Photography As A Way Of Presentation

Art has always been one of the best forms of self-expression; it’s a way of talking without using words - just listen and you will hear, watch and you will see.

With the development of technologies, photography has become one of the most accessible forms of art, as cameras are at our disposal any moment we need. Some may claim that true photos can only be taken with DSLR cameras, some acknowledge only iPhone photos, and some still crave the simplicity of film cameras. Whatever the choice, the result is always the image, which is the reflection of a unique personality and vision.

The first and foremost way to express your personality is to post photos on social networking sites. There are even psychological surveys about reading the person through the profile photos. Research carried out at the University of Pennsylvania determined that our choice of images reveals certain personality traits.

 The findings defined five major characteristics of personality according to the photo posted:

1. Neuroticism - is typically characterized by plain colors and simplicity. They tend to hide their faces in photos or choose a close-up with hidden eyes. Typically neuroticism correlates with emotional insecurity or negative emotions unless that was a conscious choice to convey a certain message.
2. Extraversion - their profile photos are flooded with colors and positivity, it’s the way to show engagement with the outside world. They adore group photos and often show more than one face. It typically sends a message “look how cool I am”. When growing older they often post photos from younger years or with younger people.  
3. Conscientiousness - people of order, planned behavior, and tradition. They know that people are expected to smile in the photos and look happy, and they do it. Their photos have high quality, are well-proportioned, and are perfectly edited. They avoid gray and plain colors, and the vividness of the colors is balanced as well.
4. Agreeable people  - are probably the most positive of all the five types. They always crave harmony in communication and relationships with everyone. The photos are often blurred, with a low sharpness, but quite bright and colorful. The images are often cluttered, and thus, bring no aesthetic satisfaction.
5. Openness -  is a trait that is typically revealed in aesthetic appearance, high intellectual development, and nonconformity. The users are, more often than not, wearing glasses, hiding their faces, and showing less emotion. The whole profile typically displays a neutral attitude. The photos have increased contrast and sharpness, and fewer blurred parts.

How to improve the quality of a profile photo?

Whatever your type of personality is, the quality of the photo always matters, and it’s not a question of professionalism, but certain knowledge:

1.Editing software

The usage of editing software helps to reach the perfection of the photo using various tools and ready-to-use filters and patterns. Photo editors, like VistaCreate, are beneficial both for professionals (post-processing of the photo) and regular users, who have no basic knowledge of color balance, contrast, brightness, the balance of white, etc. A particularly useful feature to use is palettes as you are offered the perfect color combination for your ideas and projects.

2.Rule of thirds

The basic rule of photography defines the composition of the image. According to the rule, the image breaks down into thirds horizontally and vertically, so there are nine pieces and four gridlines. By positioning the key elements along the gridlines you will have a perfectly organized composition.

3.Lighting

Light matters most in the photo. It influences the vividness, brightness, and sharpness of the image, creating an atmosphere of positivity and openness, or vice versa, creating shades, and blurry parts, presenting the main subject in a rather mysterious surrounding.

The two most favorite and beneficial types of light are golden hours and blue hours, both bringing specific effects:

•  The golden hour can be caught just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is low on the horizon. All the colors will have a warm brownish glow.
• The blue hour occurs before sunrise and after sunset, it produces cool bluish tones.

The choice of colors depends on the effect you want to see.

Self-presentation by means of photography and social media is a regular thing nowadays. Before choosing the image, make sure the colors and composition convey the right message to your viewers and there will be no misinterpretations.