How to Encourage Portrait Sittings
You never need to be in a position that you have nobody to sit for your portraits.
Your nearest and dearest will, no doubt, have been the subject of your photographic attentions for a while. Some of them may feel a bit jaded and disinterested in the whole process especially if you have used them as a guinea pig whilst experimenting. In these situations it can prove difficult to ask for, and receive, another modelling session.
The answer is to sell it to them!
Here’s how:
- tell them you have some new ideas which you know will bring great results: think of some new poses, use different backgrounds, use props - make the session interesting
- ask them to wear their favourite clothes and make-up: make this the model’s session - include them in the decisions and make it personalised and interactive
- prepare thoroughly beforehand: make sure your camera is ready, the lighting is set up and any backgrounds are erected and sorted out - have an idea of what sort of poses you wish your model to adopt
- ask your model what they would like: most people would like nice images of themselves and you can help this process by asking the model how they see themselves and what sort of poses / props would bring out their personality the best - your role is to facilitate this process by making it technically possible
- process your images quickly: your model will want to pose again if you can show that they are important enough to produce those fine images as quickly as possible - don’t forget to give them a selection for their own use
Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.
