Beautiful Hats: Which is best, with or without the model?

These exquisite hats are the work of millinery magicians, Sarah Lomax and Rachel Skinner.

The first things we notice in the model shot are Lucie's eyes, sultry and mysterious.  Then we see her hat, curious, elegant, surprising.  It is rich viewing.

In the non-model shot the hat is everything, no distractions: all elegance and delicacy and unspeakable chic. 

or without?

However, the second shot lacks emotion.  When we see a human face we have a need to  understand it, categorise it and enjoy it.  We need to know what is going on with that person.  What are they feeling?  It's a primal impulse.
 

All photography by Katie Vandyck

 

 

 

 

With model ...


So we engage with the beautiful Lucie and her extraordinary hat and that image is the one that stays with us.