The Subjects
When
working with people who aren’t used to being photographed, your
subjects can often feel a little awkward so it’s important to put them
at ease. While this Masterclass finds our readers photographing models
who are used to being photographed, the same principles apply to make
sure everyone is at ease.
photo by Annable Williams
‘One
of the first things that I do is visit my model and get them to lay out
a wide selection of their clothes,’ says Annabel. ‘Then I get them to
take me through their outfits and what piece of clothing goes with what.
It’s a great way of involving your model in a collaborative manner.
‘I
always get to know my clients before getting my camera out,’ says
Annabel. ‘Just sitting down and having a coffee with them can help to
put them at ease. However, as comfortable as they may be around you,
they may not necessarily feel comfortable being photographed. That’s a
great concern with many people who want to be portrait photographers –
their subjects don’t really know what they’re doing. That’s why I always
tell my models that I’m making it up as I go along. This is not a
million miles from the truth, though, as a portrait shoot should be
spontaneous. Don’t be afraid to wing it slightly and admit this – the
main thing is to make your model feel better about being photographed.’
