People want to look good in their photos, but they tell you they won’t pose for it or they won’t be directed. Sounds familiar? It does to me … weekly …
At the end of my first article, we arrived at a point where the couple is more relaxed and no longer constantly looking into the lens of your camera. Although this is already a major step forward, there are still some points to improve upon.
Since we are aiming for relaxed & unposed-like shots we need our couple to interact with each other without us constantly telling them what to do. There are lot’s of ways to accomplish this and there is no one perfect solution. It depends a lot on the couples personality, so it’s important to find out ASAP what makes them tick. Are they a couple that likes to tease each other ? Are they the quiet, intimate type ? How can we find out ?
Most of the time I don’t know the couples I’ll be shooting, I’ve only met them once before so I still need to find out who they are. I spend the first 15 minutes or so experimenting. I ask a lot of questions about their life, their job, how they met each other, how the guy proposed to his fiance etc. By simply listening you will know very fast what type of couple they are and you adapt your “work flow” using the intel you received from them.
Let’s say they are a very open, relaxed & playful couple. Since they are so playful getting the fun shots is as easy as combing a bald guys hair. It’s just who they are ! If they are a more quiet couple, a bit introvert even, than getting the really relaxed fun shots will be the harder part.
Always remember that you are in control, you are the one that sets the mood of the shoot. If you act hyperactive & are cracking jokes all the time than that will be the mood of the moment. If you act gentle, caring, talk with a relaxed, sweet voice, than that will help set the mood. Try to get them to remember a romantic moment they had together, get them to relive the moment. Ask them how they first met, their first date, their first kiss, …
Don’t try to take a fun shot at the exact same spot where you just tried to shoot an intimate moment. Switch locations first. Even if it’s only 3 steps to the left or to the right. A new location helps reset their mindset and makes it easier for you to project the mood you want. Look for a scene (a cool wall, a doorway, a bench, a bridge, a chair, etc) and decide what type of shot you want. Then get them in the right mood and press the shutter. Don’t be afraid to take too many shots, since it’s unposed you have to take multiple shots of the same “pose” in order to get the exact one you want. Just shoot & select later.
When you walk from one location to another you should already by projecting the emotions that you want in the shot. In order to do this you can ask them questions (if they are the talkative type) or you can tell stories from your past, or describe a movie scene you watched last week, etc.
Always remember the magic word : Imagine
When you tell a couple for example : “I saw this movie last week where *insert very romantic movie moment here*. Just imagine that happening to you !”
He, she or both of them will try and imagine that moment !
Not convinced ? If I tell you “Last week when I was snowboarding I wore a pair of lederhosen”. Did you try and imagine me wearing those funky leather shorts ?
What when I tell you “Imagine me wearing a pair of lederhosen” ? Which of those 2 sentences made you imagine me in lederhosen ? (for your mental state of mind I hope non of the above
).
It’s not easy to try and explain this in written text but I hope this article gave you few new tricks to add to your toolkit.
Do you want some examples ? Ok, that can be arranged
To make it more helpful to you guys, I’m going to need your help. Sketch me a situation in the comments in which you are struggling (it can be from a past experience or just an imaginative situation) and I’ll try and tell you what I would do & why, in part III of this article series.
Bring it on !
Pieter Van Impe