Importance of Trust in Photo Sessions
I think the strongest asset a photographer has to capturing an impressive image is communication. Whether it is street photography, portrait sessions, or landscapes. It is how we communicate with our audience and how we communicate with our surroundings.
What we choose to keep in frame is purposeful. We want the audience to digest information and interpret it. We trust that the details we are preserving within the piece will communicate our message to the viewer.
While street photography and landscapes are more about choosing our interactions with our surroundings, portrait sessions take this idea one step further in which we must direct our subject to help communicate our messages.
The relationship between subject and photographer is a tight-rope to be in-tune with the moment and the needs of others. I won’t say all photographers are empathic but those that are making the experience for everyone feel at ease often are the ones people talk about. Their job is to ensure the subject is taken care of even when limits are pushed. It is the experience rather than the end product.
Ask anyone who has had a portrait session done, they often critique their interactions with the photographer over the final photo. It bodes well to always encourage kindness and mindfulness when shooting. Networking grows not only your cliental but your skills. These soft skills in speaking with someone to hold a specific pose naturally comes with time and honestly translates far past photography.
The navigation of human behavior, reading a room, and anticipating needs appears in so many aspects of personal and professional life.
Quick tips
being personable and inquisitive to the person as a whole (noticing they have a photo of their dog on their phone and asking it’s name.. small kindness goes a long way)
reassurance is key when photographing as not everyone is comfortable being in front of a camera (play! have them shake it out but also shake it out with them - you both need to let go of the stress!)
react! if there’s a good image while quickly reviewing on your screen say it (the experience of having someone excited to take your photograph makes your subject feel empowered and confident that what they are doing is going well)
be grateful and humble, always remember you are doing a service - even if its for your own portfolio (thank your subject and show your appreciation in meaningful ways post session)
