The Psychology Of Light

The Psychology of Light

by William Lulow

Like most everything else, light has a definite psychology. Dark images are “moody” or convey a sense of mystery. Light images are usually happy and convey a sense of lightness or airy-ness! It is important to keep these things in mind whenever you start to do a portrait. First, you need to find out what the final “judge” of the picture wants. Portraits for websites and other publicity images need to be informational. They need to show what the person looks like, but at his or her best. This usually calls for a “light” image. Personal images, the shots that photographers usually do for themselves or their portfolios, can really be anything they like. I’ve often said that a personal portrait is more about the photographer than the subject. Many famous photographers have photographed the same subjects, yet they all look different. That’s because each photographer has a different “take” on how the subject looks. And, because each photographer has his or her own personality, they each want to make very different images. 

If you are doing any kind of commercial photography, you have to keep the rules in mind. Publicity and advertising photographs are most often “directed” by someone other than the subject (an art director, usually). So, if you want to sell those images, those are the people you need to please. If you’re doing a private commission, I would suggest finding out how the subject sees him or herself and then try to please them. If you’re doing a photograph for your own book or collection, then you are free to make whatever kind of image pleases you!

So, “light” pictures are mostly informational and must be lit accordingly. You need to fill in shadows and add highlights and keep the backgrounds light to make the image have an uplifting psychological impact. Conversely, if you’re trying to create a psychologically “down” feel, then the lighting should be shadowy, moody and the backgrounds dark.

So, here is a light, upbeat portrait:

Here is a dark or “moody” portrait:

What are the differences you see in each? What makes one light and airy and the other dark and moody? How much information does each have? How does each of these images make you feel? You need to be tuned in to these kinds of things if you wish to make successful portraits that communicate your feelings as the photographer. 

Once you have been able to make these types of images consistently in your body of work, you can then try breaking these “rules” and discover what effects you can create. But one needs to understand that breaking the rules can often lead to miscommunication as well. Here is an image that was shot with filters over the lens and cross-processed in Photoshop to give a definite “blue” feeling:

What “information” is being shown here? How does this image make you feel? 

The more you are aware of the psychology of your images, the more successful they will be at communicating your feelings.