What makes a photo “good”?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Right? So if somebody likes a photo then it’s good...right?

Well it’s a little more complicated than that. 

Have you ever created a photo and thought “wow now THAT is spectacular!!” Only to get lukewarm reception when you shared it? Oh I have. There is one photo I can think of that I REALLY thought was soooo freaking amazing. And yet? My hubby said ‘meh’ (not in a critical way, mind you - he’s very supportive and complimentary of my photos...just in an honest ‘not my favorite’ kind of way). I’ve posted some that I thought were pretty awesome on social media and barely even got a response.

Winter in Central Park…come on! But my hubby didn’t love it. Do I? Yep. Still do.

So how can one person (like me...or you) think it’s SO good but others not so much?

Well beauty or qualifying a photo as “good” or not, is subjective...on one hand. But it’s also objective. See there’s this thing called aesthetics. 

And aesthetics actually has some science behind it (and I’m a big fan of science). 

What the heck is aesthetics? It’s how we express our experience of beauty and enjoyment (https://www.simpleminded.life). And there are some agreed upon standards that philosophers have been debating for centuries. These standards include principles of visual aesthetics such as balance, emphasis, rhythm, proportion, pattern, unity and contrast…

See these things make our brains think “hey that’s nice” or “I don’t love that”...and we don’t even always know why exactly we like or don’t like something.

This is a photo that is pretty universally considered a good one (well except for the guy who accused me of Photoshopping the sky in…which I didn’t BTW)

But remember when I said that there are both subjective AND objective components? So yes, there’s some principles that make our brain like a particular photo because of its symmetry...or balance. BUT there are also the subjective components that come into play.

Now I think this subjective component has a lot to do with how we FEEL about the photo. Does it evoke sadness, joy...trigger a memory? Does the photo tell a story and make us as the viewer want to know more?

As photographers, there’s also the personal component of creating the photo. You remember taking the photo and that memory is attached to it. It influences how you view the outcome - so sometimes even if it’s not technically the “best” photo...we WANT it to be so much that we lose objectivity.

Now am I saying that your photo isn’t good even though you love it? Just because it lacks some balance or isn't perfectly in focus? Oh heck no. If you love it...if it evokes some sort of feeling in you when you see it...then you can call that photo good.

This photo isn’t technically great - it’s a little blurry, and well…I’ve done better. But do I still consider it good? Is it one of my hubby’s favorites? Yep. Why?? Because this is the chicken man from our weekly market in Toulouse. And it brings us fond memories of him…and the most delicious roasted chicken that we ever had.

But IF you’re looking to say enter a photo contest or use your photos for commercial purposes...it’s a good idea to get an outside opinion.

Someone who isn’t invested in the outcome. Someone who wasn’t there when you created it. And someone who can be honest, like my husband. You don’t want that friend who says everything is good just to make you feel good. 

Oh I like those friends...we definitely need them sometimes. But if you want real, honest feedback on a photo. They aren’t who you go to.

So at this point you might be saying...OK so are there “rules” about what makes a photo good, or is it just up to me? Well that depends (oh I know you hate it when I say that).

For your personal purposes, you can classify your photos however the heck you want. If you like the way they look, the way they make you feel...then it’s a damn fine image.

But if you want to publish or sell your image...then there are a few other guidelines to consider.

You’re going to want to make sure you have the “aesthetically pleasing” components included in your image like symmetry, balance, contrast…(if you need a little help with those, check out my blog post, 5 Composition Guidelines That Will Make Your Photos More Amazing).

This is one of those photos that check a lot of boxes - symmetry, leading lines, contrast, vibrant color…and it’s been really popular. I think our brains just like a lot of things in here.

And let’s face it, some of the feeling components never hurt. Something a bit provocative that leads the viewer to feel calm, joy, even frustration can work. One of the greatest compliments I ever received was that my photos made her FEEL like she was there with me. Now I think THAT qualifies as a good photo!

And ultimately if you want to know whether your photo is good? Ask somebody else. But also keep in mind the whole way this post started: “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. So I don’t want you to put TOO much emphasis on what one other person says. And maybe get more than one opinion. If you’ve ever read Amazon reviews you know...there’s always a handful of people who HATE the book that you loved. 

So if you want some honest feedback, ask a selection of several people and look for patterns. Do they all (or most) say it’s too dark? Not interesting? Out of focus? Well then you have your answer. Do they all (or most) say “holy moly where the heck is that I have to go there right now?” Well then I think you have your answer.

This is one of those photos that has things like balance…but I think it’s the feeling piece that draws people to it.

So let’s summarize here. IF you are taking photos for your own memories and want to print some for your walls...other people’s opinions really don’t matter. (unless you’re super sensitive and if your dinner guests criticize your prints that will hurt your feelings...well that’s another topic all together).

But IF you’re interested in a) improving your photos skills, b) selling your photos, c) publishing your photos, d) using your photos for your business or blog (or a few hundred other options really) then it’s probably a good idea to reach out for feedback.

And when you do reach out, remember - that’s just one person, and one photo. Feedback can be SO valuable if we don’t take it too personally. It’s just feedback. It’s not a personal attack on you. And if it does come across that way...then never ask for feedback from that person again (and honestly, delete their phone number and unfriend them - you don’t want that kind of energy in your world).

This one has been getting so many compliments…why? I think because there are some of the aesthetically pleasing things like leading lines, balance, symmetry, contrast, vibrant colors…but it also makes people feel like they are there. Ready to walk up to the cafe, sit down, and order a coffee.

If after reading this, you’re excited to get out there and try some new concepts and improve your photos...then make sure you have my free guide: 9 Small But Powerful Photo Tips. 

And IF you’re thinking “you know, I kind of would like some feedback on my photos”....well I can help you there. That’s one of the things I LOVE doing the most! Helping my students figure out what’s working, what’s not working, and how to move forward with their photo skills…

Check out the options for working together right here.