Seven years ago, I wouldn’t have seen the difference between the left and right photo.

Back then, I was convinced the guy on the left was cool and confident enough to represent me online.

So now, I don’t get angry or defensive when someone says, “Oh, it’s just like a passport photo.”

I understand they’re focusing on what’s similar — a head with two eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth — instead of what’s different. You only start noticing the details when you really pay attention. Or, like here, when you compare two photos side by side.

I’ve been doing this for seven years, and I still learn something new every single day.

You know what’s faster than the speed of thought?

Your impression of someone’s facial expression. It’s so quick, it bypasses your conscious radar. That’s why you might not be able to explain it — but you always feel it.

Now, look at those two photos again. In the first second, you might not notice that the head on the left is side-lit, the angle looks slightly intimidating, or there’s no separation between the hair and T-shirt from the background, making the face float in darkness. The colors lean toward brownish tones, there’s a hint of a double chin, the T-shirt is skewed to the right, and the overall facial expression, meant to radiate rugged approachability, instead screams a triumph of misery.

Yet, in just that fraction of a second, you already know you’d rather deal with the guy on the right.

Why? Share your thoughts in the comments. What specific details make the right face seem more approachable?