This is a rant: ARGH!!!

[simonankor]

Hey guys!

A while ago Dad asked me to take some portraits of family members, just so he would have some nice ones to put on his desk. He doesn't like the excessively posed studio portrait style, so he asked me to do some casual, available light portraits.

But every time I pull out a camera, everyone in my family moans and hides from it! :bang: It is SO frustrating!

Ah well, guess I'll just be patient 😉

 

[Pherdinand]

You have to be patient indeed. Let them get used to the idea. Even more: you can pretend you snap photos just don't put a film in the camera. It works!
Most people have this urge to show annoyance or at least an ugly face, when you point a lens directly to them. I guess it's one more social expectation that we feel we have to fulfill in order to behave "normal". But everybody can be "cured" if you insist. And it doesn't hurt to tell them how great they look (beautiful, cute, cool, handsome, pick the fitting one to each person).

 

[simonankor]

I know, I know... and those techniques have worked with all my friends, and even people I've never met before.

My family is a little more persistent. :bang:

 

[rover]

Have your father put his foot down and demand their cooperation. Probably won't work either, but it gets you off the hook.

 

[Skinny McGee]

i would say don't pull your camrea out............ Always have you camera out. Shoot them doing things so you just become like furniture. not only that you might be suprised at some of the shots you can get of them doing what they do naturally. especially if can crop out around them.

 

[Traut]

Bring them into the act - Lets give Dad a nice set of portraits for his Bday / Fathers Day / First full moon in August / Simcah Torah / etc

 

[Oldprof]

... every time I pull out a camera, everyone in my family moans and hides from it! :bang: It is SO frustrating!

What a sweet little rant. Not nearly as nasty as some I have seen. 😀

 

[egpj]

Exactly, get some pictures of them with mouths open while they are sleeping and maybe a little drool action. Then tell them very nicely, "either give me the pose I want or you will see your photo at every bus stop in town!" Hey, I'm not above bribery, especially with family involved. 😀

 

[dmr]

But every time I pull out a camera, everyone in my family moans and hides from it! :bang: It is SO frustrating!

Let me partly play devils advocate here, and also give you one very strong suggestion. I've been on both sides of the lens on this one, so to speak.

Although I carry a camera almost everywhere and do pull it out on occasion, I do feel a sense of being on the spot when somebody ELSE pulls out a camera (in say a social situation) and starts firing away. What I really feel is out of control of the situation. I know that I am ephemerally photogenic -- sometimes I look fine in casual photos, but often I look old, stoned, bad facial expression, etc. and I cringe on the thought that photos like that would be posted on a bulletin board, or worse on some photo site! Yes, I'm one who groans when somebody other than me starts shooting. 🙂

Ok, a few years ago I was asked by one of our bosses to take some informal shots of our department, you know, people at work type shots. Most of the people were cool with it, but one, one of my best friends at work, and somebody who I regard as highly photogenic, objected the most. I took her aside and expained to her that I would work with her and that she would be in control of the situation, meaning I would take many shots, show everything to her first, and any she didn't like would be totally removed from those shown to the others. Although she's far more photogenic than I am, I knew what she felt.

I think the key is to let those who are the subject know that they are in control, and respect the fact that they might be sensitive (and vain) 🙂 and let them have a very active part in the process, going as far as giving them 100% "NO WAY" authority over any photo they don't like.

 

[simonankor]

Thanks for the responses guys... but alas, I've tried all of these suggestions before and nothing seems to work. Guess I'll just keep at it! I'm sure I'll get a few eventually, if I'm quick enough.

 

[taffer]

Yeah, what has been said. Once they're used to see you ALWAYS attached to a camera, they will start to relax very soon. Trust me, it works 🙂 but it may take some time...

 

[simonankor]

I've had a camera out on the table every time we have a family thing for a couple of years now... they're a very persistent lot, my family.

I'll get photos of my siblings when we go mountain biking, that's probably easiest 😉

 

[Ralf]

I can loan you my perfectly behaved kids for a photo session if your father wants photographs that badly. Heck, I'm only up the road. They don't eat much and they never ever play up. The only thing is you have to have em for the whole day!! 🙂

 

[Kin Lau]

I have a few relatives that tend to not smile naturally if they know there's a camera around... everything looks "posed", so I got around it in 2 ways.

1) With my Leica IIIa, 50/2 Summar out on the table while we were all playing cards. The card playing got them distracted/occupied so that I got a few good shots. You could do this with any RF w/ a f2 or faster lense, but that's what I had with me at the time. My shots were around the dinner table at night with APX100 @ 100iso. The shot of my niece (who always smiles nicely for the camera) is in my gallery.

2) with my DSLR & 70-300 telephone, and just sneak shots without them knowing. Of course, you could do this just as well with any old SLR and a 200/4 or better lense, but you really do need a 200mm or longer lense for this, so it rules out RF's. Tri-X @ 1250 in Diafine would allow you to do this easily indoors unless it's dark.

 

[jlw]

Thanks for the responses guys... but alas, I've tried all of these suggestions before and nothing seems to work. Guess I'll just keep at it! I'm sure I'll get a few eventually, if I'm quick enough.

Download a generic family-group photo off the Internet. Then steal your family members' driver's licenses, scan the photos off them, and Photoshop them onto the portrait.

When they see the results, maybe they'll be more cooperative...

[This is only my second choice, but I assume that getting everybody drunk wasn't a viable option, or you would have tried it already...]

 

[Nick R.]

Get out your old photos, the ones of you and the family at some happy occasion, and pass them around. Seeing the good times they've had will remind them of why we take pictures in the first place. For the next week or so of shooting, you should have less resistance than normal.

 

[Ralf]

>I can loan you my perfectly behaved kids for a photo session

Do you ship overseas? Nikki would love to have more kids at a Pool party.

One way only (joking of course)!!!

Simon, how about setting up a faux RFF Family Portait Competetition. You could have different categories, (Kitch family, nuclear family Adams Family, Osbornes, biggest family, etc etc. If they beleive there is a shared goal with a prize, well maybe.

 

[BJ Bignell]

I think some good advice has already been given. Let's re-iterate the steps to successful family pictures:
1) Explain to them why this is important. They're understanding, reasonable people, right?
2) Wear your camera everywhere, and use it. Don't "bring it out"; have it out and constantly use it. They will get sick of trying to hide from your lens.
3) Bribery. Tell them you're entering a contest, and will share the cash prize.
4) Threaten them.

Good luck! 😀