Photographing In Winter
Winter can be hard to schedule photoshoots if there isn’t any snow and all the trees and grass looks dead. That’s why one of my favorite things to do is find fun architecture or colorful walls when nature is less than spectacular. This fun wall is located in Bluffdale, Utah behind a business called Cents of Style. There are about 5 different colors all lined up on the back of this building.
Unfortunately, the building is south facing which means it is in the sun ALL DAY LONG. It can be fun to play with the shadows, but if you’re expecting to have shade the whole shoot, you might want to find a new location or shoot on a partially cloudy day. We had a little bit of both this day. The sun would come out for about 10 minutes at a time, and then we’d get about 5 minutes of cloud coverage. It defiantly keeps you on your toes as a photographer.
Get to know your client
This client was easy to get to know because she’s my sister! But the best thing to do when taking new clients is really get to know them. High School Seniors are excited to graduate, so pump them up so that their enthusiasm shows in their photos! I like to turn on music and dance with my clients. It helps them feel more comfortable and relaxed which makes for better images. If someone feels awkward, it’ll show in their photos. Give your clients complements while you’re taking photos. Let them know that they are doing great and they look good! Make the photoshoot as fun as possible so that they don’t feel like taking photos is just something they need to check off a list of things to do.
Posing
Some people don’t know how to pose in front of the camera and need a little guidance. While I love natural poses that don’t take much effort, some people just freeze once there is a camera pointed at them. Some women don’t feel feminine behind the camera and that’s where posing can help. It’s your job as a photographer to help your client feel beautiful, and for men, help them feel masculine. A lot of people just don’t know what the heck to do with their hands. It’s like suddenly they are aware of their hands now that they are going to be in a photo. Try stuff like sitting down, standing, leaning against something, hands up,
Don’t over think it. If it feels weird, it probably looks weird.
Finding Inspiration
In a world full of photographers, it can be hard to be unique. Just because you saw an image on Pinterest or Instagram that you want to re-create, doesn’t mean you should with that client. The best advice I have is to focus on your client’s personality. If they like dancing, have a dance party in the middle of your shoot and capture that. Copying other peoples work will just make you blend into the rest of the crowd. Truly unique photos comes from discovering your own style and connecting with your clients.
