The Fight Against Boring Photography

How our anatomy has armed us with the tools for great storytelling

There are times when I look at my boys and wonder, why, dear son, have you chosen the path of most resistance? It’s that strange parental foresight you often witness, where you can see the collision coming long before they do. Sometimes it’s charming. Other times, it’s a full-on “Are you kidding me?” moment. But it all comes from the same place: an understanding of simple principles that somehow manage to escape youth.

Photography has its own versions of this. There are countless themes, techniques, and habits that make me feel the same way. But nothing sparks a more primal reaction from me as an instructor than watching someone refuse to use their own body to create more dynamic images. It’s such an obvious tool that maybe it’s too obvious. Perhaps it feels too simple to be taken seriously.

This week, I’m sharing two things you can do right now to create more visual options wherever you are. Two things that require just a little extra effort but can exponentially level up your storytelling. Two things that are just too damn simple to ignore.

Two things that depend entirely on two body parts we all take for granted: knees and toes.

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Get Low

Across millions of years of evolution, humans have benefited from these beautiful gifts we call joints. They are the meeting points where two or more bones come together, allowing movement and stability. And two joints that can bring a real leap in your photography are your knees.

Be honest: how often are you bending your knees and really getting down to your subject’s level? Or more interestingly, below your subject’s level? It feels so obvious, yet somehow it escapes most people. Kind of like the toilet flush my toddler still can’t figure out. By bending your knees, you’re not just changing your height, you’re changing your perspective, and in turn, your story.

Suddenly, the foreground feels more immersive and your subjects loom larger. While not always the case, getting lower often adds a sense of drama to the moment. Like a child looking up at a giant, it introduces a spark of wonder that pulls the viewer in while dragging them out of their comfort zone.

There’s also the chance to build more depth through lines and layers, which strengthens your storytelling. Change your perspective and you instantly change the elements at your disposal to enrich the frame.

Knees. These simple, crucial joints that most of us still have at our disposal let us get low and create more options. Often more compelling ones. This is not to say that every time you bend your knees you will land a better photograph. But in any situation, especially when you are not in control, using your knees gives you more