Forums > Off-Topic Discussion > Can you tell a person's character by their photos?

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?




Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Jan 27 13 10:41 am Link

Model

Cait Chan

Posts: 6272

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

I actually agree with this in terms of personal taste and interests BUT you asked specifically about character which I don't think is the case.

Jan 27 13 10:43 am Link

Model

Jules NYC

Posts: 21617

New York, New York, US

Yes.

Taste is one's style.
Personal style is one's motivation/muse.
One's muse is one's creative heart.
One's gravitational pull is one's mind.

I adore beauty.
The eyes & mind.

It is what I see.

Jan 27 13 10:45 am Link

Model

Damianne

Posts: 15978

Austin, Texas, US

I think there's a massive amount of information you take in and apply to the people you've met previously to decide what you think of the person you're seeing. Half of it is subconscious connections.

Yes, in some cases, I can see I'd dislike someone just by their photos, but no, I can't tell their character or a lot about them as a person.
This is why I don't see a lot of portfolios where I *know* I'll like them, just if they have attributes that annoy me or I would dislike being around, or if they have attributes I would like.
In order to really like someone, I have to like all of their attributes, while I only have to dislike one to not like them.

There's a difference between realizing you'd dislike someone and knowing their character or who they are.

Jan 27 13 10:45 am Link

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Cait Chan wrote:
I actually agree with this in terms of personal taste and interests BUT you asked specifically about character which I don't think is the case.

"Personal taste and interests" wouldn't fit in the thread title big_smile

I don't mean "character" as in whether they're an honourable, honest person or not - rather, just generally speaking, are they likely to be on the same wavelength as me....



Ciao
Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

Jan 27 13 10:48 am Link

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Jules NYC wrote:
Yes.

Taste is one's style.
Personal style is one's motivation/muse.
One's muse is one's creative heart.
One's gravitational pull is one's mind.

I adore beauty.
The eyes & mind.

It is what I see.

It was your comment in another thread that set me thinking smile


Ciao
Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

Jan 27 13 10:49 am Link

Model

Mary Geraldine

Posts: 1697

Valdese, North Carolina, US

I think it's natural to feel that way but not always a fair assumption. I know that in the past people have made a lot of conclusions about me based on my body of work or my appearance and they are not always correct. sad

Jan 27 13 10:49 am Link

Photographer

A N D E R S O N

Posts: 2553

Rockville, Maryland, US

I think it's exactly the opposite for me lol, very sad.

Jan 27 13 10:50 am Link

Model

Jules NYC

Posts: 21617

New York, New York, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:

It was your comment in another thread that set me thinking smile


Ciao


Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

Interesting.
I can tell a lot (not all if course) by what people say.

Honestly, I adore sophisticated, elegant taste.
That tells me a lot about an artist.

Jan 27 13 10:54 am Link

Photographer

scrymettet

Posts: 33239

Quebec, Quebec, Canada

Jules NYC wrote:

Interesting.
I can tell a lot (not all if course) by what people say.

Honestly, I adore sophisticated, elegant taste.
That tells me a lot about an artist.

scary

Jan 27 13 11:00 am Link

Photographer

Andialu

Posts: 14029

San Pedro, California, US

I've noticed that cranky or generally disagreeable people tend to have people with stoic looks on their faces for their avatars.

Jan 27 13 11:06 am Link

Model

Russian Katarina

Posts: 1413

London, England, United Kingdom

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?




Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

In my experience people have a way different expecation of who I am, judging from my portfolio alone, before they talk to me.

Jan 27 13 11:09 am Link

Photographer

Mortonovich

Posts: 6209

San Diego, California, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?

Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Stefano, I'm glad you asked this because this goes back to something that has always fascinated me about photography . . . . if the way we shoot (style, subject matter, point-of-view, etc)  is shaped by our life experiences, what is that we see in our subjects that causes us to be interested in certain faces to photograph? Are we able to pick up on certain similar life experiences by looking at them?

I know it's a little off topic and I'm maybe not quite explaining it right (every time I've tried to ask this question I get a WTF? from people. hahaha) . . . .

Jan 27 13 11:35 am Link

Photographer

SPRINGHEEL

Posts: 38224

Detroit, Michigan, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
What do you think?

I disagree


I do what I do and I like what I like for my own reasons and I don't give a shit if anyone agrees.

Jan 27 13 11:39 am Link

Photographer

Gianantonio

Posts: 8159

Turin, Piemonte, Italy

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?




Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Absolutely.  The photographs one makes are a reflection of themselves.  This is more so for personal work, but can be so for work we do for clients--depends on how much we are shooting our vision vs. their vision.

Of course, it's not a perfect "science."  And one would need to take the quality of the work into proper perspective.  But people are much more transparent than they typically think.

Jan 27 13 11:48 am Link

Photographer

Gianantonio

Posts: 8159

Turin, Piemonte, Italy

Jules NYC wrote:

Interesting.
I can tell a lot (not all if course) by what people say.

Honestly, I adore sophisticated, elegant taste.
That tells me a lot about an artist.

Exactly.  What people say and how they say it are also glimpses into their personality (or, broadly speaking, character).

Jan 27 13 11:52 am Link

Photographer

Gianantonio

Posts: 8159

Turin, Piemonte, Italy

Andialu wrote:
I've noticed that cranky or generally disagreeable people tend to have people with stoic looks on their faces for their avatars.

I've noticed that photographers who seem to have those old, stereotypical views of women (as shown in forum posts) tend to have photos in their port where the expressions on the models' faces show a fair amount of anxiety.

Jan 27 13 11:56 am Link

Photographer

Solas

Posts: 10390

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

i'm curious if you'd get along with me based on my portfolio, lol

I don't feel that it's a universal judgement, personally.

Jan 27 13 11:59 am Link

Photographer

Gianantonio

Posts: 8159

Turin, Piemonte, Italy

Russian Katarina wrote:

In my experience people have a way different expecation of who I am, judging from my portfolio alone, before they talk to me.

I can see it being a bit different for models.  Often the model is trying to express the vision of the photographer (taking direction from the photographer).

Jan 27 13 12:01 pm Link

Photographer

kickfight

Posts: 35054

Portland, Oregon, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
What do you think?

SPRINGHEEL  wrote:
I disagree


I like what I like for my own reasons and I don't give a shit if anyone agrees.

There's that ---which effectively kiboshes many superficial assumptions people make--- and there is also the concept of intentionally manufacturing a creative persona and associated body of work specifically designed to elicit reactions from others... a very interesting sociological experiment that also undermines and even exploits certain assumptions.

People self-reveal more than they realize as they react. wink

Jan 27 13 12:03 pm Link

Photographer

SPRINGHEEL

Posts: 38224

Detroit, Michigan, US

kickfight wrote:
There's that ---which effectively kiboshes many superficial assumptions people make--- and there is also the concept of intentionally manufacturing a creative persona and associated body of work specifically designed to elicit reactions from others... a very interesting sociological experiment that also undermines and even exploits certain assumptions.

People self-reveal more than they realize as they react. wink

I'm beautiful, not smart, so I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about

Jan 27 13 12:06 pm Link

Photographer

Art Silva

Posts: 10064

Santa Barbara, California, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?




Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

In their Professional work, NO

In their Personal work, YES...
Because usually personal projects reflect their taste, vision, art, expression and what inspires their mind. Although Character consists of many factors but character shows in the interaction with their subject some of it we can not see in a photograph.

Jan 27 13 12:09 pm Link

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Jan 27 13 12:09 pm Link

Photographer

kickfight

Posts: 35054

Portland, Oregon, US

SPRINGHEEL  wrote:
I'm beautiful, not smart, so I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about

Oh. Sorry!

People think they know you when they look at your stuff, but that's crap 'cuz you're either getting high off your own supply or you're plain hustlin' 'em.

Jan 27 13 12:10 pm Link

Photographer

Solas

Posts: 10390

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
To an extent I feel the same about music - what you listen to, what you create.... it's all part of who you are.


Ciao
Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

I agree with music, but I don't see the correlation through art (wallhangings) t so much

Jan 27 13 12:10 pm Link

Photographer

Jay Edwards

Posts: 18616

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Can you tell a person's character by their photos?

Wouldn't this be the same as judging a book by its cover?   wink

Jan 27 13 12:11 pm Link

Photographer

SPRINGHEEL

Posts: 38224

Detroit, Michigan, US

kickfight wrote:

Oh. Sorry!

People think they know you when they look at your stuff, but that's crap 'cuz you're either getting high off your own supply or you're plain hustlin' 'em.

https://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/SPRINGHEEL69/tom-baker-creepy-smile.gif

Jan 27 13 12:12 pm Link

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Jay  Edwards wrote:

Wouldn't this be the same as judging a book by its cover?   wink

Not really.

That would be more like judging them by whether they shoot Nikon or Canon big_smile



Ciao
Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

Jan 27 13 12:13 pm Link

Photographer

Chicchowmein

Posts: 14585

Palm Beach, Florida, US

I think you can tell a lot about how some men view women by their " gaze" but I don't think I can tell whether I would get along with someone based on their work alone.

I think I can tell people I would not get along with but I have met some artists in person that had beautiful work that did not give me ( or too many other people either) a warm fuzzy.

I am not sure if that answers your question or not but I enjoy looking at your work.

smile

Jan 27 13 12:16 pm Link

Photographer

SPRINGHEEL

Posts: 38224

Detroit, Michigan, US

Jan 27 13 12:16 pm Link

Photographer

B R U N E S C I

Posts: 25319

Bath, England, United Kingdom

Karl Johnston wrote:
i'm curious if you'd get along with me based on my portfolio, lol

That's a question that probably needs to be answered in a Critique thread...

So be my guest: https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=877561  smile





Ciao
Stefano

www.stefanobrunesci.com

Jan 27 13 12:17 pm Link

Photographer

Yan Tan Tethera

Posts: 4185

Biggleswade, England, United Kingdom

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?




Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Interesting. Best thread of the week. Probably should throw in the towel now.

Jan 27 13 12:21 pm Link

Model

Aah

Posts: 79

Los Angeles, California, US

From a model's perspective, there is no way for me to even know what the photographer looks like and acts like unless you meet before the shoot. I am very easy going and very rarely do I not get along with someone. I have been on sets since I was 8 years old, so I have literally grown up in the industry with professional etiquette. So, for me as I started doing more artistic stuff and collaboration I had to learn to relax and let my personality shine and it's worked out really well for me. My favorite photographers are now my closest friends because there is nothing that can come close to touching the intimacy and chemistry between a photographer and model when you hit gold. I have been moderately selective though and if anything was off in any way I wouldn't even consider a shoot. Model mayhem is it's own creature...
If the "about me" has an undertone of negativity ranging from "no llama herders, no this no that, no "flakes" and it becomes apparent that to them, a model is a walking talking sex prop, I won't even bother. I saw one profile who specifically stated that they work with less attractive models because the "10"'s are raging b*tches...he proceeded to message me for a shoot and I had to let him know that I would never work with someone who A. rated women to photograph on a scale of 1-10 and B. referred to any woman as a "raging b*tch".
That's how a lower standard of men talk about their one night stands and ex wives, not how a photographer should talk about a model.

What it has all come down to is face to face communication and I will incorporate that as an integral part of shoots I plan in the future.

Jan 27 13 12:25 pm Link

Photographer

Solas

Posts: 10390

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:

That's a question that probably needs to be answered in a Critique thread...

So be my guest: https://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=877561  smile

hahaha, why not

Jan 27 13 12:30 pm Link

Photographer

udor

Posts: 25255

New York, New York, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner.

What do you think?

Interesting thought... actually... based on the photos or portfolio... there is nobody that comes to mind where I would say I wouldn't be able to get along.

It's different with forum posts... some people are so extremely close minded... I would have a harder time to get along...

However... one of my very best friends is politically the diametrically opposite of me... including a NRA member, super conservative right winger, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levine, Hannity etc., listening, Obama hatin' guy... but I'd trust him with my life and he'd do the same for me...

So... I am very flexible about personalities...

Not sure if that helps in anyway to answer your question?

Jan 27 13 01:12 pm Link

Model

Russian Katarina

Posts: 1413

London, England, United Kingdom

What I've observed is that many of the hardcore conservative togs active in SB and OT have ports full of bondage shots. That's kind of funny given their political stance.

Jan 27 13 01:33 pm Link

Photographer

DougBPhoto

Posts: 39248

Portland, Oregon, US

Russian Katarina wrote:
What I've observed is that many of the hardcore conservative togs active in SB and OT have ports full of bondage shots. That's kind of funny given their political stance.

Don't tell anyone, but I think they are twisted up in knots over that irony.

Jan 27 13 01:52 pm Link

Photographer

Ralph Easy

Posts: 6426

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Can you tell a person's character by their photos?

Not really.

https://www.trutv.com/library/crime/blog/files/2012/05/nm-m-anders-breivik-a-brevik5.jpg

https://www.examiner.com/images/blog/replicate/EXID48810/images/Jim_Jones_-_resize_(historycooperateive_org).jpg

https://www.mass-murderers.com/mass_murderers/bryant_opt.jpg

https://cdn.theweek.co.uk/sites/theweek/files/styles/theweek_article_main_image/public/parlour-killer.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT1kTzlUDlgkhilbzenlkSlX5Hva5j4eZLd8t8vUosJBBfTNI19

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQy-hCy7v4wO09BxxjpRAnsh7Hk0qQZrK8x3mU5f3zygPIxFZgm

.

Jan 27 13 03:01 pm Link

Photographer

Mark Brummitt

Posts: 40527

Clarkston, Michigan, US

Agree.

Jan 27 13 03:03 pm Link

Model

Jen B

Posts: 4474

Phoenix, Arizona, US

-B-R-U-N-E-S-C-I- wrote:
Kind of a wide-ranging subject, but I was just pondering on this today...

Some portfolios (or lists) I see here on MM, I just know I would never get along with the owner. But if somebody likes the same kind of images I do, I feel there's a much bigger likelihood we will be alike in other ways too, and will probably get along.

What do you think?

Ciao
Stefano
www.stefanobrunesci.com

Hello Stefano,
I haven't created my lists of inspiration yet and am also at a personal transition point but, wonder what you think. I like you work a lot. Neil Snape's as well.

Jen

Jan 28 13 10:36 pm Link