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| Family Photography can be way cool.... and fun! |
It has been more than a year since I wrote any tips.
Maybe you thought I had said all there was to say,
or maybe you thought I had said all I know.
Nah. I've just been busy.
I've been working Ithaca Virtual Tours, creating fabulous 360° virtual tours for Real Estate, Bed and Breakfasts, Funeral homes and Wineries. The tours are fun to create, but a bit on the complex side.
I've been working with a beautiful Adirondack Resort on their photography...
And a great deal of other things, but the most fun I've been having recently is photographing families.
There is a dynamic involved with families that goes beyond photography, and well into the realm of psychology.
Many of you with your fancy cameras are asked by your friends to photograph their families. I'm going to help you by sharing a couple of my most treasured trade secrets. I can guarantee that your family photos - whether it is your family or someone else's, will be better than ever before.
First, get to know them. The time you spend before doing photography will pay you great dividends, especially if there are children involved. Go ahead. Roll around with them on the floor. Play peek-a-boo. Talk video games. Find something nice to say about them that is real. Teenagers in particular can spot insincerity a mile off.
What you are doing is changing your subject's perception of you. You started out (in my case) as the big furry fuzzy scary man called "the photographer", and morphed into a big furry friend who happens to carry a camera. This difference in perception makes ALL the difference. Well, MOST of the difference.
I'm going to skip past posing and lighting, I mean, I have to keep SOME secrets, don't I?
Magic words. You'll love this.
You have all heard "Say Cheese", and your little subjects create that screwed up, "smile for the camera" look that doesn't ever occur in real life. I'm convinced it is an alien effect... Don't ever use "cheese". Bad word.
Here is what I do:
"Say ONE!" usually followed by silence unless you are photographing a Union group like I did this past Monday. Their returned "ONE!" almost blew me off the step stool...
"No, I mean it. Say ONE!"
"one?"
"Say TWO!"
"two." (not quite so hesitant...)
Can you glare and smile at the same time? It helps. Play with them. "Seriously, do this!!!"
Now, they are in to it.
"One!"
"ONE!!"
"Two!"
"TWO!"
"TURKEY!!!"
This word is the most unexpected thing that they ever thought they'd hear in a photo session. The smiles are genuine, real and beautiful. Be prepared to take several photos in rapid succession to get the whole effect; the confused look while they process what you said, the beautiful smile at the end of the word, and the laughter after.
Other words can have the same effect, like "Chicken", "Girlfriend" (greatest effect on 9-11 year old boys) and anything else you can come up with that is a surprise. "Pickle!" You will have them trying to guess what you will come up with next...
So why am I going through this? Isn't photography "painting with light" and, at its core, a technical pursuit?
No. Photography is capturing emotion in light, and dark, and color. Without emotion, a photo is nothing any more exceptional than a page of newspaper. The emotion of "fun" is what brings back great memories every time you see that photo.
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| Monroe Payne |
Always remember, the EXPERIENCE is every bit as important as the photography.
That is what makes a portrait special.
Until next time.
Please visit my new, upgraded, updated and very pretty new web site, and wander through the galleries of art, Mommy n Me, families, weddings... and I would appreciate you signing the guest book as well.
Click here: Monroe Payne Photography - Ithaca Photographer to visit.
