Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania and Alixandra Barasch of New York University discovered that observers consistently prefer candid imagery over posed alternatives. Posed snapshots frequently signal active self-presentation management, which dampens an observer's desire to connect with or date the subject. A separate nationally representative study of 1,686 U.S. participants showed that individuals carefully choose images to cater to an imagined audience. Ultimately, the appeal of candid shots relies on the assumption that the subject was unaware of the camera.
Key points
Candid photographs generate higher interest and perceived authenticity by capturing unpro…: Candid photographs generate higher interest and perceived authenticity by capturing unprompted moments rather than heavily curated presentations.
Viewers strongly prioritize perceived spontaneity, losing their favorable impressions if…: Viewers strongly prioritize perceived spontaneity, losing their favorable impressions if they suspect a photo was staged or planned.
While unposed photos foster social connection, preferring them does not definitively corr…: While unposed photos foster social connection, preferring them does not definitively correlate with any specific personality type.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Look through someone's phone gallery and you may notice a pattern. Their favourite pictures are not necessarily the ones in which they are looking directly at the camera, standing in the right light or giving their best smile. Instead, they may choose a photograph taken while laughing, talking to a friend, walking along a street or doing something without realising that someone was clicking.
For some people, these unposed photographs feel more personal than pictures taken after several attempts to get the perfect angle. It may seem like a simple preference for a particular photography style. But psychology research offers an interesting explanation for why candid pictures can feel more appealing: they can give the impression of showing someone as they naturally are, rather than how they want to be seen.
A study by researchers Jonah Berger of the University of Pennsylvania and Alixandra Barasch of New York University examined how people respond to candid and posed photographs. The research
‘A Candid Advantage? The Social Benefits of Candid Photos’ included five studies. The researchers also analysed thousands of online profiles…
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