Getting subjects to "Loosen up"?

Do any of you have any tactics...say for when shooting couples to get them to laugh, smile, etc so that the photos look fun/ yet natural?

I mean is it really as simple as just saying "ok laugh"... "ok kiss" lol

Just seems so...stiff.

You can "aggressively" direct people or you can back off a bit and just let them be themselves and observe and document.

I generally am the observe and document kinda gal. I always have been...

but there are times when direction is needed. I guess maybe just practice makes perfect ha

int0xicatedxluv wrote in post #9008649
I generally am the observe and document kinda gal. I always have been...

but there are times when direction is needed. I guess maybe just practice makes perfect ha

Indeed...

Meet at a local bar. Go over the shoot over a couple of drinks. Not you.. You just drink club soda, or if necessary adjust the diopter to correct for your blurry vision. This gets all of the looseness you need

Roy G. Biv wrote in post #9011379
Meet at a local bar. Go over the shoot over a couple of drinks. Not you.. You just drink club soda, or if necessary adjust the diopter to correct for your blurry vision. This gets all of the looseness you need

I was going to suggest Tequila shooters.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9011415
I was going to suggest Tequila shooters.

Cheap wine coolers and a game of twister.


So far I put my people skills to work and just chatted the subject with some light clean humor while instructing them and before you know it they get over the fact I was holding a camera. Just don't chat them to the point where they are just standing there and you are wasting time.

Get them to TALK about something they like or are fond of. A tactic I use with children is to get them to describe their favorite toys...like little girls just beam when they think about the 'favorite dollie'.