Motivating the Model!

[jasonco]

Does anyone have any tips in motivating models to move around and be a little bit more at ease? Alcohol?

I have this great model im photographing but she is stiff as a board and no matter what I do she wont loosen up!!!

Thoughts please.

Cheers
Jason

http://www.coledigital.com/Sarah.jpg
http://www.coledigital.com/Sarah1.jpg

P.S. Be patient as these are large photos. 3MB+

[scotgasch]

sorry the links don't work...niether does copy and paste

[jasonco]

Ok try this:

http://www.coledigital.com/Sarah2.jpg
http://www.coledigital.com/Sarah1.jpg

Sorry about that, thought they worked, should have checked.

Cheers
Jason

[henkbos]

And now may be in a size that fits on a screen.

[jasonco]

If your using IE6 the image will resize automatically, I put the full image up there to really show the detail in the expression and the stiffness in her joints.

Jason

[henkbos]

Of course it will resize, but only after downloading the whole picture. Guess 800 wide is large enough to have a proper view.

[jasonco]

Try now chief. The photos are 1/4 size and 20% reduced.

Cheers
Jason

[henkbos]

Better, but really have no clue how to answer your question. May be she just doesn't like it. Can imagine that a bikini shot is a little uncomfortable.
Guess if she's willing to, she should select the location and what to wear and you should take it from there.

Did you whiten het teeth? They look unnnatual white to me.

[jasonco]

Yes she has great teeth, and no I havent whitened them. She may have at the dentist but that photo is as it came from the EOS10D. Just re-sized.

Cheers
Jason

[Longwatcher]

jasonco wrote:
Does anyone have any tips in motivating models to move around and be a little bit more at ease? Alcohol?


Avoid the alcohol unless she asks first and then only in moderation. too much alcohol will make model look drugged, this is always worse.

Humor is the best way I have found to get a model to relax. I had this same basic conversation with my cousin recently. Take a bit of time and talk with the model about the shoot before hand, figure it will take at least an hour for the model to relax, unless you have worked frequently together before. Act professional, but don't be too serious.

Try some silly poses to start. One of my tricks from last year was to put the model in Bunny ears for a few shots or more recently I had one with a saracen sword in one hand and an easter basket in the other*. A few minutes of these and then on to the serious shots will help a bunch. You won't find very many of these in my portfolio, because they tend to be lousy pictures, but it loosens up the model and gives me time to verify my exposure settings at the same time.

Just my tricks.

[*This relaxation trick © 2003 Longwatcher Images ;) ]

[Conk]

Sounds like a question for Klaus to answer.

[stopbath]

When shooting with people who are not at ease in front of a camera, try just shooting (don't compose, worry about exposure - lighting etc.) In the days of film, the camera would be empty. Just get them used to the camera and you. After a few minutes when the've relaxed, you can start taking things serious and actually start composing.

It's a great warm up exersize.

Talk to the subject. Ask questions of what's happening in their life, if you find a subject that animates them, go for it. If they like animals, get animals into the shot (bring their pet.) Is there a type of shot they would like to do (for their portfolio?)

Music soothes the savage breast. Music is sometimes overdone, but music playing (especially some they really like) may help limber stiff joints.

[Leighow]

It seems to me that in you later posts, you ended up with some great shots of this lovely lady.

Assuming that you did indeed succeed in getting the shots that you wanted, I wondered if it would make sense to ask the model whether she felt up-tight during the earlier shoot, and why. Kowing her answer would not guarantee a relaxed model, but it might give some insight.

We have the same concern with young staff charged with making Power Point presentations. We suggest that they open with a joke, etc. Even so, some worry that their career is on the line or that the big boss is watching, etc. Many require several presentations opportunities to feel comfortable with their audience and to develop their own style. Sometimes we get them all together and talk about presentations and then get them on their feet critiqueing each others extemporaneous creations.

In your case, I also wonder whether video might help. -- but I appreciate that you may not have time for such training!

Maybe I should start a school ?

HOWIE

[charlesu]

What are you looking for from her? Have you SHOWN her? Having a few mags, previous pics, etc. on hand can be very powerful. Even better, another model might help her relax and realize that sometimes, something extraordinary is required. New models often feel like certain poses or expressions are or will be silly and they're not comfortable with them. From the images you've posted she looks beautiful but she's not breaking out of "portrait mode". New models often simply want to turn their head, tilt and smile. It's sometimes tough to bring them around.

I do NOT recommend alcohol.

Building rapport. Giving specific advice and feedback. Getting her out of the studio and into unknown environments (or, conversely, comfortable environments) might also be helpful.

Unfortunately, some models never get it. : (

This one does!

http://ompi.onemodelplace.com/OMP_Images/Photographer/3661/ACF15CE.jpg