HELP! Tips on People Photography

[SabrinaO]

So I started shooting for free last week and everything went well with their photos but its somewhat awkward during the shoot. I don't know how to get people to relax, and get comfortable. What do I talk about? What shouldn't I talk about? I also find it easier to talk to kids than adults. I have a good sense of humor, but im not the funny girl that can tell jokes. Some shots came out stiff and posey and I don't like that. What can I do to get people to relax and have fun during a shoot???

 

[puyjapin]

unless ur lucky enough to find someone who likes posing, then either take candid's or hire a model. Its not easy to take posed pics of ppl who are shy or awkward, i have found the ppl who approcach me asking for pics always turn out a lot better

 

[sobolik]

Try 2 things

1) Sit down and tell them in a firm manner that this shoot is all about you. I will be sticking this camera in your face so much that you will be sick of it. And when we are all done I will realize that I forgot to put the film in it. Oh wait it's a digital camera - never mind.

2) Fein a few angles and flips of the camera and proclaim with athority "I have no idea how to do this how about if you just pose and stuff the way you want to? Then it might turn out good."

 

[SabrinaO]

Try 2 things

1) Sit down and tell them in a firm manner that this shoot is all about you. I will be sticking this camera in your face so much that you will be sick of it. And when we are all done I will realize that I forgot to put the film in it. Oh wait it's a digital camera - never mind.

2) Fein a few angles and flips of the camera and proclaim with athority "I have no idea how to do this how about if you just pose and stuff the way you want to? Then it might turn out good."

... I have to use that...

 

[SabrinaO]

unless ur lucky enough to find someone who likes posing, then either take candid's or hire a model. Its not easy to take posed pics of ppl who are shy or awkward, i have found the ppl who approcach me asking for pics always turn out a lot better

What do I tell them if I want to take candids? I mean basically i just feel weird saying "why don't you guys start kissing or something". How do I approach it? I just want it to be natural

 

[puyjapin]

its unlikely you will find everyday ppl looking natural with camera in their face. candids as in street stuff where ppl havent seen you. models know how to pose so that they look natural, its their job and why they are expensive to hire.

 

[Village Idiot]

What kind of shoot was it? Model? Family? Etc?

The biggest thing is that if you're not relaxed, your subject will not be relaxed. I enjoy talking to my subject while I'm photographing them, that way, if it is not a model shoot, you can get a different range of looks and emotions by guiding the conversation in whatever direction you want.

I'm not sure if it was Henry Cartier Benson who did this, but supposedly while photographing a duke and dutchess who were animal lovers, he told them he ran over a dog on his way to the photo shoot. The couple were normal always composed and he wanted a shot of them showing a side people had never seen, so he told a little lie to get them to react how he wanted.

I'm not sure you should necessarily tell people that you are running over dogs on your way to shoots, but it's an example of how you can control your subject by manipulating with their emotions.