How to Get a Genuine Portrait by Relaxing Your Subject



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It’s always important to make sure that you get the right result from any portrait session. While many different styles of photography can intersect in this genre, it is a popular choice to try to get the most genuine portrait possible. Many photographers aim to really show the personality of their subject through the image, but this is only possible if you can manage to really relax your subject. Your aim is to have them let down their guard, so you can really see the person behind their eyes.

To make this happen, you need to know the right techniques to get them into that relaxed frame of mind. Here are a few methods you can use to get the right results.

Get to Know Them Beforehand

Photo by Alejandro Escamilla

Photo by Alejandro Escamilla

A lot of people feel uncomfortable in front of a camera, and it is difficult to ask someone to relax when they do not know you and have never met you before. After all, why should they trust you?

You can solve this problem by getting to know them beforehand. If you are working with them as a client, you could do a consultation before the photoshoot in which you discuss what they want out of the images and why. This will help you to understand their needs better and put together a set of images that they will love. It also helps them to understand that you know what you are doing and can be trusted.

During this time, you can have a chat with them in general, too. It doesn’t all have to be about work! You can mention your family or talk about your background, or just make small talk about the weather. This will help to put them at ease and make them feel as though they know you. It’s a good way to connect with your client.

It may be trickier to do this if you are working on an assignment for a magazine or a celebrity, but you can still try to fit in a few minutes of chat before you start to shoot. Taking that time will surely be appreciated by your subject.

Exude Calm and Confidence

Photo by Mario Calvo

Photo by Mario Calvo

It’s possible that you, yourself, feel a little nervous and tense when you begin a photo session. You are under pressure to perform, after all, so this is only natural. However, if you feel nervous, then you will make your subject nervous too. How can you ask them to relax when you are not able to do the same?

Even if you are panicking inside, it is important to exude calm and confidence in the way that you act and speak. Play the part well and you will find your subject beginning to relax as well. They will feel that you know what you are doing, you are in charge, and all is well. If they have no need to worry, they will relax and give you a more open response.

Chat While You Shoot

When you take photographs, it is important not to go into “the zone” and shut off all communications. It can be nerve-wracking to sit in silence with a camera clicking away at your face. How does the subject know what you are thinking, or whether the shoot is going well?

Talk to them while you take pictures. Be relaxed and cheerful, and be friendly. Use words like “fantastic”, “perfect”, and “beautiful” to describe how they look as you work. If you ask them to change their look or their pose slightly, immediately reinforce how well they are doing when they get it right. If they know they are doing well, this is going to help them to relax and get into the swing of things a bit better.

Be Ready for Special Moments

Photo by Rhiannon D'Averc

Photo by Rhiannon D’Averc

So long as you have your subject nice and relaxed, genuine moments are going to start to come through. We are at our most genuine when we are unguarded, and you can capture those moments if you are careful enough.

One technique you can use is to make silly jokes or funny comments while you work. So long as you have the ability to make them laugh, you can do so in-between shots for a while. Once you know you can make them chuckle or break their concentration, it’s time to set a little trap. This time, when you make the funny comment, stay behind the lens and be ready to take the shot. Capture them laughing, smiling, and looking at ease. Try this a couple of times throughout the shoot and you are sure to capture the most genuine and happy portrait. Just remember not to jump the gun and shoot a frame as you tell your joke, as the lights or your camera may not be ready again when the magic happens!

Make Them Angry or Annoyed

If you have tried all you can to get your subject to relax, you may still find that you do not have great results. This can happen with those who are used to being photographed often: they may have a particular pose or look which they recreate every time and which they can focus on completely. When this happens, it is hard to break their concentration. There may not be any downtime at all.

As a last-ditch attempt, try calling for a break but then snapping a few shots as they relax. If this does not work either, it’s time to try something a bit risky.

Not everyone will be comfortable with this method, but if you are shooting for a magazine or an interview feature, it could work really well. Now that you have tried all you can to make your subject smile, plan B is to make them angry. When someone is very annoyed or angry it is much harder to hide their facial expressions, and they may even start to shout or chastise you. That’s the point at which you snap away, capturing contorted expressions and strong looks which really tell the story of what they are feeling at that moment.