If you’re just starting out, or prefer to keep your photography to a hobby, most of your portraits are going to be of your friends and family who probably aren’t models.
That doesn’t mean you can’t get some great shots! Lots of people want photos for social media anyways, and it’s easier than you think to squeeze in a quick and effective shoot. Here’s how to get a few solid shots of a person who doesn’t model in less than two hours.
Don’t pose them like it’s for their third-grade yearbook photo. Put on some music and have your friend dance around to get them comfortable in front of the camera and add some movement to your photos.
Make them laugh! Happy, candid photos are easier to pull off than dramatic, posed photos during a quick photoshoot.
Mess around with all kinds of angles until you find something that sticks. I mean, ALL kinds. This is your friend, so you shouldn’t have to worry about looking stupid. I took this literally laying in a dirt path. It’s not my favorite angle, but now I know how it turns out!
Consider the lighting. If you can get out in natural lighting close to sunrise or sunset, that’s often the easiest and most flattering light to work in. It’ll mean less time fumbling with the settings on your camera and more time actually taking photos.
Which brings me to the next tip: take a MILLION photos. Put you camera on manual focus so you can take the quicker and by the DOZENS! Often, with friends and family, you’ll need to take a ton before they land on a pose that really works.
Have them do something with their hands. Throw out random poses (above your head! In your hair!) and you’re bound to get one that works.
Take a few close-ups of shoes, a phone, or something else that says something about your subject to add some variety to the photos. And you’re done!
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