Photo by Scott Broome on Unsplash
Not every person you photograph in your life is going to be an experienced model, right?
This means you need to develop some strategies for working with real people who may or may not have any idea what to do in front of the camera.
Not only does this apply to things like how to pose real people for portraits, but it also involves developing strong communication skills so you can direct the subjects as well as devising ways to make them more comfortable in front of the camera.
Jessica WhitakerJessica Whitaker knows a thing or two about working with everyday people…
In her video above, she outlines three strategies you can use to take better portraits of non-models.
Below, I’ve quickly outlined a few tips and included sample images to help give your creativity a boost.
Let’s get started!
How to Photograph Non-Models: Start By Sitting
photo by monkeybusinessimages via iStock
One of the primary culprits of a bad portrait is having awkward limbs.
Some models don’t even know what to do with their hands, arms, and legs when they’re being photographed, so what chance do the rest of us everyday joes have to not look awkward?!
As Jessica points out in the video, the easiest way to overcome awkward limb syndrome is to have your subject or subjects sit down.
photo by g-stockstudio via iStock
Not only is a seated position more relaxed than a standing pose, but if you’re photographing a couple, it can be a much more intimate pose as well.
Notice above how the seated pose helps the couple interact with one another in a manner that helped the photographer capture a candid moment. That’s a good thing!
Learn More:
Tips for Taking Portraits: Break Down Instructions
Photo by Christiana Rivers on Unsplash
It can be a little overwhelming to be photographed when you aren’t used to it, and having all kinds of instructions and pose changes and location changes thrown at you will only complicate matters.
It’s best to keep things simple when photographing everyday people by breaking down your instructions into manageable chunks.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
As Jessica demonstrates in her video, she got about a dozen different photos out of one basic pose of the couple sitting on the ground.
To do so, Jessica gave very clear, precise instructions for each subject regarding where to look, whether they should be smiling or not, and what to do with their hands.
It sounds simple enough to do, but when you’re working with subjects that have had little experience posing for the camera, it is a tremendous help to them to know exactly what you’d like them to do.
Photographing Real Couples: Help Them Relax
Photo by Carly Rae Hobbins on Unsplash
Another super simple tip you can use to improve the photos you take of non-models is to find ways to help them relax in front of the camera.
In addition to having them sit down and providing clear instructions, you can help the subject relax even further by making them laugh, asking them questions, and otherwise engaging with them on a personal level.
Your goal is to capture authentic moments, and that’s hard to do when the subject is worried about a camera being in their face.
Photo by Jose Escobar on Unsplash
But a lame joke here and there or a few questions about their life will do wonders for helping usher in a more relaxed vibe for your portrait subjects.
Be sure to check out Jessica’s full video up above for more easy and effective portrait photography tips!