Portrait nervousness

Sue Bee

Sue Bee

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Sue
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I'm on a photography course and tonight was first time doing portraits.
Now I hate having my photo taken as it makes me feel really uncomfortable and sick. Trouble is I become really nervous when taking other peoples portraits as I know how it makes me feel.
Does anyone else feel this and if so any tips how to get over this?
 
Based on my limited experience of photographing people I'd say think it through and visualise yourself:

- being calm and confident
- planning the shot
- giving the subject encouraging feedback eg you look great
- giving clear requests eg turn you head just a little to the left
- creating a fantastic portrait
- etc

ie create a positive Self Fulfilling Prophecy.

And then practice, practice , practice using willing friends/other students as guinea pigs and ask them for feedback on what you did right/wrong.

Revise your visualisation and create a new, better SFP

And then move on to people you know less well, and practice, practice ,practice.
 
starting with family members and close friends if possible really helps
 
Or, find someone that LOVES being photographed! Young kids that really like posing and showing off can be really helpful as it is difficult not to get enthused by them and be drawn into the fun, so forgetting about your own fears or worries. An experienced adult 'model' [and by that I dont necessarily mean a professional, just someone that is ultra comfortable in front of a camera] could also help you by offering a really relaxed session where they almost 'lead' what is happening.

If its any help, 10 years ago, I hated having my photo taken and certainly didn't want the pressure of taking pictures of other people, I was quite happy with racing cars or the odd bit of scenery... I am now a full time photographer, mainly shooting people... it really is just a case of crossing those first few hurdles and building your confidence. (y)
 
Thanks for the help.
Will definitely be following your tips. I really need to get over this nervousness.
In a few weeks as part of my course am going to local market and will be taking photos of strangers. Be a tough test and will force me to overcome this. :-)
 
Sue Bee said:
Thanks for the help.
Will definitely be following your tips. I really need to get over this nervousness.
In a few weeks as part of my course am going to local market and will be taking photos of strangers. Be a tough test and will force me to overcome this. :)
Click to expand...

In my case (speaking as an inexperienced photographer of people) I found it helpful to be clear in my head what it was that I was tryin gto do , just in case someone took offence and approached me saying (eg) 'wot you do'in!?'

And what I would be doing is :

trying to take interesting photographs that happen to have people in them

Now ....... this may not be your answer , but I think you need to be clear what your answer would be and this alone will give you more confidence. (well .... it did in my case:))
 
Hi Sue
Welcome to the wonderful world of people photography. Believe it or not, not liking having your picture taken is common amongst photographers. I always say to people 'why do you think I stay this side of it?'. That picture in my avatar? the only decent picture of me my wife has taken - it took 16 years together before I could get her to make it work.

As above though, our reaction is far from average. I do meet people who aren't comfortable in front of the camera, and it's my job to get them past that, in a small way it helps that I understand their feelings, but if I let that affect my behaviour I'd be heading nowhere. People photography is 90% psychology, you have to manipulate the situation and even when you're not directly controlling the people you are still controlling what the camera records. In short, you haven't got the spare resource to get anxious.

That sounds a bit like 'pull yer socks up and get on with it', but it isn't really, it's more a 'concentrate on the task in hand and you'll forget all about your 'issues'.'

For every person I meet who's uncomfortable in front of a camera, I meet 5 or 6 who are fine with it. And for everyone that's terrified, I meet a dozen born performers.
 
Cheers

Just think I need to bite the bullet and get out there..... I suspose it's like anything new, takes a while to get the hang of it. At least one thing in my favour, I'm the onbe behind the lens, so not me being photographed :-)
 
I'd say, make sure you look like you're enjoying the shoot. As some posts said above, bring confidence to the work. Talk a lot perhaps to your subject. Engage with what they want from the shoot. Use humour too. It diffuses most situations pretty well. And practice – lots of that. Strangers can be easier sometimes I think. They see you as a photographer. They expect you to know what you're looking for in the shots. Family members and friends may have preconceptions about you. They may remember when you first got your camera. When you weren't confident with it. Strangers won't know that. They'll only know how you feel now. So, if you act like you know what you want, it will come across. But, that said, putting your subject at their ease is your responsibility and very much part of the job. Show them some of your work first. Look through some mags and decide together what kind of look you are both after. It will bring a professional dimension and depth to the shoot and the subject may find it easier to step up to the mark, so to speak. Don't be like an outmoded schools photographer – in a rush or indifferent to the result. Your reputation is measured not only by the pictures you get but by the experience your subject has of the whole thing. Be someone who appreciates what the subject is giving you. They will become your next publicity machine – for good or bad. And bear in mind, after you've moved on, they'll be stuck with the pictures you took of them more than you.
 
Cheers.
Must admit hardest part is looking like I'm enjoying myself. Think I need to get out there and practise, practise, practise. So can increase my confidence :-)
 
A great way I found of improving as a portrait photographer was to do a 100 Strangers project. You're nervous as hell when you start and by the end, you'll end up wondering why you didn't do it sooner. It's challenging, but simple and you don't need anything other than a camera, a lens, available light and a bit of bottle...
 
I find that it can help to explain why you want the sitter to move their head a little to one side, why you are moving the light or putting the reflector over there - for me this helps keep the chat going, gets the sitter involved and helps me to come across as knowing what I am doing which then then seem like confidence..!
Keeping the set up simple removes too much of the technical side of it and as many have already said you are better able to put the sitter at ease so both can enjoy it more.
Good luck with it all, and enjoy the course !
 
What really built my confidence was shooting an event with complete strangers. I do a lot of shooting for a local charity free of charge at their bigger events, this was perfect for me as it meant there was already an underlying premise that there was going to be a photographer at the event. This meant that approaching people was much easier as a lot of them were already EXPECTING to have their photograph taken that evening, relieving much of the pressure. The photographs don't need to be of an artistic nature, the charity i do stuff for just want straight shots of everyone in their best bib and tucker, anything else they get is a bonus (that bonus bit is more fun!)

After a short time my confidence in front of people rocketed, and it's definitely had a profound effect on my other portraits since :)

You also said that you need to practise, practise, practise Sue. You've said it there yourself, when you see your own work getting better and better (not that i'm saying it's no good now if you know what i mean :) ) it'll give you confidence you didn't know was there.
 
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