How do you shoot a 12 year old?

Seriously. Does anyone have samples for the 10-13 age group? I put this in discussion because it's more about what to do than to show off really, but it's important at the same time to put up or shut up, IMHO.

Here's two of what I did, but it was a relatively unproductive 45 minutes because, quite frankly, I was at a loss.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

Lead them a little less...

simple, wait until they are 14, then shoot them the way you know how to !

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456065
Lead them a little less...

I'm not sure I know what you mean by this, Jay.

cdifoto wrote in post #10456195
I'm not sure I know what you mean by this, Jay.

Full Metal Jacket reference .. Disregard.

I like what you posted here but IMO, "children" don't pose well.

There is an inherent awkwardness that's hard to get around if for no other reason than they simply aren't as aware of their anatomy and what to do with it. They tend to feel "geeky" unless they're in a very comfortable environment.

The people I know who shoot kids the best will either shoot them candid or else make sure they're doing something that makes them really happy. With a pet, their guitar, their bike, etc...

Just my $0.02 worth...

I've seen those. I get tired of seeing that type so I don't want to do it myself. haha.

I suppose a "formal" session with a child is doomed to fail then.

cdifoto wrote in post #10456261
I've seen those. I get tired of seeing that type so I don't want to do it myself. haha.

I suppose a "formal" session with a child is doomed to fail then.

I wouldn't say doomed so much as it will probably have a high "contrived quotient."

Unless you want to go full boat and do the old Tiaras and Gowns kiddie beauty pagent look.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456272
I wouldn't say doomed so much as it will probably have a high "contrived quotient."

I have to wonder how many "keepers" those amazing candid kids photographers actually have though. Do they shoot 1,000 and toss 980 of them?

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456272
Unless you want to go full boat and do the old Tiaras and Gowns kiddie beauty pagent look.

Bahahaha. Ick.

cdifoto wrote in post #10456284
I have to wonder how many "keepers" those amazing candid kids photographers actually have though. Do they shoot 1,000 and toss 980 of them?

An entirely valid question. Like most magicians, they don't let me see behind the curtain...

I truly believe some of those "stage parents" need to be fed to carnivorous mammals of some kind.

Your model here though exudes a great deal of energy. What does she like to do for fun? Let her do it and shoot it!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456306
An entirely valid question. Like most magicians, they don't let me see behind the curtain...

No doubt. I wouldn't expect them to tell me, but I sure as heck would like to know.

I seriously would rather not shoot kids at all if a 2% keeper rate is to be expected.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456306
I truly believe some of those "stage parents" need to be fed to carnivorous mammals of some kind.

Your model here though exudes a great deal of energy. What does she like to do for fun? Let her do it and shoot it!

I wouldn't go that far but I do question their sanity.

This wasn't really a session "for" her - it was a quick bit of time with her and her sister so I never got to know her that well. It's a good tip for next time though.

I'm not sure why it should be a problem. I find that they take direction very easily. That's a delightful age...it's as old as they get before they turn into sullen, angst-filled teens. They don't have a concept of the image they need to project, but they're compliant to the image you tell them to project.

But what I go for is usually this: Simple and relaxed. Place them into a relaxed pose. Direct them to look at something else other than the camera and let them forget about you for a moment. Don't worry about getting a lot of images, just get the right image.

Here's a thought that COULD be completely "freeing" to those of us who shoot kids who feel awkward in front of the camera: don't feel that you have to get them to smile. It really is OK that they don't smile, especially if they look tortured when you ask them to smile. This is especially important with pre-teen and teenaged boys. Girls are much easier than boys. Boys often don't want to turn on a smile, and they DON'T want to do "lame" poses. Tell them straight off that you don't want them to smile if they don't feel like it, and then follow their lead. (By the way, OP, I'm not referring to your posted pics. She didn't seem to mind smiling.) You will likely find that once that pressure is off them, they will relax considerably and a natural smile might just come out of your interaction while shooting.

Most important... get the 'myspace Face' out of the way early! You know.. the one with the lips in a kissing pose.. the one they practiced in the mirror for hours right before they came to the shoot.

example

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10456065
Lead them a little less...

I get it, they don't move as fast!

Look at junior fashion photography catalogs for cues. Avoid anything that makes them too adult or sexualized. At that age, play and fun is the key factor you want to capture, unless you're doing excrutiatingly proper formal portraits.