Portrait Photography: More Than Just Knowing The Camera?

Question

Bert Stephani Said That Being "Silly" is Crucial to his job as A portrait Photog.

When Working With People, I'm Not a Very Funny Guy.

When Trying To Compose and Experiment with lighting today from a school project,I felt that the subjects were being becoming impatient and expected me to just snap a few quick pictures instantly and be done.

Any Tips on Working With Models? Not Hired Ones. Just People who are willing to let you guide them through a picture.

Thank Ye

Answer 1

Ok, Models want you to work fast, especially if you are using hot lights.  They will get impatient if you are messing around with the lights and the setting on the camera. You should have the lights set up the way you want before the model gets there, and should only have to make minor adjustments, and you should already have an idea of how you want to expose the photo.  The model want s to get down to the posing and wants to hear the shutter and the flash going off!  In other words the model does not want to wait while you set up the shot!  So have your lighting all set up and the camera ready to go when they arrive, so you can both get down to the business of making the photographs.  Also have in mind some poses before hand too, try to make a couple original and creative with some props.  Also, compliment the model with, That was great, Love that expression, and even alright, I think that is the best shot yet!  They will start to ham it for you.  

Answer 2

complement them when you are taking their picture ex: beautiful! good job!.......always say sorry if things are not going right...these are just some of the things i do

Answer 3

Talk to them.  You don't have to be funny (but it helps sometimes).  

But showing an interest in them and talking to them can really get them to relax.  Ask them about something they're working on, something they're wearing, something that you've both seen.  h**l, ask them about the weather, their weekend plans, what good books they've read or movies they've seen.  Ask about a funny movie that's popular and they may have seen.

I also find having a release cable helps a lot as I'm not always hunched down behind the camera.  I can stand there and talk to them and press the button when the shot's right.  I look through the viewfinder every so often to adjust something, but usually stay standing up so that they can see me and feel I'm listening to them.