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Catching memories
Catching memories – a
guide for authentic photography
Did you ever ask yourself which photographs
are the most valuable ones for friends, family or clients? I guess nobody will say that it's an image
with an iconic landscape or a super posed wedding photograph where everyone is
looking nice.
The most valuable photographs are those, which
transport emotions and will set the viewer back into that moment again. Such a
moment will engage your empathy and is creating a feeling inside you. It's a
photograph that you will look at again and again… a keeper!
I shoot weddings since 2014 and the one thing
that I never liked is that at most weddings everything is kind of staged and about
perfection. Even if everybody want's them to be perfect - no wedding is perfect,
no human being is perfect, even life ain't perfect. I'm glad that all of my customers want
authentic photographs and they love images with true moments.
In todays article I'd like to show you how to
get those photographs onto your camera sensor.
I will show you some rules and how you should
act around your customers or subjects. You can adapt these techniques for any
kind of documentary photography and I am sure that these rules will provide you
and your clients with great results.
Rule #1 It's about them – not about you
This might be the most essential rule, and we photographers often tend to forget that . When I pick up my camera I am an other person. I am more confident, I know that everyone will look at me and follow my instructions – or at least wait for instructions. Always be aware, that the subject in front of the camera is the important one. Not the one behind it.
Eg. if you do a couples shooting session, let
them know, that they can do what ever they want and that they shall look at
each other, not the camera -that they should have fun and see the session as a
perfect moment of spending time together. It's their quality-time. I also tell
my couples, that I only will give them minimal instructions („Please move over there – lighting is much
better in that spot“) and that I won't pose them in any awkward positions. I
let them be theirselves and so should you.
Tell them that they should not worry if they
blink or talk and just act naturally. Most couples will forget that there is a
camera pointed at them within the first ten minutes.
Rule #2 Get to know and like each
other
Most people tend to be intimidated when you point a camera at them. Especially when they don't know you. Always try to get to know your subject and let the subject get to know you, too. Chemistry between people is really one of the most important things in photography. If your subject doesn't like you or you don't like your subject, it will be way harder to get the photographs you want.
This part is really hard for photographers who
run a business and can't reject couples that „don't fit“ because they have to
pay bills. I always insist on meeting a person I am going to shoot first.
Talk to your subject. It will help them to get
more comfortable when you are there, armed with a camera. Any smalltalk and
joking is good but please don't be that photographer who will run a one-man
standup-comedy-show (remember rule number one?).
Rule #3 Dont'interfere in situations
If you want it to be authentic, let it be
authentic. Don't move furniture around – just work with it.
As i would never interfere with a wedding
ceremony (would you?), I don't tidy up rooms if I shoot getting readys. I've
had rooms with clothes lying on the ground –
another bride ordered french fries, which ended up standing on a desk.
All that situations are perfect for authentic moments. I'm sure that these two brides
will have some flashbacks into these situations when they look at these
photographs.
Rule #4 Get close but be stealthy like a ninja
When your subjects are familiar with you and
there is no emotional barrier between you (rule number two) they automatically
will allow you to get really close to them.
Why close? Well you could always use a
telephoto lens but you will never get the look and the emotions on camera as if
you are at close distance with them in that moment. I tend to stay very close
when I take documentary photographs. I mainly use a 35mm or 50mm lens.
Being close will trigger your own empathy and
will help you notice important scenery better. And yes, I've had moments when I
had tears in my eyes at a wedding and thought „what a wonderful instant this
is.“
When you are close to your subjects, use the
silent mode of your camera, use a small lens and try to be overseen by the
people. Always be friendly, don't get hectic or move too fast.
Also, never use flash when you are close –
since not only it will be quite obtrusive, but it will give total awareness to
everybody that you are close.
The ultimate goal is that people will say:
“When did you take that picture? I didn't even notice that you were there!“
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