What if you're not a 'people' person?

[capturedbybrooke]

I love taking photos- any kind of photos. And now that I'm making a career out of it, I need to be more of a people person, right? I would love to just take nature or wildlife pictures all day long- that will be my career someday (if I want it badly enough, i believe it will happen). But for now, photographing people is the easiest way to make money. But kids make me nervous. I don't have children, and just may not have them (haven't decided). Anyway, I think they are beautiful beings and would be great to photograph if they weren't so intimidating (at least to me). This doesn't apply as much to kids I know and that know me- we get along great. But with kids I don't know, it's just really hard for me to act silly and try to get them to laugh. I'm just not an entertainer. So what do I do? I want to change. I want to be genuine (I don't like being a fake person that tells fake corny jokes- that's just not who I am). I still remember photographers that really irritated me when I was a kid with their corny jokes. But I think I need to realize that I was not like most kids. Kids usually like silly people, right? So I ordered a funny wig and some monkey finger puppets and am ready to make an ass out of myself, lol... I just hope I'm not insulting the kids like I was insulted...

Much of the problem is that I've had social anxiety most of my life. I've decided I'm not going to let it get me down anymore and I'm taking charge of my life and doing what I want to do with my life. It still lingers and I feel it is just a part of who I am- introverted. I still think I can be a good photographer. And I'm going to try to let my inner child out- I know she's in there somewhere- even though I didn't have much of a childhood, maybe now's the time to relive it!

[natek313]

Hi, Brooke.

First off, welcome to DPS.

I can definitely relate to you. I'm not the most outgoing and silly person, and I find it tough to interact with kids I do not know. I don't know where to begin with them. Honestly, I'd love to be able to be goofy and genuine and really make children laugh and feel relaxed. Don't get me wrong; I'm not some big meanie, but I just have a hard time with, like you said, acting silly.

I may be doing some charity work for an unfortunate neighborhood in my area in connection with the Help-Portrait project. This would involve photographing children. I really want to do it, but at the same time, I'm kind of terrified. Haha. If I do end up getting assigned to the children, I do have a friend that is going to join me, and I think I will have her take more of a lead in interacting with the kids since she's really, really outgoing and loves kids and doesn't mind acting silly. Do you have anyone like that you could take along to assist you on shoots?

[candleman]

you sound exactly like me
not a people person, non-social, dancing is almost physically painful, hate being fake and corny..... now what?


i love portraits.. so i have to change that.
i've figured you dont have to change who you are, just learn to relate and to react to their personality.

sure.. for kids you have to crack out the corny stuff.. you're being paid to make them smile... so you just need to look past your own feelings and do it.

in any people shot, they are looking to you for guidance.. you need to "lead" and take control of the session
if you act shy and quiet.. they will be too

all i do to come out of my shell a bit is concern myself with them..
"is your arm comfortable" are you ok sitting like that" "cold?" etc etc etc
when you start caring for them as a person you will naturally relate them and be a bit more relaxed.

explain quickly why you're changing he pose
they wil feel more confident that you know what you're doing, and see more value in you.


ask questions about them..
people love talking about themselves, so let them open up a bit, fil the silent bits, and you can then asjk a few questions.. keep them talking, and throw a comment in every now and then.
thats what i try to do anyway

its not easy.. its a struggle for me every time.. but if you want to get them to do what you're looking for in the shot, you just gotta do it.

[Nathan deGargoyle]

Have you tried treating kids as people? They react much better to being treated normally than they do to someone who has already decided that only finger puppets/ silly wigs/ gurning exprersions are the way to shoot kids.

[Benji]

Most young children love "goofy" adults. Their parents probably act goofy around them at home at times, so they are used to it. When I'm photographing children I become whatever I need to become to get them to have fun and when they are having fun they smile, and when they smile mom buys lots of portraits and I get to eat and pay my mortgages so I can stay in business and in my home!

Benji

[hibou]

So far my technique dealing with children is just to introduce myself and tell them I'm there to take photos of them and that I want them to have fun, and then make the occasional face while their parents tend to take on the burden of foolish entertainment. I'm pretty upfront about the fact that I'm a photographer, not a clown, and I think it's working out pretty well!