Thank you for the article, I would feel a little goofy asking those questions, but it probably would throw them off guard a little & loosen them up. I think doing a good job on that many different portraits in that small space a time would take a ton of creativity so any advice she can give – I’m ready to listen!
Thanks again,
Sarah

PET PEEVE: Photographers who don’t know anything about how to pose string musicians!!

We had one guy who was hilarious. high school girls are infamous for practicing their “best smile” for pictures and looking really fake. High school guys are infamous for doing the SeriousFace(TM). This photographer had a series of crazy lines that he would spring on the students to get them to laugh.

The first thing he did was have each student hold their ID card under their chin for the mug shot. For this he made the kids say “I’m a THUG.” (Oh my gosh were those pictures hilarious. The company let the kids who ordered photos keep the proof of the mug shot.)

Then there were the alternatives to “Cheese”:

- “I’m a pretty, pretty princess!”
- “Big pimpin’!”
- “I’m a ladies man!”
- “POOOOOOP!!”

If the guys wouldn’t say they were a ladies man, he’d make them say they were a princess. It was absolutely hilarious and the result were portraits with genuine natural smiles.

this questions thing is bullshit. how about you just ask them directly rather than trying to get into their subconscious with questions like apples or oranges… apples are bursting with flavor too, what the fuck. Maybe they have a kickass home theater system and invite their friends over. maybe they have other family members who ski

frankly im pretty amazed at this encouraging others to stereotype based on completely trivial things. Come on, leave that shit to the government and be direct.

I have already found some interesting articles on how important is to establish the contact with the subjects and to avoid the standard boring shots, with 1 person in the photo or with groups. Never stay in line, always let your personality be seen in the photo etc. Great !
But how to achieve that? How to break the ice when you are just the guy to be there for 30-60 minutes and they will forget you after that ? Well, your suggestions is amazing. I guess it is irrelevant what questions you put, but you have to engage them and to make them relax. Oranges, skiing etc – it doesn’t matter (but your choices are really funny). And they will not forget you, for sure.

Great article !!

To those who criticize the math(s) Sure, 100 minutes and 55 people might seem like almost 2 minutes per person. But 60 or 120 seconds is not a lot either way. More importantly she stated that these kids would come out three at a time, then return to the choir practice to send another three out. Do you think they make that transition in zero time. Heck no, if you actually have shot for real (ahem!) you’d know that to get that transition done in less than two minutes is probably a freaking miracle in itself. So, 60 seconds per kid is probably still optimistic.

To those who argue over the nature of the pose, a large part of the point here is to build rapport. As you talk with them you should be looking at their body language, which will tell you as much as the answers. Your instincts will pick up on something (hopefully) and just maybe you’ll do it well enough to pick a pose that’s relevant to them. If not, well hopefully you’ll come up with variations at least, which is a good start.

But please, there are few things as unpleasant as bad mouthing someone who has the kindness to offer something of themselves publicly. I’ve noticed that almost all those who criticize are either unbearably arrogant, or (in most cases) simply disappointed that they didn’t have the spine to do so themselves.

Be nice people, failing to do so makes you look nasty.

This is a nice way of finding out about a person but it would mean nothing i you didn’t then know how to pose them accordingly.
If all 55 people were the same personality type (ie. 55 introverts) you must have a good stock of poses to call upon!