etc. As you practice, look at how your facial muscles move throughout the arc of expression from beginning to end. The more you look, the more you will notice. Maybe when you smile your jaw goes slightly to one side, one side pulls first and then the other. Maybe one eye is slightly more open than the other. All these micro-movements that we usually don’t notice on a day-to-day basis are part of what’s called spontaneous expression.
All though expressions come from feelings, thoughts, and habits deep down in our subconsciousness; we take the extra step to mold them into what we feel they should look like. If we get rid of mirrors for a second, answer me this, can you see yourself smile? cry? frown? No, we can’t. But another person can.
Conscious Expression
Conscious expressions on the other hand are the complete polar opposite. They are more natural and genuine. Perfect examples are the unexpected bursts of laughter after a joke, anger, and your most common exclamation after you stub your toe. We know it’s happening but instead of controlling it, we are just letting it happen and taking the form it may in that exact moment without a care for who’s watching. Exactly that in and of itself is part of what makes us human.
Conclusion
Where my job as a headshot photographer and expression coach comes in is that I can help guide you to find that balance between the two so that I can put you in front of the camera no matter what your comfort level is and I can make sure that you get images that are consistent with my work yet they retain your personality and genuine expression making them unique.
Anyone can have an amazing, authentic smile, sometimes you just have to retrain your muscles to what you know looks good vs what feels good but actually doesn't photograph just how you like it.