Managing Your Image For Photographs

Here’s an interesting article about a Rhode Island bishop who thinks that Pope Francis is just too tolerant of human beings, and should be more a stricter moral arbiter like he is.

I think you can probably guess how PeaceBang feels about the content of the article.

However, since we do clergy image here, let’s just look at the photograph that accompanies the article. My reaction to the photo — before I had any idea what the article’s contents were — was decidedly negative. And because of my ministry as PB, I thought, “Oh, boy. This bishop should have had an image consultant with him when they took this photo. I would never have allowed this angle and expression.”

This image is amazingly revealing. Let’s look at what it communicates non-verbally.

The tilt of the bishop’s chin upward and the set of his mouth in a firm, semi-frowning line communicates classic haughty rejection and disapproval. We all know this body language and we all know that facial expression. This photographer knew exactly what he or she was doing in shooting the bishop from that angle: be aware that good photographers know how to capture the essence of your character in one image. Therefore, it behooves you to know and understand the lines into which your face naturally falls, and if your face naturally falls into an expression that communicates a negative feeling, work with your photographer, the lighting, and your own expression to the best that you can to communicate the truth of who you are.

The fact is that our faces do not always reflect our character. They very often DO. But viruses, genetics, illness, a lifetime of reading in poor light — many life factors can contribute to fierce or haughty expressions. Your community, who knows and loves you, knows your character. The general newspaper reading public does not. Therefore, when it comes time to be photographed for the general public, be sure that you nicely and respectfully manage the situation with the photographer to assure that your image communicates your character, mission and vision of ministry. Got that, pigeons?

Back to the image. In photographs for the media, remember that the eye of the camera represents the public gaze. If you are looking away from the camera, therefore, it can be read unconsciously as avoiding the gaze of the reader/public. So you want to have a warm, inviting smile for the camera whenever possible. If the photographer has you look away, question that. Express yourself. Manage the shoot. If you and the photographer decide to have you focus on something else than the lens, have a relationship to whatever you’re gazing at. Under no circumstances do you want to be aimlessly or awkwardly looking at nothing in particular, which creates a terrible and unflattering image. Some imagination and acting may be called for in order to compose your body and face in a way that communicates the kindness, love, care, passion, whatever you want to get across for the story.

NEVER, EVER think “oh, the paper is coming to do a story on me” and let the photographer tell you where to stand, look and whether or not to smile. You must think instead, “Oh, the paper has decided that my work or this controversy is news and they want me and the Church to help them sell papers. So now I have an opportunity to communicate my message to the wider public.” Start crafting your words and the image of you that will accompany the story.

In this story, the camera has made a huge editorial statement for the bishop, whose sad, angry, avoidant eyes, defensively tilted chin, disapproving mouth and haughty demeanor have told the story of the religious leader before one reads the first quote.

Don’t let this be you. If you have a difficult position on an issue, or if you want to position yourself as a “tough love” kind of moral arbiter in the church, or if you believe in the righteousness of your disapproval, be ye wise as serpents and savvy with the camera.