← All eight good sides
Good Side 08A
The Slow BurnHow to photograph clients who hate being photographed
Takes a minute to warm up. Worth every second.
On camera
- 01You get better every minute of the session
- 02No-pressure moments bring out the real you
- 03Your subtle expressions are more powerful than you think
Being photographed isn't your favorite thing, and that's okay. You need a little time and a lot less pressure. Once the camera stops feeling like a spotlight, you start to look like yourself, and those are the frames people will love most.
For photographers
How to photograph The Slow Burn
Self-aware, reserved, low affection in public, low expressiveness. The camera feels like a spotlight: lower the stakes, add time, and don't force closeness.
Warm-up
- Spend five minutes without lifting the camera. Walk and chat about their week.
- Start with wide shots and backs to camera so nobody feels watched.
Directing style
Low-pressure and activity-based. Give them something to do with their hands and their attention, and keep touch prompts light.
Plan for a slow first third. Push the closest, most emotional frames to the very end, when they finally relax.
Prompts that work
- 1Walk away from me together and point at something interesting.
- 2Sit side by side and share a coffee. Just talk.
- 3Shoulder to shoulder, look at the view.
- 4Hold hands and swing them a little as you walk.
- 5Tell them what you're having for dinner tonight.
- 6Look at each other for three seconds. Whoever smiles first loses.
- 7Lean on that wall together, hands in pockets.
- 8Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and open them toward each other.
Avoid
- Intense PDA prompts early in the session
- Busy, public spots
- "Big smile!"
- Showing too many unflattering test frames
Say / don't say
- Say“No pressure, just walk.”
- Say“This is going really well.”
- Say“We have plenty of time.”
- Not“Kiss for the camera!”
- Not“Why are you so tense?”
- Not“Be more natural.”