How to capture happiness on camera (Day 4 - being grateful for LAUGHTER)
This article is part of my December 2020 Gratitude series that help me end this year on a more positive and inspiring note.
According to some very random studies online: the average adult laughs only 17 times a day while babies about 300 times, if you laugh for 15 minutes, you will burn around 50 calories and people are 30 times more likely to laugh in a group than alone. I really don't know how to link this information to the rest of the text. I just felt the need to share some pointless facts for those that came here to learn something. Here is my best attempt: Today, I am very grateful for all those 17 laughs on average. I wish to get closer to the 300 once we can spend time with others.
When it comes to capturing the laughs and happiness, it is not an easy task. I usually photograph people that don't like to be photographed (except Ela, she is a natural). That is why I want to break the discomfort with just simply telling them to laugh. It is such an absurd request to laugh at nothing. But it works every time. Once people feel their weird attempt, it leads to a burst of natural laughter anyway!
Unfortunately, one thing I learned shooting portraits is that people hate their face when laughing wholeheartedly. I think it is because they are not used to seeing their face in that shape. With all those beautiful wrinkles and the teeth! So many teeth!
So today I am grateful for all the unrestrained, honest, spontaneous, hysterical, careless and undeniably happy waves of laughter. And to everyone in these pictures: I hope you forgive me for sharing these. But think about the fact, that you, right now, might be triggering positive feelings for all the rest of us. You are all beautiful, and I wish to see you laughing and increasing those endorphins more often!
Thank you Deni for capturing this one:
And how many times have YOU laughed today? :)
