For some incomprehensible reason, there has been some controversy about wearing face masks. I have no intention of busting all the myths here (just wear one and protect others. Don't @ me). However, one strange and persistent myth is tangentially relevant to photography, and understanding why it is wrong might just improve your photographs...
Among all the noise about efficacy and effectiveness has been the claim that masks mean you can't see people smiling. Which, on the face of it (BOOM! Pun intended!), seems reasonable. Except: no...
Park that thought. Think about your (or your children's) primary school photographs - the standard ones taken on your own (or with a sibling) against a grey muslin (or similar). How do they look? Odd, probably; unnatural, with a not quite a smile.
Me, smiling in a mask. (Photograph by H Clarke, aged 8. Standing on a step ladder…)
This is usually because when you ask a child to smile, they curl up the corners of their mouth. The idea being, I guess, to look like a smiley emoji :)
(It could also be just because you look odd...)
The trouble is, you don't really smile with your mouth. Sure, your mouth does curl up when you smile, but if that is all you are doing, it's just a grimace. And it shows.
A smile is something you do with your whole face, and the most important part of your face for conveying emotion is - of course - your eyes. A true smile starts from and can be seen in the eyes. You can learn too: look for the laugh lines.
Which means two things:
- A mask won't stop you seeing someone smiling. (Unless they are also wearing wraparound sunglasses. In which case, it's still not the mask that is the problem.) So you can cut that BS excuse from your list
- Don't ask your children to smile in photos. Unless you are teaching them how to smile, then never say "smile". Instead, make them smile!
Having said that, we'd still rather take your photograph without your wearing a mask. We have a long lens, so will be keeping a safe distance anyway...