so what should i say to a client who asked...

[janetg]

what i thought professionally of their engagement session portraits? they haven't seen them yet - only about 3.

my actual thoughts are - technically the photographs are sound, but neither of you would smile at all - just blank looks on your face - your fiance had a lip thing going on (like a cold sore) i realize that isn't great for photos, but i can fix that - maybe he was self concious?

and i spoke to you both about clothing - but obviously you didn't pay attention, as the groom to be had a big baggy grey t-shirt - and nothing else.

now something i would NEVER say - is they both have teeth issues - sometime i have a lot of sympathy for - nothing rotten or missing - just crooked. maybe they were self concious? i've seen them smile and laugh when speaking to them in person - so...

now i know i can't be that brutal - but how would you word this? i would love to re-do their photos and get some honest happiness out of them, they are fun people, but i think they just got freaked out over having a camera around. they both said, they HATE having their pictures taken...

anyhow - thoughts are always appreciated.

[LoungeLizard]

I would tell them they did a great job and the photos are incredible.

[Jenny Z]

Originally Posted by janetg

and i spoke to you both about clothing - but obviously you didn't pay attention, as the groom to be had a big baggy grey t-shirt - and nothing else.

He wasn't wearing pants?!

[janetg]

haha, no - he had pants -but the t-shirt was tacky...

[HotHolly]

Im assuming you shot the session in question?

If they disregarded your instructions to wear clothing that will look nice, they chose to look that way. You cant change that. Odds are they will choose the same clothing again for a reshoot.

Do you think you could have given direction to make the shoot progress so that they felt comfortable in front of the camera?

[CaptainTom]

I might approach it this way.
" I think that under the circumstances the photos came out just fine. Sometimes people have difficulty having their photo taken. There are steps that can be taken that will make the photos turn out better. Clothing choice, lighting, location, attitude.
If you would like to try the session again I'd be happy to re-shoot it. It would be best if we agree to the details before hand so the session will be go as smoothly as possible."

And, if you don't want me to re-shoot I will completely understand that you are just social idiots who couldn't get a good photo taken if you paid a million dollars. did I say that outloud ? My Bad...

[janetg]

holly - thanks for the suggestions - and you are correct - i don't think they would make different choices for clothes. the girl was dressed nicely - the guy - eh.

i did try to make them completely comfortable - they did follow directions and seemed to have fun...until they heard the shutter - and then just froze. blank expressions - not all - but many.

tom - thanks for the suggestion - that is the sort of response i was formulating in my little brain.

[toverman]

I'm living this situation now. The couple is telling me they think they look stiff and posed, but they don't really. The guy hadn't had his portrait taken since he graduated from high school 10 years ago (other than a driver's license).

Offered them a reshoot and some gentle advice.

[HotHolly]

If its that stiff rigid thing, you can fix that. I do a semi posed kinda thing. You more or less tell them an action to do and anticipate the response and when to shoot. We were doing this at the workshop on Sunday. Its very helpful in poses not looking contrived. Basically, they need to feel like themselves. Then you loose the 'deer in the shutter' face.

Say you want a shot of the guy dipping the girl. Smiles, fun, looks spontaneous. If you tell the guy to dip the girl - you'll usually get a stiff shot. Instead of saying put your arm here, look here, and tilt this...you tell them to do a movement that is common that will result in the same pose you want. I would tell them dance and then spin her 2x, and finish it off with a deep dip. Id assume the 2nd spin through the deep dip should be my window of non-stiff looking shots. Most people start smiling like crazy and loosen up right BEFORE the end of the actions you just told them to do. That's the reason Id ask for the double spin - to keep them loose through the dip.

So plan when you'll take your shot. You usually cant do it more than 2x without the couple adjusting to the idea and stiffening again.

And, if you explain to your clients that their session is gonna be fun and about them and so not like sitting in Sears and saying cheese, they should be expecting something different. There's a method to getting posed shots that dont seem posed. That's what I do with adults and it works great.

[ShaneKislack]

Just say, "I think I really captured your essence." "your personality really comes through the pics".

[Corrie]

lol! That's perfect Shane. Very honest.