The Secret to Great Photos Is in the Eyes
If a photo feels alive, nine times out of ten it’s because the eyes are alive.
You can have perfect composition, beautiful color, and flawless skin — but if the eyes are dull, the image falls flat. What makes eyes come alive is not retouching or sharpness. It’s catch-lights. Thoughtful, intentional reflections that give the eyes depth, energy, and emotion.
Over the years, I’ve learned that the size, shape, and placement of those reflections matter more than almost anything else.
Anything That Reflects Light Is a Tool
I was once taught by Roberto Valenzuela that anything that reflects light can be valuable.
His point was simple and brilliant.
If you buy a light that’s three feet wide, you get nice light.
If you buy a softbox that’s seven feet wide, you get even better light.
Then he pointed at a white building across the street, glowing in the sun.
“How much would that have cost? Ten thousand dollars?”
“Why not just bring your subject over there and use it?”
That lesson stuck with me.
My Version: White Vans and Big Trucks
My favorite “softbox” today is not something I carry.
It’s parked in a lot.
White vans and large trucks are incredible light sources. The paint, glass, chrome, and curved surfaces act like a giant, complex reflector. The result is rich, layered catch-lights that make eyes sparkle in a way studio gear often can’t replicate.
It’s also fun to say to the model afterward:
“Remember this photo was taken in a parking lot… by a truck.”
I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
How to Do It
This is simple, fast, and works consistently.
Step 1
Invite a great model.
Step 2
Find a white van or large truck in a parking lot – with direct sun hitting it.
Step 3
Have the model turn her back to the sun and face the vehicle from about 6–10 feet away.
Step 4
Stand between the vehicle and the model, adjusting your position so you don’t cast a shadow on her.
Step 5
Shoot. Check the eyes. Adjust slightly and keep shooting. (I put a black curtain behind the model.)
Watch how the highlights shift as you move inches left or right.
Why This Works
- The light source is huge
- The reflections are multi-layered
- The highlights feel natural, not artificial
- The eyes get depth instead of a single flat dot
This is the difference between eyes that look lit and eyes that look alive.
Pro Tip (Learned the Hard Way)
Do not do this near Teslas.
They really, really hate people standing close to them.
I once had a guy want to fight me because he thought I touched his Tesla.
I did not, but the photos were worth it!
Great photography isn’t about owning more gear.
It’s about seeing light everywhere and knowing how to use it.
Once you start looking at the world as one giant reflector, your photos – especially the eyes – will never look the same again.
