--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you pose for a photograph, it's…" description: "\"When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that isn't yours. You are angry and hungry and alive. What I value in you is that intensity. I want..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/richard-avedon-10149_alive_when-you-pose-for-a-photograph-it-s-behi_1484374.jpg" --- # When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that… ![“When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that isn't yours. You are angry and hungry and alive. What I value in you is that intensity. I want to make portraits as intense as people.” quote by Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/richard-avedon-10149_alive_when-you-pose-for-a-photograph-it-s-behi_1484374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/richard-avedon-10149_alive_when-you-pose-for-a-photograph-it-s-behi_1484374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca2/richard-avedon-10149_alive_when-you-pose-for-a-photograph-it-s-behi_1484374.jpg) > “When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that isn't yours. You are angry and hungry and alive. What I value in you is that intensity. I want to make portraits as intense as people.” [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Portraits should capture the raw intensity of a person’s lived experience, not a superficial smile, revealing authentic emotional truth. **In simple terms:** Portraits reveal true intensity, not fake smiles. Key Takeaway Capture authentic emotional intensity in portraits. Themes photography authenticity humanity portraiture emotional truth Mood intense thoughtful introspective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - photojournalism - studio portrait sessions - documentary projects - personal branding Key Concepts subjectivity presence vulnerability Questions to Reflect On - What moments of vulnerability can be as powerful as intensity? - How does a photographer balance honesty with respect? A Different Perspective A focus on intensity may overlook subtle, quieter emotions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry/) [Behind a smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-a-smile/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [Intensity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intensity/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [What I really do is make portraits of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-saudek/what-i-really-do-is-make-portraits-of-the-soul/) Jan Saudek > [I want to make portraits and images. I don't know how. Out of despair, I just use paint anyway. Suddenly the things you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-want-to-make-portraits-and-images-i-don-t-know-how-out-of-despair-i/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Make portraits of people in typical, familiar poses, being sure above all to give their faces the same kind of expression as their bodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/make-portraits-of-people-in-typical-familiar-poses-being-sure-above/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [I never wanted to make portraits - to photograph celebrities, beautiful people, beautiful landscapes, beautiful buildings, or people in distressing situations… I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-metzker/i-never-wanted-to-make-portraits-to-photograph-celebrities-beautiful/) [Ray Metzker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-metzker/) > [Most people stiffen with self-consciousness when they pose for a photograph. Lighting and fine camera equipment are useless if the photographer cannot make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/most-people-stiffen-with-self-consciousness-when-they-pose-for-a/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [Fashion is where I make my living. I'm not knocking it; it's a pleasure to make a living that way. Then there's the deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/fashion-is-where-i-make-my-living-i-m-not-knocking-it-it-s-a-pleasure/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [There's always been a separation between fashion and what I call my 'deeper' work. Fashion is where I make my living. I'm not knocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/there-s-always-been-a-separation-between-fashion-and-what-i-call-my-2/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he's being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-photographic-portrait-is-a-picture-of-someone-who-knows-he-s-being/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [The way someone who's being photographed presents himself to the camera, and the effect of the photographer's response on that presence, is what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/the-way-someone-who-s-being-photographed-presents-himself-to-the/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [A portrait photographer depends upon another person to complete his picture. The subject imagined, which in a sense is me, must be discovered in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-portrait-photographer-depends-upon-another-person-to-complete-his/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I am, and forever will be, devastated by the gift of Audrey Hepburn before my camera. I cannot lift her to greater heights. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-am-and-forever-will-be-devastated-by-the-gift-of-audrey-hepburn/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [A portrait is not a likeness. The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-portrait-is-not-a-likeness-the-moment-an-emotion-or-fact-is/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I hide my sadness behind a smile, and use an umbrella in the rain. I hide my trust behind a lie, and tarnish silver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hide-my-sadness-behind-a-smile-and-use-an-umbrella-in-the-rain-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's always a reason behind a smile, whether it's real or fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-always-a-reason-behind-a-smile-whether-it-s-real-or-fake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard Avedon > [A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he is being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-photographic-portrait-is-a-picture-of-someone-who-knows-he-is-being/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Snapshots that have been taken of me working show something I was not aware of at all, that over and over again I'm holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/snapshots-that-have-been-taken-of-me-working-show-something-i-was-not/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Sometimes I think all my pictures are just pictures of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/sometimes-i-think-all-my-pictures-are-just-pictures-of-me/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [There's always been a separation between fashion and what I call my deeper work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/there-s-always-been-a-separation-between-fashion-and-what-i-call-my/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I can see myself as a very old man in a terrific wheelchair. Only, I won't be photographing the tree outside my window, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-can-see-myself-as-a-very-old-man-in-a-terrific-wheelchair-only-i/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I am, and forever will be, devastated by the gift of Audrey Hepburn before my camera. I cannot lift her to greater heights. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-am-and-forever-will-be-devastated-by-the-gift-of-audrey-hepburn/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I've photographed just about everyone in the world. But what I hope to do is photograph people of accomplishment, not celebrity, and help define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-ve-photographed-just-about-everyone-in-the-world-but-what-i-hope-to/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [If each photograph steals a bit of the soul, isn't it possible that I give up pieces of mine every time I take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/if-each-photograph-steals-a-bit-of-the-soul-isn-t-it-possible-that-i/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [Marilyn Monroe gave more to the still camera than any actress, any woman I've ever photographed; infinitely more patient, more demanding of herself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/marilyn-monroe-gave-more-to-the-still-camera-than-any-actress-any/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [ It's in trying to direct the traffic between Artiface \[sic\] and Candor, without being run over, that I'm confronted with the questions about photography… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/it-s-in-trying-to-direct-the-traffic-between-artiface-sic-and-candor/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [A portrait is not a likeness. The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/a-portrait-is-not-a-likeness-the-moment-an-emotion-or-fact-is/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [The moment an emotion or fact is transformed into a photograph it is no longer a fact but an opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/the-moment-an-emotion-or-fact-is-transformed-into-a-photograph-it-is/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [When I was a boy, my family took great care with our snapshots. We really planned them. We made compositions. We posed in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/when-i-was-a-boy-my-family-took-great-care-with-our-snapshots-we/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [I don't really remember the day when I stood behind my camera with Henry Kissinger on the other side. I am sure he doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/i-don-t-really-remember-the-day-when-i-stood-behind-my-camera-with/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) > [And if a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-avedon/and-if-a-day-goes-by-without-my-doing-something-related-to/) [Richard Avedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) [Explore all 67 Richard Avedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-avedon/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you pose for a photograph, it's behind a smile that isn't yours. You are angry and hungry and alive. What I value in you is that intensity. 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