Getting Real Photos of Real People

posted by seoteam23, Jan 5, 2012 2:14 PM — 1 comments

As an amateur photographer, I love taking people shots. But nothing ruins a photo for me more than a bunch of cheesy grins staring at a camera.

I can't stand sitting through friends' vacation photos full of pictures of them blocking beautiful sunsets and waterfalls with their fat heads. Show me what you did on your vacation! I really hope you didn't spend it with your back toward those phenomenal views. This article on photopoly.net has some great examples of vacation shots I'd actually like to see.

Telling people to stare at cameras with fake smiles is a tradition photographers need to agree to end. When I do family shots for people I know, I prefer taking them outside. This allows me to sneak candids as they're walking "between" sets. If I'm taking engagement shots, I spend a lot of time pretending to clean my camera lenses in hopes the couple will take the moment to show some genuine affection. Normally, these are the shots they end up liking the best at the end of the day.

My favorite people to photograph are kids, because they are naturally too busy to stay focused on my camera. I just give them an interesting prop (it could be anything) start a conversation with them and let them be themselves.

Sleeping babies make great shots because they're already doing what babies do best. But here's where the right props are essential. Because as adorable as all parents think their newborn baby is, they all look pretty much the same when they're asleep. Dress your baby in a fun costume with a matching backdrop and mount. I like to create whimsical and fun scenes. Babies make great still life. If you can't come up with something around the house, there are actually companies that specialize in photo props for babies, so you have no excuse.

If you really want eye contact and a smile in a photograph, you should have to earn it like everyone else. Otherwise, just get people doing what people do. Those are the pictures people (I'm pretty sure it's not just me) will actually want to see.