7 tips on getting your subject to relax
It’s a portrait session, and you’re being paid for good results. Your subjects don’t want to be there. Some of of them already hate the pictures. With odds like these, how are you going to make your clients happy?
Tip 1: Get your ducks in a row
It’s essential to figure out well before game-time what exactly you’re going to do. Your subject should be able to walk into the exact spot, experience the absolute minimum of faff, and be done before their patience runs out. Doing it this way is time efficient, helps you look and be prepared, and also means you get the best of them.
Tip 2: Say hello and mean it
Welcome them into your space with a bit of confidence. The last thing they want is the feeling that you’re anxious or you don’t know what you’re doing.
Tip 3: Use your environment
Even professional models like something to interact with, but regular people especially feel more comfortable having something to sit down on or lean on. A trick I employ is to ask them to sit or lean while I’m setting up; often you can look back after a minute or so and find that, left alone, they’ve adopted a very natural pose.
Leaning helps the subject relax and involves them in the scene.
Tip 4: Start talking and don’t shut up
For two reasons: firstly to communicate the technical process so they feel included in what’s happening, and secondly to keep their attention on you and not wandering elsewhere. It also helps the more self-conscious types not listen to their inner voice...
Tip 5: Don’t tell them to relax
It’s never worked on you, so probably won’t work on them. A good proportion of people I photograph compare having their portrait done to being at the dentist, so you need to create an environment that shows you’re bloody lovely and there to help. If that isn’t working, get someone they like on an eye line; they might relax for them if they won’t for you.
If your subject isn’t happy looking down the lens, try other eyelines.
Tip 6: Show them your process
Results don’t happen straight away, but once you think you’ve something worth showing them, give them a look. If they agree that the process is going well, they’ll feel more comfortable. If they don’t… back to the drawing board.
Tip 7: Go easy on yourself
A sad reality of portrait photography is that some people will hate your effort no matter what. It might be something you have the power to change, by improving your lighting abilities or finessing the angles a bit, but also perhaps not. It’s useful to be able to know the difference and not let the perennially unhappy types knock your confidence to do the job.