Subject Matter

[BEEZY]

I love play on word type phrases. Any ideas, or tips on how to engage a subject/aka client into loosening up, and getting into the flow/mood during a photo session? What topic, joke, or clever banter you use to make your client feel comfortable. I had a shoot a while back with a group of women, and tried a few jokes out on them, and they boo'ed me, but I got them to laugh and smile for the camera, at the expense of my pride. What experiences can you provide about how you got your subject to loosen up? I plan on photographing people in the future, and wanted some fresh ideas on keeping the atmosphere, lively, and energetic. One technique I want to try is to put on some music during the shoot, of the latest top 20 songs in the country.Thanks

[Benji]

Being photographed for most adults is about as enjoyable as having blood drawn or getting a tooth filled. Women especially worry about those "extra" pounds, the little lines around their eyes, the graying hair, or the double chin. Men worry about looking feminine in the image and baldness. I tell the gals that I can do wonders with my lighting and posing and I have Photoshop! I tell the men they will not look femimine and I joke that I can add hair!

Nervousness. Most of us at one time or another have been around a nervous person. How did you feel? They made YOU nervous. Conversely, remember the last time you were around a person that was laid back, easy going, fun and just a really nice person to be around. What happened? YOU became easy going, fun and friendly also.

When photographing people you CANNOT be nervous or fumbling with the camera controls or darting around the camera room like a chicken with his legs cut off. A calm, cool and collected but friendly image maker will soon have his clients "eating out of his hand."

Jokes. Some people will laugh at the dumbest joke, others will not laugh even if it is the funniest thing they ever heard. It seems to me that one liners that make the photographer look dumb usually work best, or better yet, dumb things you have actually done in your life. Clients need to feel "on par" with you. If you have an air of superiority they will sense it and will "fight" you. Also if they have heard negative things about your photographs, and your representative images on display in your waiting room confirm their suspicions they will fight you. When I say "fight" I don't mean it literally (but I assume you already knew that.)

Benji