What’s Your Preference?

steveaggie · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 05:32 PM

One thing I can't figure out is how to make your subjects laugh? I have a sense of humor, but I'm not one to make cheesy jokes to coax out a laugh. Is there a better way? I see a lot of pictures with people laughing. Just wondering if that's spontaneous or if the photog is doing something to draw it out.

SusanH1970 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:21 PM

A lot of laughing shots are candid - the photographer just happened to catch them at the right moment. But, there are ways of getting people to laugh, too.

Getting them to relax is key. If photographing more than one person (either a couple or a group), get one of the people to tell a funny story involving at least one, or even all of them - they're more likely to laugh at something like that, than something you'd say.

When photographing young kids, potty talk works wonders! I made a bunch of kids crack up by yelling out "monkeyfarts!" right before I took the shot.

This is one that I took by using potty talk. She was laying on the ground, as serious as could be, and I got some nice serious shots - but then I just started saying the silliest things and got this:

For teens, I'll say something like, "Pretend I'm not a complete dork and that you like me at least a little, would ya?" Not so much of a roaring laugh, but usually at least a snicker.

I'm sure lots of other folks will have more suggestions!

candleman · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveaggie

One thing I can't figure out is how to make your subjects laugh? .

depends what age group and gender you are dealing with.

teenagers respond well to the boyfriend/girlfriend quips

kids.. wel.. potty talk, faces, puppets, farting noises... peek-a-boo works wonders for me.

something i have noticed... men are allot more tense/nervous in front of a camera when posing than ladies, especially the macho guys. ....generally speaking. not always.
i managed to get around this once when a son told the dad to smile.. he wasnt impressed so i got on the dads side saying .."if you tell me to smile just one more time..."
that made him chuckle and snap it was all over.

its different for me almost every time.. but you just gotta "figure them out" before the shoot.
see what tickles their funnybone in general chit-chat.