Behaviour while Portraing people

[martin s]

I have this issue I really need some advice on. I've been shooting a few series lately and right now I'm trying to portrait people who suffered through a lot. It's mostly old folks, up to 100 years in some cases.

I have a good relationship with the ones I photograph, but I'm not sure how exactly to go about taking the pictures. I usually photograph while talking, since otherwise they feel they have to pose.

This works for a few minutes, but after a few images and minutes they think we're done, and I have an incredibly hard time to explain why I want to keep on shooting for some more time. They think I need an image, I have that image.

How do I explain them that I want to take more images? In general, how could I make them more comfortable regarding the camera?

Any advice appreciated, also - I'll photograph some more tomorrow, which is in 10 hours for me, so I'd really very much appreciate if somebody could give me some advice until then.

martin

 

[functus]

Can't you just tell them you'd like to keep talking with them for a while -- if they don't mind -- and that you'll be continuing to take photographs? ... ask them to describe to you a memory, since remembering the past will often make people forget for the moment that they are being photographed.

 

[le vrai rdu]

I have this issue I really need some advice on. I've been shooting a few series lately and right now I'm trying to portrait people who suffered through a lot. It's mostly old folks, up to 100 years in some cases.

I have a good relationship with the ones I photograph, but I'm not sure how exactly to go about taking the pictures. I usually photograph while talking, since otherwise they feel they have to pose.

This works for a few minutes, but after a few images and minutes they think we're done, and I have an incredibly hard time to explain why I want to keep on shooting for some more time. They think I need an image, I have that image.

How do I explain them that I want to take more images? In general, how could I make them more comfortable regarding the camera?

Any advice appreciated, also - I'll photograph some more tomorrow, which is in 10 hours for me, so I'd really very much appreciate if somebody could give me some advice until then.

martin

tell them you have to take several pics to be sure , take some time to speak and then shoot again, go to see them several times so that they get to know you 😉

 

[Carlsen Highway]

Ask them questions. I have done something similiar and had the camera on a tripod with a cable release, that way you can engage them freely and directly as a person without being behind a camera as they talk and still press the button as you see expressions and gestures.

It doesnt leave you as free to frame as handholding the camera, but it works to combat what your talking about. If you can get a set up without them moving around too much and still be in shot you can make this work.

People love to talk about themselves. Get a couple of shots, tell them they are great shots, and youll just do some more to make sure, and meanwhile try and get them to tell you stories, as I say, ask them questions.
Take the focus off the photography entirely, dont talk about the pictures your doing, as if they are only incidental to you wanting to hear what they are saying.

 

[FrankS]

Simply tell them up front that you'd like to take 10 or 12 pictures.

 

[Keith]

I think part of the problem here is with the photographer.

Subjects quickly become bored if they feel that you're absorbed in what you're doing to the point where they [the subject] become secondary. It's important IMO to maintain the person's interest by being constantly engaged with them and making the actual physical process of photographing them somewhat secondary in their eyes.

You'll get better images this way and it tends to make the subject feel less like an object.

 

[blackwave]

My memory is spotty here, but I recall reading in Avedon's "Portraits" book about a sitter (a big name news reporter whose name escapes me now) who described not realizing Avedon had even finished the session. They just engaged in conversation, comfortably.

I've come to realize a large portion of a skilled portrait photographer is based in his social skills. Evoking desired emotion, setting a subject at ease, etc etc all come with it.

 

[martin s]

Thanks a lot guys. The issue is merging social skills and photography. I can talk with those folks for hours, and I actually do. While shooting it's probably that I become insecure, which kind of transfers.

Just telling them ahead of time that I need a few more images is so unbelievably obvious I will try to do so.

I can actually go to bed now, thanks a _lot!

@Cyrille sorry with MSN, I had to get home - I'll talk to you tomorrow.

martin

 

[rover]

You mention that your subjects have been through a lot, so my ideas may or may not work.

First of all, if your subjects are elderly, they are always right.

After that is established, be bright and cheerful. Like mentioned, in conversation before you start, ask them for 15 minutes, 15 shots, how ever you measure it, tell them what you want ahead of time. Call them by name, be polite, compliment the ladies, they will love you. If in conversation the men mention an interest to you, talk about it. They will have stories.

I guess what I am saying is don't tell them what you want, just do what you want once you get them talking.