How do YOU break the ice with your subject?

I stole this quote by DwightMcCann in another post:

DwightMcCann wrote in post #4375728
...My first gig amounted to walking around a restaurant (a four diamond one at that) and asking people who were trying to eat and watch the Superbowl if I could take their picture. I was very uncomfortable. I didn't know the people and thankfully they were very cooperative or at least turned me down pleasantly. I had quite a few pictures with food in teeth. I tried to make it fun ... normally I would ask the lady of a couple, "Would you like a picture with your Dad?" They loved that and it broke the ice and they bullied their husbands into having a picture...

Dwight, you're a genius!

I'll have to admit, one of the hardest things for me in photography is breaking the ice, especially with someone I don't know. Anyone care to share your tips for putting your subjects at ease?

I find doing up my fly helps........

Moppie wrote in post #4383884
I find doing up my fly helps........

No, no no... I'm talking about photography.

If it's an event, I just tend to stay out of the way, don't really talk to people unless there's a good reason to. For portraits and the like, I'll just look for something to talk about while I'm setting things up, and it inevitably turns into some sort of conversation...

Me: 'How much does a polar bear weigh?'
Them: '??'
Me: 'Enough to break the ice. Hi, I'm Perry.'

Baseball players are easy, I walk by - shake their hand and go "Mike Janes, damn glad to meet ya" and keep walking - my assistant walks behind me, shakes their hand and goes "thats Mike Janes, he's damn glad to meet you"...we then walk away and leave it up to them to come get their photo taken.


Ok, it's actually usually a quick - hey you, I'm me, gotta minute to do this type photo (show example)? You do, ok, lets go...turn this way, look here, smile, stop hitting me with the bat...stuff like that. I can't afford an assistant.

Kids almost same way, they see a sample of 4-5 photos and I ask what one they want to do, they point and help set them up, very relaxed...

JohnnyGalaga wrote in post #4389997
Is it just me, or doesn't it seem like people eating always makes for a lousy photo? There's just something about it. That's why on magazine pictures or TV ads, the people don't actually eat.

Eating is messy, and when captured as a still image, it renders the normally awkward facial expressions during eating very noticeable.

I couldn't agree more. There is an event I shoot every year and the organizer always asks me to shoot the VIPs during a dinner they have. I have yet to get a decent picture of anyone. I think from now on I'll suggest some type of alternative. Most people don't like having their picture taken, and especially not when they are eating.

perryge wrote in post #4390126
Me: 'How much does a polar bear weigh?'
Them: '??'
Me: 'Enough to break the ice. Hi, I'm Perry.'

Are we still talking about photography?

This is a good point though... I should probably research some cheesy pickup lines. That would be a great ice breaker! I suggest we highjack this thread into a "What's the best pickup line you've used, or had used on you?" This could be brilliant!

I'll start. Is it hot in here? Or is it just you? (Worst one I could think of at the moment.)

pickup lines:

Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?

That might lead for some interesting pictures...

SolidxSnake wrote in post #4391196
pickup lines:

Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?

That might lead for some interesting pictures...

Maybe I shouldn't admit I think so, but that is hilarious. My husband was amused as well.