What I Look for in a Photograph (It’s Not What You Think)

If you asked most people what a photographer looks for during a session, they might say:

A perfect smile.
A perfect pose.
The best angle.
The prettiest light.

But the truth is…
I’m not searching for perfection at all.

I’m looking for connection.
The heartbeat moments.
The tiny gestures that say more about your love or your family than any smile-to-camera ever could.

Photography, to me, isn’t about capturing how people look — it’s about capturing how they feel.
And that means the things I look for are often subtle, quiet, fleeting.
Easy to miss unless you’re paying very close attention.

So today, I want to share what I really look for when I’m behind the lens — and why these things matter so much.

1. Hands — They Always Tell the Truth

If I had to choose one thing I look for above all else, it’s hands.

Hands show emotion long before a face does.
They reveal:

– nervous excitement
– comfort
– connection
– tenderness
– the instinct to protect
– the desire to hold someone close

At weddings, it’s the way a groom fidgets with his cufflinks while waiting at the aisle.
Or the way a bride clutches her bouquet just a little too tightly.
Or two people reaching for each other in that split-second after the first kiss.

With families, it’s the way a child hooks a tiny finger into a parent’s sleeve.
With newborns, it’s those miniature fists curling around a parent’s thumb.

Hands speak loudly, quietly — and honestly.

2. The Moment Before the Moment

When most people think of a “photographable” moment, they imagine the big beats:

The kiss.
The laughter.
The reaction.
The lift, the twirl, the cheers.

But the most meaningful moments usually happen just before or just after.

That small inhale before a bride steps down the aisle.
The look of anticipation on a partner’s face before they turn for a first look.
The family glancing at each other right before they burst into laughter.
The child looking up at their parent seconds before they cuddle in.

These in-between moments hold so much emotional weight.
They’re the quiet truth behind the louder moment that follows.

I watch for them constantly.

3. The Way People Lean Into Each Other

Every couple, every family has a unique way they gravitate towards one another.

Some nuzzle in with ease.
Some reach out gently.
Some intertwine hands without even realising.
Some lean shoulder-to-shoulder, creating a little universe where only they exist.

Connection shows itself physically — subtly, beautifully, naturally.

I’m always looking for these movements:

– a mum’s instinctive lean towards her child
– a groom stepping closer to steady his partner
– a bride reaching for her dad’s arm
– siblings shifting closer before they hug
– partners resting foreheads together without prompting

These little movements say so much.

4. Real Laughter (Not the “Say Cheese” Kind)

There is nothing more beautiful than real laughter — the kind that takes you by surprise, softens your whole face or makes your eyes water.

You can tell the difference instantly:

Forced laughter lifts the mouth.
Real laughter lights up the whole face.

To capture it, I watch for:

– inside jokes
– teasing
– silliness
– unexpected moments
– children doing… well, child things
– partners making each other smile without trying

Real laughter makes photos feel alive.
You can hear the moment when you look at it.

5. Light That Feels Like Emotion

Light carries feeling.
That’s why I gravitate toward natural light — it has softness, warmth and honesty.

I’m always paying attention to how the light interacts with a moment:

– warm sun wrapping around a couple at golden hour
– soft window light highlighting a newborn’s tiny toes
– afternoon dappled light dancing across a family in the forest
– gentle overcast light falling evenly on a couple during portraits
– seaside light shifting with the breeze

I capture not just what the light shows, but what it feels like.

6. The Honest, Unfiltered Reactions

During weddings especially, I look for the reactions that people don’t realise they’re having:

– the parent’s quiet tear during vows
– the best man’s proud grin
– the bride’s inhale before seeing her partner
– children dancing wildly during the reception
– grandparents holding hands during the speeches

These reactions are never staged — they just appear.
And they are the soul of the story.

7. The Way Clothing, Hair and Movement Tell a Story

I know this sounds funny, but I pay attention to how clothes move.

A veil catching on the wind.
A dress twirling mid-spin.
A jumper sleeve held by a toddler.
Messy hair blowing across someone’s face.

Movement creates emotion — it adds life to the stillness of a photo.

These little details become sensory memories.
They help you feel the moment again.

8. Space, Stillness and Breathing Room

Not every moment is loud or energetic.
Some of my favourite photographs are the quiet ones:

– a family sitting together in calm
– a bride resting her hands gently on her lap
– parents gazing at their newborn in soft stillness
– a couple breathing together after their vows

Stillness is powerful.
It shows presence, grounding, peace.

I look for that just as much as I look for joy and energy.

9. The Story You Don’t Even Know You’re Telling

Every moment tells a bigger story:

Your comfort with each other.
Your history.
Your sense of humour.
Your tenderness.
Your connection.
Your unique dynamic.

I’m always reading these stories as they unfold.

You might think you're simply walking through the forest, or holding your newborn, or standing beside your partner on your wedding day…

…but what I see is:

the way you reach for each other
the way you love each other
the way you move as a family
the way you exist together

That’s what I’m capturing.

10. The Emotional “Click”

This is something I feel in my chest when I know an image matters.

It’s a quiet moment where something aligns:

the light
the emotion
the movement
the connection

I click the shutter… and I know.
This is one you’ll keep forever.

That moment is why I photograph the way I do.

If This Sounds Like the Kind of Photography You Want…

If you want images that feel emotional and honest — images that look like your moments rather than posed ones — then my approach will fit you beautifully.

I’d love to capture your:

– wedding
– family story
– newborn chapter
– motherhood journey
– couple session
– or milestone moment

Exactly as it unfolds.
Exactly as you are.

Love,
Jo x