(How to?) get clients to smile

[UncleMikey]

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

 

[BobTrips]

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

I often see 'false' smiles in published/posted photographs. The mouth smiles but the eyes say "I'm somewhere else." The smile doesn't sell.

If you're running a portrait 'mill', sit down - smile - snap - NEXT!, how about having the subjects prep themselves?

For example, hand your subjects an index card and pen. While they are waiting their turn have them write down a few words, each word serving as a cue, a reminder, of something that they think is entirely hilarious, embarrassing, etc. When you're ready to snap the shutter you can read off one of the words and watch for the reflection.

A list of 'personal funnies' might include favorite joke, most embarrassing moment, funniest thing they ever saw, ....

--
bob
Latest offering - 'Dusk on the Buriganga'
http://www.pbase.com/bobtrips
Shots from a bunch of places (esp. SEA and Nepal).
Pictures for friends, not necessarily my best.

http://www.trekearth.com/members/BobTrips/photos/
My better 'attempts'.

 

[jblann]

I often see 'false' smiles in published/posted photographs. The
mouth smiles but the eyes say "I'm somewhere else." The smile
doesn't sell.

If you're running a portrait 'mill', sit down - smile - snap -
NEXT!, how about having the subjects prep themselves?

For example, hand your subjects an index card and pen. While they
are waiting their turn have them write down a few words, each word
serving as a cue, a reminder, of something that they think is
entirely hilarious, embarrassing, etc. When you're ready to snap
the shutter you can read off one of the words and watch for the
reflection.

A list of 'personal funnies' might include favorite joke, most
embarrassing moment, funniest thing they ever saw, ....

Wow, Bob. What a great idea. Thanks!
--
'Price is only an issue in the absence of value.'

Equipment list in profile

 

[Martin Wilson]

A friend who was serious about portrait photography often says "SEX" which usually elicites a broad smile and the twinkle in the eye (needed for an honest smile) - I think because it is unexpected. probably would not work the second or third time - but then what would?

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

--
Martin Wilson
Nottingham, England

 

[john g]

People will do whatever you want for about three minutes.

If you have a good, short rap you should be able to get a full variety of expressions in about twelve exposures, one minute.

If you can't do it, hire someone along who can.

Keep in mind that executive portraits don't usually require a full smile, a smart confident smile is appropriate.

Good luck!

 

[Antonio Cotto]

I usually tell the clients that after 10 - 20 pictures, I'll start to get more natural smiles and expressions because that is when most people start to get relaxed with the photo shoot.

I then tell them that everyone that I have ever shot usually does similarly, and that it is just human nature (even professional models).

I then proceed to give a few compliments of how good they look, etc... of just say something whitty like, when multiple family members are posing together "Do you guys not know aech other?" That usually gets them to relax a bit.

If they are too tense still, then I'll have them do some goofy just-for-fun

pictures like, "sit on his/her lap", "look into each other's eyes with the most menacing look you can come up with", "both of you peek out of the same side of the tree", "both of you guys kiss your mom the cheek", "alright honneys, look sexy for these shots".

You have to make the session fun for you clients, especially if they are families, then they will ask you to come back.

People will do whatever you want for about three minutes.

If you have a good, short rap you should be able to get a full
variety of expressions in about twelve exposures, one minute.

If you can't do it, hire someone along who can.

Keep in mind that executive portraits don't usually require a full
smile, a smart confident smile is appropriate.

Good luck!

 

[Mike Goebel]

If you're not, you certainly can't expect the customer to.

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

--
http://www.mikegoebel.com
http://www.belmontstudio.photoreflect.com

 

[Paul M Bowers]

I shoot execs all the time, and I NEVER ask them to smile. I never even use the word. If someone sticks a camera in MY face, the last thing I do is smile. Pro models, yes, but even then I rarely use the word.

I explain that I shoot a LOT of what we used to call film, and I'll keep shooting until I get things I like. And if not, I'll shoot some more. I'll change basic positions, but I never over-pose- that, to me, is the kiss of death.

I look for an expression that is both credible AND accessible. People must believe what they have to say, but feel willing to approach them in the belief (often mistakes, but that's the lying machine) that they are nice and trustworthy. Usually, it's not a full smile.

I completely agree with the poster who mentioned three minutes, but not due the the talents of the photographer. I can tell you withing the first three, maybe the first one minute if I'm going to get a shot I like or what the subject is capable of doing.

Personally, I'd never get hired again if I asked a CEO to take a moment and write something on a index card before a shoot, but that's just my experience.

p
--
http://www.paulmbowers.com

 

[MarkLe]

try this:
you say "Do not smile" and look what happens

 

[UncleMikey]

These have been some very good comments. After reading the comments I am sure the problem with this recent shoot was that I WAS NERVOUS. It was not helped by having one of the chiefs strolling the hallway outside the door wanting to know why everything was taking so long. I did 15 subjects in 1 hour and 10 mintues so I don't feel like I was particularly slow. Probably too rushed is more like it, and my nervousness, and the general atmosphere translated into nervous subjects.

try this:
you say "Do not smile" and look what happens

 

[riddell]

Just talk - about anything, and flatter people, (maybe thats not appropiate with exec style shots above) but for fashion / beauty comment on make-up, hair, clothing. OK I notice all these things anyway, but you want to relax someone immediately.

I learnt early on that when I stopped taking pictures to fiddle with the camera for whatever reason, a lot of inexperienced models would start to look uneasy and I'd start to lose them, so I tell them what I am doing while I do it.

I get the photos I and my magazines want quite easily because I am easy to work with. A portrait photographer needs that kind of personality in the first place.

Get people to laugh. Tell brief stories about other models you've had, things that've gone wrong.

Just relax, and treat a subject like a friend, if they feel comfortable with you and happy, there face will light up, eyes open, and they will naturally smile.

 

[pukeazoid]

hi there,

i experienced quite good results telling people they should think about a dirty joke or something like that.

i think it makes them forget about the lense in front of them. i usualla laugh too, that relaxes the whole thing

greets

 

[candyflip69]

I shoot quite a few portraits and have a few techniques. I agree mostly with Riddell above in that your personality is the number 1 biggest selling point. Its Ok to be nervous of course, that's natural. But sell it like you don't care - act like you've done a million of these and you'll do a million more before you quit. Just another day at the office. Sitters need to trust that they are in capable hands.

Some ideas:

1. The reason why many people freeze up when in front of the camera is because they have 'lost control', so to speak. You are the master and they feel that all control now rests in your hands. So try giving them a little control back. As someone said above, tell them exactly what you are doing as you go, bringing them into the picture-taking experience by sharing with them your experience. For example, I always spend the first 30 seconds or more telling my sitter that I'm merely taking 'test' shots and that we probably won't use any of the 1st ten or so... this is great for getting them to relax and just 'be' for a little while. Some of those shots really do turn out great.

2. If you have nervous sitters who can't smile because their lips and mouth are dry, ask them to run their tongue over their teeth, or lick their lips. This improves the look of smiles on both men and women, and may distract the very nervous momentarily.

3. Talk to them, as much as possible, about anything of interest to them . For example, "so what do you when you're not modelling" to corporate clients always raises a smile. Then you could follow up with something simple like "what's on this weekend?" or "how's it feel being a star at last"? Goofy is OK, as long as you don't overdo it and try to become Jerry Seinfeld overnight... ;-)

4. With younger clients, it's often fun to inject some pop culturisms into your shoot. For example, "on 3, give me Blue Steel" is a good way to get a young adult who has seen 'Zoolander' (and many have) to give a 'model' look for you. Then they'll smile and laugh at their attempt - that is usually worth capturing. Once they've limbered up with that, ask them to give you a 'Brad Pitt' or a 'Naomi Campbell', or whatever... it's the expressions after they try the 'look' that are usually worth having.

5. Never have your clients simply staring at you all the time. It gets old for them real quick. Get them to look into the strobes (if you're using them) and then back at you when you say so. Have them look down, up, sideways, anyway but straight on until you give the word. As they turn, ask them to remember their first or last kiss, or the best meal they enjoyed this week. You'll have to gauge the personality slightly before you get specific, but this comes with experience.

6. For complete 'freezers', try getting them to loll their head around, shake their shoulders loose, jump a little on the spot, shadow box (for men), anything to loosen the muscles and make the experience less pressured and tense. With clients that have grown to trust me, I have even rubbed their cheeks with my fingers to loosen ther faces up!! Don't touch any of your corporate clients though! ;-)

7. Andy Earl, a great rock photographer in the UK, has a technique which is difficult without the right equipment, but has worked for lots of his famous client list. He uses ring flash for that beautiful, even light it gives, but the same rule applies to any flash or strobe setup that recycles within a second or two. First, he gets his sitter to pose in some way, looking directly at him, and takes the shot when ready. As soon as the flash goes off, most subjects do the following: relax their shoulders, drop their heads and avert their eyes downwards, and either smile or lose whatever pained expression was on their faces beforehand. Andy is ready: he immediately grabs another shot without saying a word, so fast that the client may not even know that 2 shots have been taken. 9 times ot of 10, it's the second, relaxed shot that ends up getting used. Not suitable for every purpose of course, but a good technique to remember.

best

jon

 

[sonjabean]

Perhaps you're already doing this, but I find it very helpful to use a shutter release cable. When my face is behind the camera, it's hidden and unknown to the sitter--they're just looking at a piece of equipment instead of a real person. It's hard to stare at your toaster oven and have a genuine expression of happiness. I'm assuming that your clients are sitting stationary somewhere and that your camera is on a tripod. Attach a shutter release to it, and then stand up or sit down to the side of the camera and engage the sitter directly. They'll hear the click of the shutter, but if they're looking at you instead of the camera, it's a lot easier for them to relax and try to ignore the process.

Sonja

 

[riddell]

I use a shutter release all the time, mostly because it cuts down on camera shake.

Don't listen to the dark side. For quality images get it on a tripod and use a separate trigger.

On another note, I've found it useful to waggle around to get childrens attention, and they watch my hand with the trigger in it (I'm quite a fan of portraits where people don't look direct at the camera. But if you do want that Childrens reactions being slower you can cross your hand over the lens, get it out of the way and then take a photo when they are looking at the camera.

I had one model in stitches a few months ago. She thought a wired release was really old fashioned, her perception being the old movie cliche of 'watch the birdie'

 

[stevegg]

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

 

[Mickey64564]

Wow, thanks for that great post! I've bookmarked it and will study it over to remember as many of those great tips as I can for the next time I shoot some portraits!

Michael

I shoot quite a few portraits and have a few techniques. I agree
mostly with Riddell above in that your personality is the number
1 biggest selling point. Its Ok to be nervous of course, that's
natural. But sell it like you don't care - act like you've done a
million of these and you'll do a million more before you quit. Just
another day at the office. Sitters need to trust that they are in
capable hands.

Some ideas:

1. The reason why many people freeze up when in front of the camera
is because they have 'lost control', so to speak. You are the
master and they feel that all control now rests in your hands. So
try giving them a little control back. As someone said above, tell
them exactly what you are doing as you go, bringing them into the
picture-taking experience by sharing with them your experience. For
example, I always spend the first 30 seconds or more telling my
sitter that I'm merely taking 'test' shots and that we probably
won't use any of the 1st ten or so... this is great for getting
them to relax and just 'be' for a little while. Some of those shots
really do turn out great.

2. If you have nervous sitters who can't smile because their lips
and mouth are dry, ask them to run their tongue over their teeth,
or lick their lips. This improves the look of smiles on both men
and women, and may distract the very nervous momentarily.

3. Talk to them, as much as possible, about anything of interest to
them . For example, "so what do you when you're not modelling" to
corporate clients always raises a smile. Then you could follow up
with something simple like "what's on this weekend?" or "how's it
feel being a star at last"? Goofy is OK, as long as you don't
overdo it and try to become Jerry Seinfeld overnight... ;-)

4. With younger clients, it's often fun to inject some pop
culturisms into your shoot. For example, "on 3, give me Blue Steel"
is a good way to get a young adult who has seen 'Zoolander' (and
many have) to give a 'model' look for you. Then they'll smile and
laugh at their attempt - that is usually worth capturing. Once
they've limbered up with that, ask them to give you a 'Brad Pitt'
or a 'Naomi Campbell', or whatever... it's the expressions after
they try the 'look' that are usually worth having.

5. Never have your clients simply staring at you all the time. It
gets old for them real quick. Get them to look into the strobes (if
you're using them) and then back at you when you say so. Have them
look down, up, sideways, anyway but straight on until you give the
word. As they turn, ask them to remember their first or last kiss,
or the best meal they enjoyed this week. You'll have to gauge the
personality slightly before you get specific, but this comes with
experience.

6. For complete 'freezers', try getting them to loll their head
around, shake their shoulders loose, jump a little on the spot,
shadow box (for men), anything to loosen the muscles and make the
experience less pressured and tense. With clients that have grown
to trust me, I have even rubbed their cheeks with my fingers to
loosen ther faces up!! Don't touch any of your corporate clients
though! ;-)

7. Andy Earl, a great rock photographer in the UK, has a technique
which is difficult without the right equipment, but has worked for
lots of his famous client list. He uses ring flash for that
beautiful, even light it gives, but the same rule applies to any
flash or strobe setup that recycles within a second or two. First,
he gets his sitter to pose in some way, looking directly at him,
and takes the shot when ready. As soon as the flash goes off, most
subjects do the following: relax their shoulders, drop their heads
and avert their eyes downwards, and either smile or lose whatever
pained expression was on their faces beforehand. Andy is ready: he
immediately grabs another shot without saying a word, so fast that
the client may not even know that 2 shots have been taken. 9 times
ot of 10, it's the second, relaxed shot that ends up getting used.
Not suitable for every purpose of course, but a good technique to
remember.

best

jon

--
Equipment list in my profile
http://www.morpheusmultimedia.com/gallery

 

[Sandra Jackson]

This allows me to be standing off to the side a touch, talking and looking right into their eyes and after I say something amusing, I just press away. Only problem I've ever had was a grumpy old guy who's idea of a smile was to open his eyes just a touch wider - that was IT! I've been know to say amusing things like "if you DON'T smile, I'm going to photoshop your nose bigger and your ears sticking out - your choice!" This usually cracks a smile.

I just finished a series of headshots for a local firm. From a
tech point of view the shots are good but I had a terribly
difficult time getting the subjects to give a nice relaxed smile
and the expression is 95% of what makes a good shot. The schedule
was tight so there was no time to get the subjects to unwind and
relax.

I did the shots with a 1D tethered to a laptop so the clients could
immediately choose the photo they wanted to use.

I have another series of similar shots (65 subjects) lined up for
two weeks from now. I need to be prepared to do a better job in
getting clients to give nice relaxed and unstrainted smiles.

Does anyone have any tips for this?

Mmike

--
Sandi http://www.pbase.com/sjackson
FCAS winner
WSSA member
'Too short alive, too long dead - live life!'

 

[Keith D. Brooks]

Take the image into photoshop and use the Luiqify filter on the corners of the mouth. Just a slight adjutment will give a pleasant smile.
Keith

 

[William Carson]

Just checked your site. Your work shows whatever you do produces excellent results.
Will

I shoot execs all the time, and I NEVER ask them to smile. I never
even use the word. If someone sticks a camera in MY face, the last
thing I do is smile. Pro models, yes, but even then I rarely use
the word.

I explain that I shoot a LOT of what we used to call film, and I'll
keep shooting until I get things I like. And if not, I'll shoot
some more. I'll change basic positions, but I never over-pose-
that, to me, is the kiss of death.

I look for an expression that is both credible AND accessible.
People must believe what they have to say, but feel willing to
approach them in the belief (often mistakes, but that's the lying
machine) that they are nice and trustworthy. Usually, it's not a
full smile.

I completely agree with the poster who mentioned three minutes, but
not due the the talents of the photographer. I can tell you
withing the first three, maybe the first one minute if I'm going to
get a shot I like or what the subject is capable of doing.

Personally, I'd never get hired again if I asked a CEO to take a
moment and write something on a index card before a shoot, but
that's just my experience.

p
--
http://www.paulmbowers.com