Stiff lifeless clients!! A bit of a rant

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Last sunday I got a call out of the blue asking if I could photograph a very small private engagement ceremony in someones house that evening. After pondering over the last minute booking I decided to take it.

I got to the family home at 6, and was welcomed very warmly into the bride to be's house. A few minutes later the girl came down and looked fantastic, so I asked if she would like a small photo shoot in the garden, as I had all my gear with me. She agreed and her younger sister came along to give me a hand with reflectors and all that. The moment I pulled out my camera, she just stiffened up and started looking really grumpy and miserable. I tried my best to make her feel at ease but no luck. I ran through my usual comedy routine to try and make her laugh and cheer up a little, but that was swiftly awarded nil points. I did the best that I could and managed to get a few inbetween shots of her talking to her sister where you can almost tell that she is smiling. It sometimes makes me wonder why do people ask for a photographer to come along when they aren't comfortable with a stranger holding up a big black camera to their face. Ok that was a little exaggerated but you know what I mean. Overall I was happy with the results, but it just makes me think sometimes.

Anyways, rant over... just wanted to ask other people what tricks do they have up their sleeves for dealing with situations like these
 
engage them and stop looking at the camera (the best thing about wlfs)

don't dick around with lights, if need be fix stuff in post because the subject is more important and can't be fixed in post.

oh and if the pictures look good show them to the subject :D
 
Some people just arent comfortable in front of a camera :( Maybe its because she didnt really know you?

Ive got a wedding on tomorrow, and the bride admitted she wasnt comfortable having photos taken, but since our first meeting, we've actually become good friends, and I know she will feel better with me behind the camera rather than a stranger :)
 
use a tripod, set the shot up, then stand up and chat and talk, and press the shutter when it all livens up
 
Richard King said:
use a tripod, set the shot up, then stand up and chat and talk, and press the shutter when it all livens up
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thats a good idea. i'll definitely try that next time. I can understand how the client feels, i guess its something ill learn to tackle over time. She just kept slouching and hunching her shoulders.... :bang:
 
You think you have problems - a mate of mine is a forensic pathologist!
 
hsuffyan said:
thats a good idea. i'll definitely try that next time. I can understand how the client feels, i guess its something ill learn to tackle over time. She just kept slouching and hunching her shoulders.... :bang:
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take control, make a joke of it

"lets do a few warm up shots, i will delete them.. "
"poke your toung out at me and glare at me and give me the worse look you have"
"YMCA"
and then start directing a bit more meaningfully

people are more likely to do the thing they dont want to do if you got them to do a few smaller things first
 
"Just pop your clothes on the chair, luv!"

Spoken in your best 'mockney' "Oo does 'e think 'e is: David Bailey?" accent...

...breaks the ice...

...or gets you thrown out - either way, problem solved...
 
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