you don’t really love being around PEOPLE, then you need to purchase an epic zoom lens and start photographing sports and landscapes. (Not that sports or landscape photographers aren’t personable… but they don’t HAVE to be in order to do their job well:) Loving people is a crucial part of a this job!! If you don’t care about the people, it’s impossible to care about their pictures. Now obviously this is just my opinion… but I find it VERY hard to believe that a impersonal photographer can take genuine, warm, inviting images. You have to be able to engage with your clients. When I teach workshops, I explain that photographer’s are in charge of how their client’s feel emotionally.  It’s up to us to make them comfortable and natural in front of the camera.

So, I’m very down-to-earth with my clients when I’m photographing them! I’m honest with them and I explain that some of the things we’re going to be doing are going to seem ridiculous! And so a lot of my posing instructions start like this ” Ok, Megan you’re going to think I’m crazy but I want you to laugh across Jim’s shoulder at that SUV over there. You’re laughing at absolutely nothing and so you should feel a bit awkward… but just embrace it! You’ve got this!! Now Jim, you’re laughing at Megan because she’s laughing at an SUV…here we go!”. I shoot quickly and I only make them hold this pose for like 2 seconds. You can’t force laughs and you can’t “hold” laughs for more than a second or two… that’s just not going to work. I’m not a comedian and so telling jokes isn’t going to work… so I just encourage them to laugh and embrace their current situation. If we’re being honest, standing in “prom pose” in the middle of the park with people walking around is just plain weird… but the pictures will be epic. So I tell them to laugh about the fact that people are staring and to trust me. Shoot, shoot, shoot and you end up with genuine laughs and gorgeous images!

So just to recap, here are a few things to remember while you’re shooting and trying to pull genuine laughter from your clients:

– They have to trust you first. When they trust you, they’ll relax and laughter comes easier!

– Don’t be corny. Corny jokes and trying too hard won’t get you anywhere. Be yourself! If you aren’t naturally a funny person (like me), joke about the situation. It’s not everyday that they “nuzzle” on the side of the road in a field of WEEDS! :)

– Laugh WITH them. Be engaged and be present while you’re shooting. Someone once told me that they appreciated that I SMILED while I photographed them. So if you’re wanting them to laugh, you should be having fun and laughing along!

– It’s ok to fake a laugh to get them started. I tell clients to “fake” laugh at every wedding! … and if they seem unsure, Michael and I demonstrate a “proper” fake laugh and that is normally enough to get them going. :)

– Don’t make your clients hold a pose too long. This kills the “fun” and allows your clients to slip into awkwardness.