Real people pictures.......

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Seeing I am trying to be more active on the forum, I thought I would share my thoughts. This is something that has been bothering me for a while now with my photography. I want to shoot people, real people. Let me try and explain......

I have been shooting models recently because it is loosely related to what I want to do, but what I would really love, is to shoot real people, especially in an environmental style. People fascinate me and I would love to improve my people interaction and capture some great images but the problem is, no one seems to want to know. I have asked people in my life who interest me but they all want to know "why?" or "what for?" with an expression that suggests I am some sort of mentalist. I have posted on Facebook with no response. I dunno where to go to begin with it. I have a couple of personal projects in mind which I would love to do but they all hinge on the things mentioned above.

The other thing standing in my way is myself and my confidence. Now, I have shot some pleasing photos lately, but some do lack the genuine emotion that I would like to convey by shooting real people and not 'modelled' shots, if you get me? However I am scared that, if one of these people who fascinate me actually said yes, I would either screw the shoot up or come away thinking, "I wish I'd shot it this way, or that way".

I welcome any advice anyone can give me as this is the real way I want to go with my photography.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
However I am scared that, if one of these people who fascinate me actually said yes, I would either screw the shoot up or come away thinking, "I wish I'd shot it this way, or that way".
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I am sure that everyone thinks like that and until you try you will not know (or learn!)

Do it..

...and then do the reshoot...

...and again...

...and you will get the shots that you want in time.

This is only my thoughts and not the voice of experience, but I have done something similar in the past!


Heather
 
Gaz, family and friends are a pain in the bum aren't they! I did this a few years back even offering to do free studio shots for them etc just to get them off their backside and get into my portfolio!

Just keep pestering them, I did the 'you only live once' speech several times before it worked, we organised picnics, beach trips etc.

The hardest was my wife, she's very camera shy but now she's totally different, she knows how to use my 1DX perfectly and will command a crowd at a wedding without a single problem :)

If you also get the chance, Newborn photography is a must - not only is it cute and fun but you'll love the results after a bit of time etc :)
 
Tigger.ufo said:
I am sure that everyone thinks like that and until you try you will not know (or learn!)

Do it..

...and then do the reshoot...

...and again...

...and you will get the shots that you want in time.

This is only my thoughts and not the voice of experience, but I have done something similar in the past!


Heather
Click to expand...

Thanks Heather. It's the doing it that seems to be the problem. I shall keep persisting though.

Flightphoto said:
Gaz, family and friends are a pain in the bum aren't they! I did this a few years back even offering to do free studio shots for them etc just to get them off their backside and get into my portfolio!

Just keep pestering them, I did the 'you only live once' speech several times before it worked, we organised picnics, beach trips etc.

The hardest was my wife, she's very camera shy but now she's totally different, she knows how to use my 1DX perfectly and will command a crowd at a wedding without a single problem :)

If you also get the chance, Newborn photography is a must - not only is it cute and fun but you'll love the results after a bit of time etc :)
Click to expand...

I have absolutely no desire to shoot babies whatsoever. I have tried it and won't go down that road again.
 
Flightphoto said:
Lol, what put you off Gaz? The milky vomit or the noise? :)
Click to expand...

It just does nothing for me really? I am looking at getting into weddings but that was a while other thread, but I really want to shoot real people, but the people I mean do not seem to want to be photographed.
 
I get what you mean, might sound odd but what about posting an ad on Gumtree just offering portraits as a means of leisure for free to bring in some randoms etc?
 
in addition to the gumtree suggestion which is probably your best bet, have you thought about street photography? Don't need to get peoples permission and the pictures aren't posed for, just capture people going about their everyday lives.
 
Hmmm, hadn't thought of Gumtree. Haven't ever really used it much for anything. :/

Street photography, there's something that interests me and I have attempted with really poor results. Something I would love to be better at. But it would be as a side thing to portraits I think.
 
Gareth,

When you say in an "environmental style" do you mean like a farrier shoeing horses or basket weaver threading wicker? If so, then a good place to start are craft/country fares and town fetes. There are often people giving demonstrations of their craft skills and they're (in my experience) more than happy to have you take pictures whilst they do it.
 
First off try to relax. Your post seems to give off a certain nervousness. Perhaps this is the root of the problem (just a thought).
If some one ask you why you want to shoot them just tell them the truth. That's what I do and it seems to work for me. If you seem nervous and unsure it will make the potential subject feel the same way.
Perhaps another approach may work better. How about instead of trying to get the subject to come to you, you go to them. Put yourself in position to where the subject is around you working or doing what they do in their natural habitat. Go find them....
As far as worrying how the work will turn out, well don't. That's how you better your skills. If i go shooting and come back without thinking about how I can do or could of done better i am not growing as a photographer. Making mistakes is part of the process of becoming better. Remember,,,, re- laxxxxx... :)
 
Everyone has a story buddy. I'm sure you could find a model who would like to shoot something different and not the usual posey stuff. Have you ever asked the models you shoot if they'd like to shoot something personal about them and not just the usual stuff they do every day? I'm sure some of them would love to. Talk to them about their favourite place, things they like to do etc... and I'm sure you'd get some who'd be up for telling that story in image! :)

I've started to shoot conceptual stuff for myself recently and its great. I get to express my thoughts and idea's without having to tell people what I'm actually thinking. I've had people ask me to involve them and help express their idea's too. You just need to get the ball rolling and more people will come forward. :)
 
buy a folding camera, seriously everyone is wow that's cool!, also have a book of your work to show them
 
I was trying to understand what you meant by conceptual stuff so I went to your flickr to check it out. I found myself looking at your work for a long time. It is really good. Seeing a better photographer than myself really helps me with direction an ideas of how to become better. I liked your work so much I added you as a contact so I could refer back.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
Seeing I am trying to be more active on the forum, I thought I would share my thoughts. This is something that has been bothering me for a while now with my photography. I want to shoot people, real people. Let me try and explain......

I have been shooting models recently because it is loosely related to what I want to do, but what I would really love, is to shoot real people, especially in an environmental style. People fascinate me and I would love to improve my people interaction and capture some great images but the problem is, no one seems to want to know. I have asked people in my life who interest me but they all want to know "why?" or "what for?" with an expression that suggests I am some sort of mentalist. I have posted on Facebook with no response. I dunno where to go to begin with it. I have a couple of personal projects in mind which I would love to do but they all hinge on the things mentioned above.

The other thing standing in my way is myself and my confidence. Now, I have shot some pleasing photos lately, but some do lack the genuine emotion that I would like to convey by shooting real people and not 'modelled' shots, if you get me? However I am scared that, if one of these people who fascinate me actually said yes, I would either screw the shoot up or come away thinking, "I wish I'd shot it this way, or that way".

I welcome any advice anyone can give me as this is the real way I want to go with my photography.
Click to expand...

Hi there

I may be reading this wrong so forgive me if I am.

A friend of mine did a series of pics of friends and colleagues (ranging from a surgeon, clinical director, RAF etc and the portrait told something specific about the subject) - google dr fireball for examples of what I mean.

It took a lot of thought and skill to produce the set he did and as has been said already, everybody has a story to tell! The thing that struck me was that he captured something about them and conveyed it in his work, rather than just getting nice poses and photos of them. This is how I interpret what you are wanting to do.

A lot of people on here have a day job so maybe people near you might be able to help? Friends or colleagues? The last (only!!) "model" who posed for me was an old work colleague who was happy to help me. Your work is really good so show them examples and maybe give them a print as a thank you?

Sorry if I'm steering down the wrong path!

S
 
shaylou said:
First off try to relax. Your post seems to give off a certain nervousness. Perhaps this is the root of the problem (just a thought).
If some one ask you why you want to shoot them just tell them the truth. That's what I do and it seems to work for me. If you seem nervous and unsure it will make the potential subject feel the same way.
Perhaps another approach may work better. How about instead of trying to get the subject to come to you, you go to them. Put yourself in position to where the subject is around you working or doing what they do in their natural habitat. Go find them....
As far as worrying how the work will turn out, well don't. That's how you better your skills. If i go shooting and come back without thinking about how I can do or could of done better i am not growing as a photographer. Making mistakes is part of the process of becoming better. Remember,,,, re- laxxxxx... :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for your response. I am relaxed as far as I can tell. :thinking: Just trying to articulate what's on my mind. I absolutely would not expect them to come to me, for one, I have nowhere for them to come. :lol: As for your last point, I am absolutely prepared to make mistakes. i was scared of it but have now come to terms that I will make more mistakes than i will get things right.

Mank said:
Everyone has a story buddy. I'm sure you could find a model who would like to shoot something different and not the usual posey stuff. Have you ever asked the models you shoot if they'd like to shoot something personal about them and not just the usual stuff they do every day? I'm sure some of them would love to. Talk to them about their favourite place, things they like to do etc... and I'm sure you'd get some who'd be up for telling that story in image! :)

I've started to shoot conceptual stuff for myself recently and its great. I get to express my thoughts and idea's without having to tell people what I'm actually thinking. I've had people ask me to involve them and help express their idea's too. You just need to get the ball rolling and more people will come forward. :)
Click to expand...

Your right Rob and thanks for your input. :)

pingu666 said:
buy a folding camera, seriously everyone is wow that's cool!, also have a book of your work to show them
Click to expand...

Thanks. I don't have enough of my own work to put into a book just yet but would love to do that one day.

Bristolian said:
Gareth,

When you say in an "environmental style" do you mean like a farrier shoeing horses or basket weaver threading wicker? If so, then a good place to start are craft/country fares and town fetes. There are often people giving demonstrations of their craft skills and they're (in my experience) more than happy to have you take pictures whilst they do it.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's similar to what I mean so will have a think about some of those ideas you mention, thank you.

Sir SR said:
Hi there

I may be reading this wrong so forgive me if I am.

A friend of mine did a series of pics of friends and colleagues (ranging from a surgeon, clinical director, RAF etc and the portrait told something specific about the subject) - google dr fireball for examples of what I mean.

It took a lot of thought and skill to produce the set he did and as has been said already, everybody has a story to tell! The thing that struck me was that he captured something about them and conveyed it in his work, rather than just getting nice poses and photos of them. This is how I interpret what you are wanting to do.

A lot of people on here have a day job so maybe people near you might be able to help? Friends or colleagues? The last (only!!) "model" who posed for me was an old work colleague who was happy to help me. Your work is really good so show them examples and maybe give them a print as a thank you?

Sorry if I'm steering down the wrong path!

S
Click to expand...

You are spot on, Sir. You interpret correctly. I have just viewed your friends site and it is indeed very much what I would like to achieve. Thanks for the compliment. I shall see if I can make any more headway into it, especially with the couple of 'project' ideas that I have.
 
gazmorton2000 said:
Thanks for your response. I am relaxed as far as I can tell. :thinking: Just trying to articulate what's on my mind. I absolutely would not expect them to come to me, for one, I have nowhere for them to come. :lol: As for your last point, I am absolutely prepared to make mistakes. i was scared of it but have now come to terms that I will make more mistakes than i will get things right.

Your right Rob and thanks for your input. :)

Thanks. I don't have enough of my own work to put into a book just yet but would love to do that one day.

Yes, that's similar to what I mean so will have a think about some of those ideas you mention, thank you.

You are spot on, Sir. You interpret correctly. I have just viewed your friends site and it is indeed very much what I would like to achieve. Thanks for the compliment. I shall see if I can make any more headway into it, especially with the couple of 'project' ideas that I have.
Click to expand...

Cool!

I'm intrigued and hopefully you'll post when you're done. I suspect once you've your first one the rest will fall into place.

I struggle to find adults to pose for me but after I got a friend to do the first one, others have seen the results and are a lot more enthusiastic.

Good luck

S
 
shaylou said:
You have a great attitude, your going to do well.
Click to expand...

Unsure whether sarcasm or serious? Please don't take offence to my comment as lots can often be lost in text conversations. :-)
 
I've no doubt he's being serious Gareth, you're a great photographer. But you definitely need to loosen up, your lack of confidence/self critiscm will (and does on this forum) end up being the biggest message you portray, and it will continue to hold you back until you conquer it. Face your fears, and do it anyway - the title of a book I read a long time ago with some great lessons to learn.
 
I found a good way to build confidence with people was to go out on the street and do one light portraits.

I used a 350D with a 50mm and an off camera flash handheld. I walked up to interesting people introduced myself as doing a personal project to build my confidence and was looking for people that would allow me to take 4 or 5 quick shots.

I was amazed how many people said yes. I ensured I had a reasonable background ie shutters or a nice brick wall rattled off 5 shots in aperture mode.

Several things came from this. First was some really cool shots of people from skaters to old people. Second confidence in introducing myself to people and thirdly over time the ability to give direction clearly and quickly to people. Predominantly they were head and shoulders portraits but I probably learnt more in 4 afternoons in the town centre and surrounding shoots than I had shooting friends or family.
 
Shine On said:
I've no doubt he's being serious Gareth, you're a great photographer. But you definitely need to loosen up, your lack of confidence/self critiscm will (and does on this forum) end up being the biggest message you portray, and it will continue to hold you back until you conquer it. Face your fears, and do it anyway - the title of a book I read a long time ago with some great lessons to learn.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I take your points on board. Coming across that way can't be good at all but it is quite, unfortunately, true at the moment.

shaylou said:
I was being completely serious. It was a complement.
Click to expand...

Thank you. :)

Ferj said:
I found a good way to build confidence with people was to go out on the street and do one light portraits.

I used a 350D with a 50mm and an off camera flash handheld. I walked up to interesting people introduced myself as doing a personal project to build my confidence and was looking for people that would allow me to take 4 or 5 quick shots.

I was amazed how many people said yes. I ensured I had a reasonable background ie shutters or a nice brick wall rattled off 5 shots in aperture mode.

Several things came from this. First was some really cool shots of people from skaters to old people. Second confidence in introducing myself to people and thirdly over time the ability to give direction clearly and quickly to people. Predominantly they were head and shoulders portraits but I probably learnt more in 4 afternoons in the town centre and surrounding shoots than I had shooting friends or family.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Some good points there. Surprised at the OCF use outside too. Impressive. I started a series of stranger portraits where I would ask them, got to number 6 and then lost all means of speaking to them again. :(
 
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