How can I help non-model portrait subjects relax and avoid over-preparing?
Asked 3/6/2015
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2 answers
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I’m photographing friends, family, and acquaintances for a portrait project. They aren’t professional models, and I want flattering, well-lit portraits that still look natural and true to how they look in everyday life. I usually show examples from the series beforehand so they understand the style.
The problem is that many people become anxious before the shoot. They often overdo makeup, overdress, and arrive looking tense or scared. After seeing a few frames they usually relax, but by then their styling no longer matches the natural look I wanted. Sometimes I end up photographing them again later once they trust the process more.
What can I do before and during a planned portrait session to help people feel comfortable, prepare appropriately, and look more natural on camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
2
Your question has two aspects, how to prevent people from over-preparing for the shoot, and how to get them to relax during the shoot, so I will address each individually.
Preparation: From what you've said, it sounds like your subjects may be feeling a bit pressured into getting the perfect shot. This will cause them to do what makes them feel the most "perfect". As you've noticed, often times this means applying copious amounts of makeup, putting too much time and effort into their outfits, and then they can become concerned about whether or not they went overboard with preparing just to end up looking nervous.
The tricky part is that people can prepare differently for the same situation. Sometimes you may have to say slightly different things to different people, based on their personality. In general, I would suggest you don't overhype the shoot. If you show them pictures of models being casual, they'll likely feel like they need to appear like "models" and not appear "casual". Either show them some of the pictures of "normal" people being casual, or don't show them any pictures.
Relaxing: I've been on a shoot where our subjects were an engaged couple, one of whom was very nervous and had a very tough time relaxing and giving a natural smile. The only way we could get him to relax was to talk with them and start asking questions like, "tell us a funny story about your fiance", "how did you guys meet?", or "what did you think of the football game last night" (he was really into sports). This got them talking about things they were comfortable with, which lead them to relax their postures and give natural smiles.
Again, it goes back to having to say/do slightly different things with different people. Talk with each person about things specific to them, their likes or passions. Tell them to ignore the camera and just look at you. Possibly have a remote where you can be making eye contact with them while taking pictures with the camera on a tripod. Tell a joke... get them to laugh. That makes almost everyone relax.
Originally by user33987. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user33987
11y ago
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Set expectations clearly before the shoot and keep the session low-pressure.
Beforehand, tell each subject exactly what look you want: natural, everyday, flattering, not “perfect” or heavily styled. Give simple wardrobe guidance such as wearing clothes they genuinely like and bringing 1–2 options that fit the portrait style. People often over-prepare when they feel pressure to look ideal, so reassurance matters.
During the shoot, remove stress where you can and create a relaxed environment. Don’t make small problems feel important. Conversation, music, and an easy pace can help people settle. Many subjects relax once they see a few good frames, so show them early results if that builds trust.
If posed sessions still make people self-conscious, spend more time with them before seriously shooting, or photograph them while they’re occupied with normal activities. Once they get used to the camera’s presence, their expressions often become much more natural.
In short: communicate the intended look, simplify preparation, reassure them they don’t need to impress the camera, and give them enough time to forget about it.
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