HELP Please: Looking for funny phrases quotes

[photoshopthis]

Hey everyone i have a shoot to do and am just wonder ing what you all do to put your subjects at ease? I usually know the people i'm taking pics of and this time i won't, so any help is much appreciated.

I have only done a few shoots and none of them paying gigs so... This one is for $$$ and want to make the best of it

I know funny phrases and such will result in better non forced smiles so let here them please.

The shoots 10 of them will be outdoor pics of families. I'm thinking 4-5 poses maybe 2-3 different locations (all in the same area) some of the kids together some of just the parents you get the just. Any poses that would be fun that you could recomend. I know to follow eye to chin and all and all about composition. So i guess it's just a matter of lighing, weather and getting the crowd to lossen up and get comfy.

Any help or advice is very much appreciated ;)

Thanks in advance,
Crystal

[Woogie]

You know how people always tell you stuff like 'just imagine everybody in the audience is naked' right before you go up to give a speech? It supposedly relaxes you *the speaker*.

Well, I just start taking off all my clothes to relax the clients:D

Just kidding.

I generally like to meet up for coffee or something like that beforehand. Get to know eachother, establish rapport. That way, they feel really relaxed around me. Furthermore, I'll definitely compliment them and praise them through out the shoot on poses and whatnot, but moreso in the beginning, so that it helps them build confidence, relax, and not worry so much about getting everything perfect. That's my secret.

Good luck, Crystal!

-Bernard.

[shannyD]

how old are your clients?

[photoshopthis]

I wish i could meet all the 10 groups but i don't think there is anyway that i can pull that off. Thanks for the advice Bernard!

Do you use any catch phrases by chance to get them to smile? I'm not keen on the cheese i have a few that i have used like "ok everyone say i'm the boss" , "everyone say smelly feet", "mom/dad wear the pants in the house", " i wear pink poka doted underwear" things like that something to get a chuckle and not a forced cheese smile. I plan on bringing some funny glasses and have the family wear those at the beginning of each shoot kinda to break the ice.

Anyone think i should bring any props with? I was thinking a blanket, stool, a large picture frame... anything else that is a good prop to bring along?

[photoshopthis]

It will be families between 2-6 ish tops group basically parents and their children baby, toddlers school age...

[suecassidy]

I have a repetoire of tricks that I use to relax and entertain people of all ages and types and often end up using all of them in the course of a session, but one universal truth I have discovered in the sales process is that if the Mama don't look good, you ain't sellin' that photo. I've had shots where the Mom looks gorgeous in the shot, but Dad has his eyes closed, junior is holding his bits cuz he needs to pee, someone else is picking his nose, and Mom says, "Honey....don't you think this is the best one?????" Because SHE looks good in it. So I'm not stupid, I know a money shot when I see it and I'll TRY to get everyone looking good, but when the Mama beams a money smile at me, I shoot. I"m not wasting my time on the 3 month old who isn't going to smile anyway. Not happenin', I shoot for the Mom. YOUR SILENCE behind the camera is a mood killer. You need to keep talking, engaging, keep them relaxed. Your personality matters as much as your technical skill. I said all that to say this:

I have told that story literally hundreds of times over the course of my career and purpose of doing that is not to educate them about photographing people but to relax and entertain them and give them something to think about other than that they are getting their pictures taken. I ALWAYS tell them not to waste their smiles, that I while I'm setting up, to wait until I'm behind the camera. Then once I get going I will say, "OH MY GOSH, look at the Mama!!!!!!!! I've got myself a MONEY SHOT!" That is the moment where I PROMISE you, all the adults will smile and Mama will beam. Always, every time. For one thing, they are just hoping you'll give them a reason to smile so they aren't smiling at nothing and feeling like a dork. That is the key. Give them something to smile about, even if it is corny. Some people will always smile like nobody's watching, others need help. Then I'll continuing shooting and saying really corny things, like "Work it Mama" "Grandma you're fabulous..." "Fabulous baby, the camera luvs ya..." "Are you ready for your close up, Mr. DeMille?" I live near Hollywood, so people always find my parody funny. I"m being ridiculous and everyone knows it and they relax. Every once in a while I will get a family that I instinctively know that is now how to work them, but typically, this approach works for me.

So that is my schtick and it may not feel comfortable with your personality, but I'm trying to make the larger point here. Develop a repetoire of patter and small talk and tailor it to your audience. Give them a reason to smile so they don't feel stupid standing there grinning at nothing.

Have FUN and show them that you are having fun and it will all be good. And take lots of shots of each pose because in the digital age, you can easily swap heads with photoshop and get a good composite of everyone.

[photoshopthis]

Thanks Sue =)

I'm usually good with people and make sure there is no dead air so talking is not the problem i like to get personal with the kids kinda to preak the ice and get out of the shyness pahse but...

Well holefully out of the 10 session i get some good pics

Gonna take that Look at the mama bit too

Thanks