Tips: Lifestyle and portrait  photography with a live subject.

Have a Plan.
Do your homework and remove all the variables you can. Plan the proper equipment from lenses to lighting to props and filters. Plan your scene and your subject’s look and wardrobe. A unique background or interesting landmark can make all the difference.

Slow Down.
Get to know your subject and their expectations. Consider the light and the background. Anything else in frame. Shoot at different angles, distances and heights. Swap in props – they help focus attention off the process. If they can forget they are in front of a camera you can capture more natural poses and real moments. Have fun, be yourself, make it a great experience.

Find out what your subject’s expectations are.
What do they want. How will they use the photos. What are they hoping to achieve. Get examples from them if possible beforehand. Create a Pinterest board and pin shots for visual direction. Get on the same page so they get what they want out of the session. Go back to step 1 – have a plan, but include your subject’s plan as well.

Experiment.
Try new things. Push yourself. Slower shutters for blur, lenses and filters. Exposure and depth of field. You don’t want 1000 shots that are all the same, so mix it up.

Be open to new ideas and criticism.
Chances are not every shot will be a masterpiece. It’s ok, mine for the gold. Try for 3-4 selects in a batch. Editing can help bring out personality and interest. Cropping, or even converting to black and white can totally change the feel and the mood. Sometimes you need multiple sittings.

Be open to outside influence.
Shoot with other photographers – learn from them and their approach. Study different styles and research famous shots. Develop your own personality, but remain receptive to new techniques and emerging trends. Explore other visually artistic media and get inspired. Study different mediums and modes of working.

Repetition.
Get out there and do it. And do it again. You get better and it gets easier each time you go through the process. There are lots of groups out there looking to trade photos for poses. Practice makes perfect. Take a deep dive and enjoy!