Expressive Photography Book Review by ChristineMM

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My Star Rating: 5 stars out of 5 = I Love It

Summary Statement: Focuses on the Process of Observation & Photographing Ordinary Moments in Our Lives; Full of Positive Female Energy

This book is different than typical photography books in a number of ways, and that’s why I like it. The other technical books I own and use about DSLR photography tend to focus more on the technical side and although they have lovely photographs there is no story revealed about that photo. You see a lovely lit ballerina and they tell the camera’s settings used to capture that light, period. There is an image of an unidentified person, period. EXPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY is much more personal or shall I say ‘touchy-feely’ in that the photos shown with the techniques shared also contains information about what inspired the photographer to capture that image, whether it is a nature shot or a photo of their young child or scenes around the photographer’s homes. In fact a lot of the photos in this book are images of family and home which brings a completely different feel to the book, one of comfort and familiarity.

I was drawn to this book because of the title. I myself want to take expressive photographs so I was curious to see what this was about. I knew nothing about the book when I ordered it. I didn’t know until the book was in my hands that it was written by ten authors who call themselves the “Shutter Sisters” who publish a blog in which they share their photographs and tell the stories behind them. All the authors are women and most identified themselves as mothers in the book’s biography section. I had not ever seen their blog until after I began reading the book, then went to see what it was all about. So this is an example of women coming to blog on a topic of mutual interest then later assembling their knowledge into a book. I read this book slowly over two month’s time, savoring it and dipping into it here and there when I was in the mood.


There is a concentration on the photograph telling a story and encouragement that the photographer/reader use their camera in ways to capture their real life story as it happens around them. Even when traveling or visiting places we are encouraged to look for a story and capture it in an image.

Most images in this book are from ordinary family life, so the book felt approachable, warm, and familiar. This book is unlike some others on the market that show far-away places or major world events or extraordinary things that most regular Americans don’t ever see in person let alone try to photograph. There is an encouragement on living our lives and being present and aware, and (if you are not already) to learn to become astute observers and then to seize that moment by capturing it in a photograph.

This is a completely different approach from most of the photography books on the market that concentrate on technical aspects of using the camera but may leave the photographer wondering, “What shall I shoot to test this technique out?” The writing is more colloquial, like a friend is talking to you casually. After reading EXPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY I was left thinking the traditional photography books are cold and emotion-less or too academic and straight-laced; perhaps that’s why they are boring to read and sometimes seem tedious or left me feeling intimidated and incapable of ever really learning to master my DSLR camera.

EXPRESSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY is not intimidating at all and it is an easy, feel-good read. I found it stimulating my creative juices and it made me feel empowered. It reaffirms that everyday moments in MY LIFE are indeed worthy of photographing. I already photograph similar moments to the ones shown in the book but had thought “no one else would care about this stuff but me”, but I know my photographs tell a story: my family’s story. There is a photo of a pet cat laying in a cardboard box, little kids taking a bath, a father napping on the couch with his young daughter, and a roasted Thanksgiving turkey.

However perhaps even more, what made me feel this was not an intimidating book was that it lacked much technical detail. The technical details are often buried in a story describing the photo (not easily found if skimming or to refer back to after your first read through is done). So, I don’t feel this book is a stand-alone book for beginning DSLR photographers; you’ll still need a book on your specific camera to learn to use its settings to try to get it to capture the image the way you want.

The way the book is laid out is also non-traditional and interesting. There are ten chapters with ten topics, with one author covers each topic. The topics are: horizons, portraiture, nature, spaces, childhood, stillness, documentary, creatures, table, and togetherness. Inside those topics are a list of subjects that are addressed, those are covered for each of the chapters. They are: introduction (an essay), approach, perspective, composition, lighting, details, and processing. I liked the different voices of the different authors. Also in each area there may be photos taken by the other authors so those have their paragraph of information written by the photographer. Reading the chapter felt like being in a room with a small group of friends, listening to a talk led by one, with the other photographers in the room jumping into the conversation to chime in with their opinion on the topic at hand here and there.

Peppered through the book and especially in each processing section are mentions about the use of Photoshop to edit the photographs. At one point it was said that editing a digital photo using software is the same as film photographers who edited and tweaked images in the darkroom. I’m still a novice at photo editing with software and get confused sometimes about whether the look achieved in the photo is capable due to the way the photograph is made or if something was done to alter it digitally. I have been focusing on learning to use my DSLR camera’s features and to be observant and to hone my composition of images instead. This book may pique your interest about expanding from just taking photos to digitally altering them but if you choose to do so a different ‘how to’ book will be necessary to help you learn the specific software you own. I would add that if you are an amateur photographer and don’t have a extra money to burn you should consider PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS and a go-along book to learn to use it, which is most likely more than “good enough” for your needs and it costs a fraction of what PHOTOSHOP does.

This book is a “feel good” book that felt full of positive female energy and more specifically, full of mother-love. It has lots of family photos of those early years of innocence and cuteness (no tweens with attitude, no teen angst, and no acne is seen here). I’d be willing to bet the book will be liked mostly by women and young mothers who want to get in touch with or exercise their creative side by enjoying the process of photography by capturing life’s everyday moments for memory’s sake. I understand the desire to slow down by really seeing things as our busy lives seem to leave us feeling like we’re living in the midst of a whirlwind.

I think I just figured it out. What I’ve been trying to put my finger on to describe this book is that it is more about enjoying our lives while learning the PROCESS of seeing and the PROCESS of making a photograph rather than being yet another boring, detailed how-to book of the PROCEDURE of how to use a camera. Yes, I think that sums this book up in a nutshell.

Being a process-oriented creative person and amateur photographer who connected with this book I rate it 5 stars = I Love It. It’s a one of a kind book but it still won’t be the one book you’ll need to learn everything you need to know, but that’s okay by me.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the Amazon Vine program. I was not paid to write or blog this review nor was I pursuaded to give it a positive review. For my blog's full disclosure statement see the link at the top of my blog's sidebar.