Better PR Photography: Why first impressions count
Calm down? Even after doing this job for many years I still get a little stressed on some jobs. This is natural and can be overcome by preparation, pre-planning and attention to detail.You never really know what your subject is going to be like or how long they are going to make available for you.
In my book " Better Editorial and PR Photography" I mention one shoot where I thought it was going to take about 20 minutes, but the CEO had booked out the whole day! On the other hand I have another where I thought I had an hour and ended up with two minutes!
When you do meet your subject(s) greet them enthusiastically and with a big smile. Introduce yourself, say what you want to shoot and how they are going to be used. This is important as many people have no idea why they are being photographed, other than "my secretary arranged it".
So outline why you are photographing the person and how they will be used.
I also say from the outset that I will need x number of minutes, usually no less than 20. That way, you are setting down from the outset what you expect of them. If they say they haven"t got that much time then either say you will have to come back or negotiate a little more.
Either way, you are in control now and you tell THEM what YOU want, not the other way around. The secret is to show ultimate confidence in what you are doing. So no apologies, no fiddling with the camera and definitely no comments like "I"m not very good at this" or "I really don"t understand this camera".
Be prepared for your subject to say "I don"t like having my photograph taken". In 25 years I would say that 90 per-cent of people say that and to be honest, I don"t like having my photograph taken either.
The secret is to make the subject as relaxed as possible - flatter them, be nice, talk to them.
When I first arrive to photograph someone I take a good long hard look. Is their hair a mess? Are their clothes sorted? Is their tie straight?
If it isn"t I usually say something like: "Do you want to spend a few minutes in the restroom making sure you are happy with your appearance? After all, these pix are going to be around for a long time and you want to look your best, don"t you?"
This is more subtle than "you look a mess"!
And trust me - if you photograph someone who looks a mess they will blame you, not themselves.
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About the author: Steve Nichols is a professional photographer and journalist. His manual "Better Editorial and PR Photography" shows you how to take better images for press releases, magazines and newspapers. You can find out more and buy the downloadable manual at: http://www.infotechcomms.co.uk/coursesphotography.htm