Just be yourself

There is a huge debate in the photography world about posing.   There are books on poses, and iphone apps on posing, ebooks, and seminars all on how to pose.  Some people believe if you dont pose, your not a true photographer.  Personally, im a naturalist.  I think the best photographs, are of people just being themselves.  Some of the greatest photographers that ever lived, where naturalist.  They just took pictures of people being themselves. 

Now thats not to say, I dont give direction.  Because I tell you where to stand, arch your back, turn a little bit more towards me, and the like.  But when people start thinking about how their holding their hands, or how their shoulders are positioned and all these different poses, it starts looking fake and forced. 
My daughter is a prime example of this exact thing.  She is quite possibly my most difficult client, when it comes to posing.  Shes 5, and has a mind of her own, and very much like her mommy with her stubborness.  I have tried to pose her, and give her simple direction, but it always looks forced.  We both end up leaving the session frustrated and disspointed.  The last session I had with her however, I learned a few things about portraiture. 
First, It was a fun day for us.  I got her all dressed up and said "lets go take some pictures for Easter"  I just really wanted to use her to test the location for some ideas I had.  I let her get involved in what props to bring.  Once we arrived at the location, I started trying my normal routine on a shoot, and it just wasnt working.  Towards the middle of our session, We went back to the car to swap out props, and drove to a different part of the park.  I had my hands full, and asked her to simply carry my pink material.  I brought it to use as a basket filler.  Walking up toward the church in the park, we hit a wind tunnel.  Of course being as shes my little ballarina, she took this opportunity to dance in the wind.

This is when it hit me.  GRAB YOUR CAMERA!  I sat back for a good 20 minutes and just watched her play in the breeze, taking pictures as she went about her little business.  She was jumping and dancing, and laughing in the wind.

 

I just sat back and relaxed, and realized what I have been doing wrong with my own child.  It changed the rest of the shoot, and I got some of the best shots of her, I have ever been able to achieve.  Not to mention, it was alot more fun for both of us.  She relaxed, I relaxed and the rest of the shoot turned into what I wanted it to be from the begining.. something fun for us to do together.  I wish I could show you these pictures and take full credit. The truth is, I was just the one behind the camera, this was all her, and her little personality. I think thats why I love them so much.  They capture her essence.  The beautiful, free spirit, fun loving little girl, that everyone is captivated by.  The performer that lives in her heart, that shines as brightly as her beautiful blue eyes.   

The rest of this session can be found here on our facebook page.