If you are trying to capture a prize-winning shot of family and friends then you know how important it is to have your subjects as relaxed as possible. Have you ever noticed how a group of chatting and smiling family members freeze up when a camera is aimed at them? (Happens to me every time I point my camera at my mom.) And who wants a shot of sullen looking statues? Finding ways to relax camera shy individuals will go a long way to insure you get the shot you are looking for.
How to get a shy person to warm up to a camera depends primarily on your relationship with him or her and partly on the setting you are in. Obviously, it helps if your subject is in an environment he or she is very comfortable with. If you don’t know your subject that well you could spend some time (minus your camera) chatting and familiarizing them with your work (show them some of your photos so that they know they are in good hands).
If you know going into a photo shoot that you will be dealing with camera shy subjects it’s a good idea to be well prepared. Prior to pointing your camera at anyone decide what light angle and viewpoint you want to use, and what kind of exposure you want. You could even use a stand-in so that you can pre-focus. Another option is to use a telephoto lens, which allows you to distance yourself from your subjects, yet still be able to capture their individual nuances. This tactic works well when you are shooting children at play.
When it comes to shooting camera shy children I often use props to distract their attention away from the camera. This technique also helps shy children from getting nervous. Once the child warms up to you he or she will be more likely to smile and pose on cue.
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