During a recent mission trip to Nicaragua, I was challenged to capture moments in their most authentic form. For me, this meant candid. But in addition to candid stills, I wanted to take it step further. I wanted to capture human emotion.

I understood prior to the trip that the images captured would be used to promote future trips. So while photographing landscapes and landmarks can be fun — it falls short in comparison.

Throughout my time in Nicaragua, I focused on the work being done and the lives that were being impacted through service. The locals. Adults, kids, chickens, and more.

But I also took time to capture the expressions of those who joined me on the trip. Why? Because at some point in the near future, there are going to be potentially hundreds of other people making a decision as to whether or not they should go on a mission trip — and I want to give them a fresh, authentic perspective from those who have gone before them.

You can see the full gallery here: lifepointnow.pixieset.com/nica2019

Tips for Capturing Emotion

01 : Focus on what’s real.

02 : Let the subjects eyes tell the story.

03 : People naturally gravitate to kids. If it’s powerful, capture it.

04 : Keep it candid. Subjects in their natural element will always be the most authentic.