Also, portraiture - most of your pictures (that I have seen, ie in your gallery) are of kids/young people. How do you go about taking them - do you set up a place, then try to get them to feel happy in it, and with you, or do you let them choose, or what ? I seem to take a fair few of my kids and a few of other peoples kids - getting them to relax and not pose in any way is pretty hard for me, and normally they have the best expressions at times when they are in the worst place for light. As you use film, I guess you don't shoot hundreds of pictures in a session, so you must have developed some 'technique', or is it that you are just a really lovely person that has the knack - if so, I hate you.
Now, now, you're not allowed to hate me for any reason.
You're very correct that I don't shoot hundreds of images per session. Part of that is definitely because I'm a film shooter, and an even bigger part of that is because I'm a medium format film shooter. That means that after each shot, I have to bring the camera down and wind it to the next frame. For me, there's no such thing as shooting fifteen shots rapid-fire in hopes of getting "the shot." It may sound like a handicap, but in reality, it's forced me to learn how to
anticipate the shot, rather than trying to
react to it or "spray" it. ("Spraying" means shooting continuously in hopes of hitting something.
)
The problem with shooting hundreds of shots in a short portrait session is that it necessitates the camera being continuously in front of your face. That means all your subject sees is a black box. It's asking a lot for your subject to give meaningful, natural expressions when they have only a camera to bond with. By keeping my camera at the ready but NOT in front of my face, I give my subjects someone to interact with, and I allow myself to really see my subject. I shoot only when there's a reason to.
I typically do my sessions at my clients' homes, where they're the most comfortable. When I arrive at the home, I have the kids give me a tour of the house so I can scope out light. I always tell my clients that I'm looking for great light regardless of where it might be. Could be a bedroom, the laundry room, the kitchen, wherever. I find the light first, then make the environment work. By getting my subjects into great light before I start the session, I ensure that I won't be stuck in the situation of having a great expression in hideous light.
The key to getting relaxed and meaningful expressions of your subjects is to find a connection with them. Typically, photogs assume that asking their subjects lots of questions helps their subject relax. Not necessarily true. I've seen countless numbers of photogs try to engage their subjects like this:
photog: What's your favorite color?
4-year-old: Red
photog: What's your favorite TV show?
4-year-old: Teletubbies
photog: Do you have brothers or sisters?
4-year-old: A big brother
photog: What's your favorite food?
yada yada yada.
It's true that the photog has gotten the child to talk, but are you really likely to forge a great connection over those questions? And what has the child learned about the photographer? So often, the photographer is simply flinging out questions and not listening to the answers. Frankly, the photog is too busy coming up with the next line of questioning in his photointerrogation . And wondering if his exposure is right. And wondering why all of his shots feature the kid's mouth wide open in mid-word.
Instead of firing out questions solely designed to get the subject talking, use your questions to find something meaningful that you have in common with your subject. Don't ask questions that are boring to you (the photog) because you're not going to care or pay attention to the answer. Never ask a question without answering it yourself as well. And remember that the ideal time to hit the shutter is when YOU are speaking and the child is listening.
An example of me interacting with a child subject:
me: Do you have brothers and sisters?
4-year-old: A big brother.
me: Really? Do you like having a big brother?
4-year-old: Yeah, but sometimes he's mean to me.
me: You know, I have a big sister, and sometimes she was mean to me, too.
4-year-old: Sometimes he doesn't share his toys with me.
me: My big sister didn't share her toys with me, either. But you know what?
4-year-old: What?
me: Now that we're grown up (click) we share with each other all the time.
And so on.
The point being, you need to find something to connect with your subjects, so you can have a conversation instead of an interrogation. Keep in mind that kids couldn't care less about you getting good pictures -- so why should they cooperate with you? Think about it: you, the photog, are getting paid to shoot, and the parents are getting the portraits. What is the child getting out of it?
Hope this is making some sense, as I've only just started my first cup of coffee. I'll hit on metering a little later today.
Forgive me for posting first and proof-reading later. LOL.
- CJ
Sorry to hear you've not been well. I hope you're on the road to recovery now 