Shooting Strangers
By Christina McNeill
17 March 2008
Shooting a stranger can be challenging, but if it weren't a challenge than anyone and everyone would be able to do it with flying colors! Be it an assignment, a random person you met off the street, a person you noticed on myspace or facebook, lets face it, no matter who they are, they are still new to you! I actually met all of these strangers from the avenue of the internet and thought I would share some words. Here are my ten tips on how to achieve an impacting, emotional and memorable portrait.
1. Don't be afraid to ask. As blunt as this may sound, grow some balls! Really, what is the worst someone could say to you? No! That's right, a measly no! You have to understand that some people really just don't like their picture taken, so respect it and move on. If they are hesitant then prove your worth. Show them some examples of your work, or fill them in on your creative ideas...pulling the student card always works too! If they say yes, than its your lucky day!
2. Offer Goodies. Nobody likes to work for free! Your models are doing such a huge favor for you so in turn you need to make it worth their while to take time out of their day to shoot! In my experience most people are honored and flattered that you want to take pictures of them. However, in any case no matter whom I am shooting I always offer TFP or TFCD meaning, Trade for Prints or Trade for CD. If you are a starving artist like me and your models want cash, just be honest and tell them you can barely afford to pay for the processing but are so passionate about the project. They usually give in!
3. Do your homework! Sometimes models, subjects or 'real people' don't even know where to begin. This is your job to use your creative mind! Find out what they do, where they hang out, what their hobbies are or what scene they are into. I tend to shoot the Indie scene. Reason? Because I love anything vintage, I love the lifestyle, the look, the wardrobe, the props, the demeanor. It all just reminds me of old family albums and inspires me to locate it in the "now", twenty-first century. The people I tend to photograph have somewhat of a sense of style; they have a plethora of fashionable outfits including accessories and neat-o props. Make sure to brainstorm before the shoot to get your mind going, one little object, color, location or piece of fabric might inspire you so write it all down!
4. Be inventive! We all have seen the same cliche image of someone in a cemetery or someone near a railroad track. You are in the big leagues now and need to step outside the box. Juxtapositions are what make images. Think: fat and skinny, night and day, hot and cold, tall and short, happy and sad...whatever contrast you can think of. I have found that shooting people in their own natural environment brings out the best in them. They are usually much more relaxed and willing to do more "out of the box" concepts. Take advantage of your model, location, props and wardrobe. Don't confine yourself to just one location or idea, have your subject move around and try different things. Change your vantage point or have them change their outfit. Also, don't get discouraged if a certain idea doesn't work. Move on and try something new.
5. Get a Model Release. And, I stress this, GET A MODEL RELEASE! The model release is one of the most important things you need to obtain from your model/subject. Once you have it your future options for that particular image is endless; stock photography, greeting card companies, editorial use, you name it. Make it as standard as brushing your teeth in the morning! Do not shoot until the release is signed because chasing someone down after the shoot is not easy nor fun. ASMP is a really great source to get free model releases.
6. Don't be nervous just be cool! Be honest with your model. It does not matter who they are or how famous they are, what matters is the limited time you have, so shake off the nerves or the "star struck" feeling and get to work! If you are nervous, it shows and is contagious. You can simply engage in a little conversation, ask questions and get to know them. You do not want your model to be nervous! The more real you are, the more your model with respect you and relate to you and in turn your images will be fabulous.
7. Avoid the cliche. Why is it that every time I shoot an inexperienced model they result in putting their hands on their hips? This is a mega no! Think back to tip #4, be inventive! You are the director so you are responsible for capturing the right moment. It is easy to detect images that are too forced or feel like both the photographer and the model tried way too hard, which results in an unsuccessful image. Make it simple and make it easy. The second you feel you are trying to hard to get something good from your model, take a break and shake it off. When you acknowledge you are forcing it, you learn and you grow. I tend to have people turn their heads away from me and when I say "go" they turn into the shot while I snap it. The reason I do this is because I try and stay away from the static and too forced pose. The end result is much more real and often unique because everyone is different and always brings a different feel to the image.
8. Let it be. What I mean by this is watch them and figure out their unique characteristics. Every person is unique and has something completely different to offer you. You want to capture their essence; you want to capture the mood and the ambiance. Need inspiration? Spice it up by having them jump, twirl , or scream! Do whatever you can to get their souls on film!
9. Change outfits! When I schedule a TFP (trade for prints) shoot I always tell my models to pretend we are going to play "dress up". You can also suggest a theme or style of clothing. With some girls I have done a "party dress" theme where they bring an array of different princess dresses. With guys I have gone with a color theme, a suit theme, or even a tie theme. Possibilities are endless. I understand that playing dress up might be easier for women, but it's easy to get creative with guys: Suggest to them using their images for Christmas presents, or their avatar on Myspace!
10. Tell their story. You want to shoot more than just a portrait. Take advantage of your opportunity and tell their story by documenting everything. Confining yourself to just a portrait is selling yourself short. Shoot every detail, close-up portraits, environmental portraits, landscapes, props and still life. You will be amazed as your story evolves; you never know how their story flows until you see everything laid out for you. One of the hardest things for me is to step back. I tend to shoot up close too much and it does not allow for any imagination by a viewer. A good environmental portrait evokes an emotion that is related by the viewer, it has props that are relevant to the subject and an environment that helps to tell the story.
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