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PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
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Photo "Quick Tip" #16:
TALK While You Shoot!
TALK While You Shoot!
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Have you ever watched a professional model during a photo shoot? If so, you likely heard the photographer talking a lot with the model. Opening-up a relationship by engaging in conversation is the first step to producing portraits that reveal a bit of the subject's true personality. Whatever you do, don't say, "Cheese," or do a count up or down. The old, "One, two, three..." is certainly appropriate and even necessary if you're photographing a large group of people, such as at a family gathering or reunion, or perhaps a more formal team, club or group shot. In fact, for these situations, the count up or count down ensures that all subjects will be looking at the lens and will be ready for the picture when the shutter is pressed. However, when you're working with a small group or individuals, the "say cheese" or counting practices, although all too common, result in plastic smiles and lifeless eyes. |
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The illustration above of the photographer looks very intent and focused on her work. But is she communicating with her subject? It's one thing to for a photographer to be absorbed in her work, but quite another to be absorbed in the work of maintaining communication with her subject!
A good approach is to ask a lot of questions. Years ago, noted author and public speaker Dale Carnegie said that in order to be socially popular, an indivdual needs to have an active and genuine interest in others. In other words, people like to talk about themselves; therefore, if you give them ample chances to do so and then show an interest in what they say, a bit of magic will occur. The magic is that you, in-turn, become more interesting, popular and influential. People become more comfortable and positive in your presence.
Don't ask another question before he or she answers your first one. Listen intently to what your subject has to say and ask new questions based on what he or she told you. Don't worry about shooting while the mouth is open; this can be very interesting and real. Eventually your subject will become comfortable with talking while being photographed and the environment will seem far less artificial. Both you and your subject will be far more pleased with the results!
There's a lot more to this than you might think. Consider the source of most professional photographers' income. Earning a living off of stock photo sales and selling artistic landscape images either online or at art shows might actually work for some people, but please understand that it's not the norm. In fact, talk with any full-time working professional photographer who's earning a living exclusively from their craft and most will tell you that PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY is their bread and butter.
That's why it's so important for professional photographers (or for photo enthusiasts who want to begin earning money photographing people) to be comfortable around people and to have outstanding interpersonal communication skills. It's actually less about being glib and more about being interested in other people; less about promoting yourself and more about making the client feel important and special; and it's less about being selective with clientele and more about learning to want to work with all types of people.
A good approach is to ask a lot of questions. Years ago, noted author and public speaker Dale Carnegie said that in order to be socially popular, an indivdual needs to have an active and genuine interest in others. In other words, people like to talk about themselves; therefore, if you give them ample chances to do so and then show an interest in what they say, a bit of magic will occur. The magic is that you, in-turn, become more interesting, popular and influential. People become more comfortable and positive in your presence.
Don't ask another question before he or she answers your first one. Listen intently to what your subject has to say and ask new questions based on what he or she told you. Don't worry about shooting while the mouth is open; this can be very interesting and real. Eventually your subject will become comfortable with talking while being photographed and the environment will seem far less artificial. Both you and your subject will be far more pleased with the results!
There's a lot more to this than you might think. Consider the source of most professional photographers' income. Earning a living off of stock photo sales and selling artistic landscape images either online or at art shows might actually work for some people, but please understand that it's not the norm. In fact, talk with any full-time working professional photographer who's earning a living exclusively from their craft and most will tell you that PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY is their bread and butter.
That's why it's so important for professional photographers (or for photo enthusiasts who want to begin earning money photographing people) to be comfortable around people and to have outstanding interpersonal communication skills. It's actually less about being glib and more about being interested in other people; less about promoting yourself and more about making the client feel important and special; and it's less about being selective with clientele and more about learning to want to work with all types of people.
BOTTOM LINE:
Talk while you shoot. Moreover, ask questions and listen to the answers while you shoot. Ask more questions based on what you just heard and what you want to know more about! Get the phrase "I talked to him/her about..." and replace it with, "I talked WITH him/her about..."
Do this consistently and from the heart, and you will become a better portrait photographer and a more popular person.
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The lessons on this website were provided free of charge for individual home users; if you paid for any of this you have been cheated.
Please report any misuse, sale or plagiarism of this material here OR E-MAIL US AT: CONTACT@FREEPHOTOCOURSE.COM