← All eight good sides
Good Side 05A
The NaturalHow to photograph clients who hate posing
Unbothered by the lens. You're best when nobody's posing.
On camera
- 01You look most like yourself when left alone
- 02Small, real gestures are your strength
- 03You make candid photos look effortless
You forget the camera is there, which is exactly why it loves you. Too much direction makes you second-guess, but a place to be and something to do brings out the real you. Your gallery will look like a documentary of your best day.
For photographers
How to photograph The Natural
At ease, calm-to-medium energy, wants freedom. Over-directing is the only way to ruin this session: set up situations and observe.
Warm-up
- Give them a real activity (pick a spot for a picnic, choose the path) and just follow.
- Shoot wide and documentary for the first 15 minutes before any close-up.
Directing style
Light-touch, situational. Pick the place and the light, suggest an activity, then shoot what happens. Correct only the essentials.
Let the session drift and follow the light. Grab two or three classic frames at the end for the family album.
Prompts that work
- 1Go explore that path for a bit. Pretend I'm not here.
- 2Sit there and talk about anything except the photos.
- 3Pick each other's outfits for the next trip, out loud.
- 4Walk to the water and tell me what you see.
- 5Find the best spot here to watch the sunset.
- 6Make a plan for dinner and argue about it.
- 7Lie down in the grass and look at the clouds.
- 8Teach them something you're good at.
Avoid
- Micro-correcting hands and chin
- Classic posed portraits in long series
- Constant feedback that breaks their flow
- Over-scripted sequences
Say / don't say
- Say“Keep doing what you're doing.”
- Say“Ignore me.”
- Say“Go wherever you want.”
- Not“Chin down, shoulder back, hold it.”
- Not“Look at the camera.”
- Not“Now pose like this.”