in need of practice
Sunday, July 20, 2008 by Kate Inglis 
Photographing kids is simply a matter of rapidfire optimism. I’m fine with kids, not self-conscious as a photographer because they’re not self-conscious of themselves. I don’t have to tell kids what to do with their hands.
But when it comes to adults—here I am, and you may take my picture, and please don’t make me regret it, and where do you want me to stand?—I’d rather shoot incognito from behind a bush. Pervy, I know. But otherwise, I clam up.
The gorgeously ripening Bon asked me to take maternity portraits of her at nearly 29 weeks (given her moody diva of a cervix, this is a fabulous accomplishment achieved thanks to many months of strict bedrest) and when she did, I balked a little.
Inside I was thinking GOD yes! I’d LOVE to! Every time I’m with you my trigger finger’s twitching for want of my camera, but I’m too shy to ask.
When the day came I knew what I wanted—more her than the belly, notsomuch the typical, something un-contrived and non-cutesy—but was amazed at how much it felt like juggling.
I’ve got to go all-manual instead of aperture priority because I need to trick the camera into over and underexposing because that’s what I want, but how do you do that again? I need to hold down the +/- button and click the clicker at the same time, then hang on, now that’s going to be too much, let me check… <click>
She says Oh, have we started? I think I blinked and I stammer sorry, just checking my settings, you can sit for a bit… and then it occurs to me: adults need guidance, reassurance, chit-chat. When you look through your lens and think to yourself that’s perfect! you need to say it, tell her how lovely she looks by the windowlight.
All that and I hadn't yet considered composition. So busy thinking of rapport and focus and exposure, I cut off her arm for fifty frames in a row—visually speaking—and the angle of it draws energy straight off the edge. Her face, expression? The light? Dreamy. But the damn arm, the arm! GAH! How could I have not seen that? Even drastic cropping can’t seem to reinvent this creative stumble.
Fascinating, though, and I want to do more, much more.
Sisters, I need your help. What are your principles for taking great portraits—intentional ones, not candid—of adults? How do you keep all the balls in the air?
Reader Comments (37)
It's called divine inspiration___
in the background.
I'm looking forward to other Sisters' suggestions as I can use a lot of help myself.
So perhaps for my next shoot, I should go into teacher mode and do a little acting. Oh, the things I say are genuine, no doubt, but my delivery... a bit improvised.
I'm looking forward to reading more tips about this. How do you keep the client at ease while trying your best to take the best portraits possible??
Capturing the essence of the moment, as well as the person you are shooting is no easy task. I would say that you have a wonderful idea of how that is accomplished.
so for this reason i've only done "photoshoots' for friends and family and friends of friends where i can practice my direction and finding my voice, oh and i'm a wee bit shy have i mentioned, so i do all this in practice to actually self promote myself hopefully in the future as a {cough} career. i was just joking at my last shoot (three adults two babies and one three year old) how i feel as if i go mute behind the camera. and when i speak i remind myself of a glamour shots attendant (move your shoulders towards me, maybe your hands behind your back? how about legs crossed at the ankle? oh that's good...) but i was reassured by all three adults that they liked this approach. they want to know what looks good. they want to look good! they want to know what to do with their hands just like i do when i am being photographed.
pregnancy shots really made me voice myself more with just a little direction like hand placement and trying to be fast and try lots of different angles. (ie: fill two memory cards in two hours) but still after a photoshoot i am exhausted and feel like a split personality, a bit manic overanalyzing every minute detail: sun, eye contact, hands, necklace, bra strap? hair, smile... AH! oh yeah, this is supposed to be fun. but then once i get home and put all the photos up on my laptop i remember that is was fun, duh, and i can be behind my bush while choosing the favorites to pass on to them.
your photos are beautiful, as is your subject. and your post is reality, and good to hear that others feel this way too. maybe it gets better with time? i can only hope.
When it got to be just me and her, I made sure to mention how lovely she looked and reassured her that she was doing a great job. She did make things easy though - she was a natural!
And Kate C, totally no! I mean, yes.. agreed! <looks over shoulder, whispers> I took shots of her prego bazongas. Kidding. Sort of. :)
Yep, give me some vanishing cream. I actually do better one on one than if I'm taking photos where there are people watching. Agh! I'm scaring myself.
Gotta run and hide
julie
I feel like I have to work for it. Think about it. And yes, the more I practice and do and read and am inspired, the easier and more natural it gets. But really, with people (I've done a few engagement shoots), I'm a wreck before and during. After, I've taken so many shots I'm almost overwhelmed. And hamstrung when choosing the shots to edit and share.
So thank you - for sharing how hard it is and how it's not just me that is nervous and "overthinky" about all this!!
And "prego bazongas"? Yow-za!!
This is a great topic and I'm looking forward to reading everyone's advice. I'm new to portrait photography, but I've done a couple 'formal' weddings (and one informal one) and absolutely love it. Everyone is happy, dressed to the nines and will happily try any ridiculous pose you throw at them, as long as you look like you're having fun too. I think even as the photographer we need to remember to relax and breathe. Take some time, check details. Write a list and memorize it then check your photos often (if digital), something like: horizons, limbs, exposure, intended depth of field, focus point, and whatever else you feel helps a photo look sharp and well thought out.
well, someone very wise (andrea) once told me to try putting it on "P" and automatic focus for the first few portrait sessions so that i can put my energy towards the person and the compositions rather than the techie stuff. so i did that for a while and i grew to understand how i work with people behind a lens. then, slowly but surely...i played with the techie stuff.
What I've learned is not to wait for the perfect moment..the perfect pose..the perfect expression. Shoot it all. Usually the best images are the unexpected ones. The ones where the subject is caught unexpected and in between poses.
Great portraits here. Well done.
Well... I have my first maternity shoot (she doesn't know it's my first) and I think that that is key number 1. Fake the confidence to the end. She'll be 38 weeks when we do this shoot so I just continue to tell her that she's so adorable, and letting her know that I understand any discomforts-but that in the end, I want to get pictures of her glowing and beautiful. I've told her that we will take our time, have fun, and come away with great images. She's so excited-I hope I deliver... But really, I've been overly careful of telling her that my most important issue is for her to be comfortable. I think it's working so far-but uh. we've yet to take the pictures.
So I was fine, after I went through some old family portraits I had taken though, my confidence was shaken-over analysing these pictures that the families LOVED- I just feel terrible for having them pay.
So lesson two, don't focus on the old, grow, learn, and figure out what to do better next time.
...and then-I got a phone call from a man asking about family portraits. Sure! I tell him, No problem! ...the family is 18+ people. I seriously have no idea what to do. I'm doing it at a rip off price because I've never done a large group before. I'm terrified-but I think that my lesson number three has got to be that MOST people don't know a good picture if it hit them in the face. Any picture of their family together, smiling face, generic blah is great to them-it's when you pull out all the stops and give them a creative, intimate picture of their family that they go 'oh...oh..'
Recap- fake confidence, pretend you know what you are doing. (once I lose confidence, the family loses confidence in the way they look, in how the pictures will turn out, and in the time we are spending together)
learn from your past mistakes, and don't be too hard on yourself about them.
Know that most people don't know a good picture if it bit them in the face. They are paying YOU to be the creative one, they don't see things the same way we do-they won't notice that you wanted more light here, or that this persons arm is funny. They see the full picture, while you see all the details that are wrong.
Now, wish me luck on my first maternity, and first large family portrait!!
The most important thing is to feel confident and appear confident even in moments when you realize - oh crap, I've cut off her arm in 50 frames. Assure them that they're doing great and you've got some wonderful shots....so they don't feel like you are disastisfied.
I also shoot completely manual (have almost since the beginning and never looked backed) but I typically try to pick an aperture and exposure that works with the light and the first pose and then shoot in that for 50 frames or so, adjusting maybe the shutter speed a bit.
It's trial and error - I don't think there are hard fastened rules. I've been working as an asst. to a wedding photographer this summer and she floats through shoots, it's completely awe-inspiring. And whenever I ask her how she seems to be so flawless, she says - I've been doing this forever. So the lesson seems to be - practice, practice, practice.
Lovely shots of Bon :)
After getting into photography, I spent 6 months as a professional photographer for Lifetouch, but quickly realized that it was too much "work" and stopped being the fun hobby I once had. I dreaded going to work each day and all the technical stuff became routine. I'd tell people how to sit, how to place their hands, etc. I stopped getting creative behind the lens and my photos didn't look natural but posed too much.
Photography is definitely one of my biggest passions, but I can't be forced into a set of rules. I have to feel inspired and when I am, my photos turn out the best. As far as portraiture, I still get nervous, even when I am shooting family. It feels like I'm under pressure to always do my best because these people know what I'm capable of doing. But if I can relax and joke around (I'm a pretty sarcastic person), then I just let myself loose. When I've done engagement or other photos of friends, I also find it helpful to have another person come along with me to be another set of eyes and to just spark more conversation. They sometimes point out minor details I've missed as I'm trying to adjust settings on my camera. I still have a problem with speed...making the right settings so I get a good shot but also keeping it flowing so that my subjects don't get bored. I'll miss a good shot every now and then b/c of this. Anyone have advice on that???
I look forward to following this conversation.
I always find myself feeling so small and insignificant reading about what's "in" for equipment and getting lost in the photo jargon I am so unfamiliar with.
I shoot with a dinky D80 and an 18/135 (which I love and will not buy better than anytime soon). I don't use boxes or flash extensions or any of that fancy stuff. Though I have a simple studio set up that I bought in the beginning, I have no training and am lucky if I can take a good pic in the sunlight much less fan dangle all that set lighting.
I do freelance wedding, family, senior, and children's photography going on three years...and I rock at it. =)
The more nervous I am before a shoot, the better the photos turn out...???
and I'm always amazed by the interactions, the joy of working with people and the different results that come, personalized to each group, via their style and dynamic.
I never feel like I've provided a service when I photograph someone, but more as though I was offered the experience to live through their hearts, souls, and relationships from a special and unusual angle. In my own art language I take and use that opportunity to capture the reflections of what I find.
I LOVE photography.
I agree with the first comment.
God is certainly involved for me.
I guess there is a plus to being self taught, and that is that I don't ever have to think. I just feel and move where the shot takes me.
I would suggest practicing without so much thought. Let your heart move your fingers around your camera. Feel your subjects. Take them in. And when you get quiet and involved connecting to their eyes, hearts, hands...they'll find a peace and calm in your work that will be appreciated and shine through in their portraits.
Thank you for sharing this. It makes me feel like at least i have SOME edge, even if I missing all the rest of the fabulous things you ladies have to offer. =)
God Bless.
Lora
The first wedding I shot (I shoot with a partner), a kid grabbed my lens right as the ceremony began and smudged it horribly. I only had time to quickly grab another lens and throw it on the camera. So I was working with a less than ideal lens that I hadn't been prepared to use. Nerves around that had me shooting in autosettings at the beginning, then I switched back to manual. While I did make some mistakes, like I TOTALLY missed the first kiss, my manual settings came out much better than did the auto, so that made me feel good. And when I did mess up, my partner was there to back me up. He got some great ones of the first kiss that I missed. He messed up on the cutting of the cake, and that time I got some great ones. It's good to have back up!
The second wedding we shot, we went in early to set up, do prep work, and when the wedding starts, literally the moment the bride walks out... they turn the lights off!!! A fact which nobody bothered to mention to the photographers. We just looked at eachother, eyes wide, and then went to work. We managed to pull it off okay, but certainly nothing compared to what we COULD have done had we been given the opportunity to be completely prepared for those conditions. So sometimes things are out of your control, as well. I think learning to recover and roll with the punches is one of the most crucial skills to develope.
It's been so great to read everyone's shared experiences. It is an incredible relief to know that I'm not the only one that has these feelings. :)
http://www.merakohblog.com/2008/10/22/photography-qa-segment-1-how-to-photo-coach-a-family-session/
It was very helpful.
Myself, I try to do some preliminary talking to my subject to help me try to capture their personality and "style". If someone wants pregnancy pics of herself goofing around with her kid, who am I to try to steer her towards the oh-so-artistic shots another person would be happy with? Y'know?