1st Sub Par photo session

[Scooter Pie]

I knew it was bound to hit me sooner or later...my first semi failed photo session happened to me a few days ago!

Backstory:

So a friend of a friend saw some portraits I took of people and sought to contact me to discuss a photo session with her daughter. I go over there house for a meet, greet (she insisted her house..i was going to choose a more public setting..like starbucks or something) and find out what exactly they are looking for. She wanted photos of her daughter to create a comp-card to send to agencies etc.

Now her daughter is about 14ish very pretty...she is the spitting image of tyra banks. Shes never been in front of a professional camera let alone an organized shoot/session. So I told her the moods, suggested clothing and hair styles and generally what to expect and how and what to practice...i went into gory detail!

Signed the contract and the session was dated almost a month from the day we met...one month...ample time! During the course of those weeks I'd give them a ring make sure everything is ok. Sent them emails with links/images of poses and styles...and reminded her to practice practice practice. During those 3 weeks I was doing my home work as well..finding adequate locations, and practicing with friends etc.

Day of the shoot:

We meet around 6pm, the sun was relatively low but still plenty of light. I immediately set up and jump right in and she had absolutely no clue what was going on. So I started to direct her posture everything..it was like i was controlling a stick figure...even her facial expressions i had to carve out. after the first 30 minutes of shooting i started asking her questions - "any poses that you want to try?" "i see thats a pretty nice outfit..any thing you'd like to do differently to try to express a mood?" i got the usual "i dunno" or "not really" I looked at my assistant and she knew exactly what i was feeling. Mind you, i never let my emotions get in the way of what i was doing..i still kept a positive energy going, i tried to make her feel as relaxed as possible. At one point during a small break, I asked if she practiced like i asked...."not really" I also explained that the session is all about her...that its a two way street - you give me something and i'm going to give something back. To wards the end of the shoot (8:30ish) during one of the poses i had her in...she yawned...yawned!!! I looked at my assistant and said "we're done here" lol. Her facial expressions, body language, "smiling with the eyes" was just not there. Her parents were there during the session naturally..and i showed them some select shots and they were very pleased.

I know i said earlier she was knew to the whole process...but wasnt the month grace period enough to practice? I know im not wholly at fault here..but im just fustrated it didnt go as well as i had hoped. was there any thing more or any additional steps i could have done?

Any advice or suggestions to help minimize hiccups like this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[TheDarkReaver]

Sounds like she's got a wonderful career ahead of her.

[CheaperKings]

I've gotta tell ya; this isn't the last time that this will happen. Some people just don't get it - they don't know/understand what they need to be doing. It's just part of the game...

[Sollie_Nevina]

Sounds like her parents want her to have a career more than she does.

[kuvahmagh]

To be honest it sounds like her mother/parents want her to be a model/actress/whatever and she isn't really interested.

[CanonRebelz]

That is where the real challenge comes in - you have to be a great shooter and you have to know how to break the ice with your client, and bring them out of their shell. Some people are harder nuts to crack than others.

[Aegea]

Sounds like a normal sullen teenager to me. She was probably mad at her mother about something, possibly the photo session itself as has been suggested.

[candleman]

not your fault mate,
if the doesnt want it she will never make it.

its JUST AS BAD having a model thats over entheusiastic and doesnt listen to advise or direction.

[Scooter Pie]

Thanks for the responses guys..more so the affirmation.

She wasn't angry with her parents at all...but you folks maybe right..her parents might be egging her on for this modeling gig.

Nuts are crackable..she was a rock! lol im not sure what else i could have done to smooth her out..i was chatting it up with her..making her laugh etc.

I know having a rapport between the subject and photographer is important...would it be better if I found some way to "hang" with the client/family? I know all about the professional distance your supposed to maintain...but for better communication sake would it be worth trying out?

[tuxcomputers]

She probably thinks being pretty is enough, just stand there and people come and pour money at her feet, that's how it works right?