Master Your Energy Behind the Lens to Create Breathtaking Images

What do Cardinal Dolan of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, celebrity hairdresser Martino Cartier and Broadway actor, Linah Sta. Ana have in common? Besides spending time in front of my lens, they all have a captivating presence. When they are turned on, people take notice. I wasn’t blessed with that type of infectious charm, but I do have my own vibe that’s warm, highly attuned and lends itself to greatly expressive photos. Let’s talk about how to cultivate your own presence to feel more confident working with your subjects (from kids to celebrities) and how to inspire the same ease in them. It’s been shown that our (good) moods are catchy and that’s something to celebrate and foster. The power of human connection and influence are profound. As commercial artists, we all aspire to capture that for our clients!

Be an observer

I’ve always had a knack for keenly observing people… the way light is falling across their face, the joy a spontaneous moment evokes, and a host of other attributes like their cadence and sense of style. Maybe it has something to do with my upbringing–⁠I used to study light and form at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston as a kid, my dad an avid art lover/artist. I was also a shy, only child, so watching from the sidelines was something I was quite expert at! The journey you took into photography may have shared some parallels or followed a completely divergent path, but one thing is for certain–⁠we are paid for our ability to visually communicate and that starts with what you are able to see. As a professional photographer, you’re already well versed on how to properly expose an image and when to leverage certain compositional techniques. You have direct control over lighting to shape and craft your visual narrative. Challenge yourself further to take in all the little details about your subjects–⁠their clothing, their affect, their body language. Could directing them enhance your images? What do they do naturally that’s compelling? Both? Hone in on what makes them who they are to tell their unique story.

Make a connection

There’s a special sauce to great imagery that often gets overlooked and that’s the connection you have with your subjects. Being in tune with people you photograph makes all the difference and is central to the success of a photo shoot. Giving your clients a sense of being seen and known is crucial to how they feel on set, which translates into more successful images-and longer lasting relationships! In attachment theory, psychologists call this attunement. You want to be attuned to your kids and your partner, but arguably also with the people you are photographing to the degree that they feel you they can trust you to be themselves in front of the camera. Show genuine curiosity and engage them in open conversation. Focus not only your lens but in on what they are saying with their facial expressions and tone of voice. Being able to pick up on people’s vibes and nonverbal cues is a super power. I’ve used my super powers to elicit lively, sparkle in your eye smiles in small children, cover corporate events as a fly on the wall, and capture the charisma of well-known personalities. You can too.

5 tips for good vibes

1. It starts with you

   Find your own calm before you even greet them.

2. Greet them of course

   Look up from you cell phone or the lights you are adjusting with your full attention. Give an open palmed hello or handshake to imbue some trust.

3. Remove barriers

   Sitting behind a camera on a tripod? Look over or to the side of the camera for a few shots. This openness allows them to see YOU too, smiling and encouraging connection.

4. Communicate

   Be conversational and expressive with your hands. It’s SO easy to get caught up in getting the lighting right that we loose sight of the importance of communicating.

5. Get closer

   Fix a stray hair or a collar. Gently move their extremities into a better pose or show them how on set. Not only will they appreciate your attention to detail, but that touch and proximity will gain their reassurance, lessening the release of cortisol. Go at their pace. I always ask permission as I’m approaching. It’s been a universal yes, but if I read tension I back off quicker and we get back to establishing a rapport.

Engaging with children

I approach all photo shoots as kind of a dance, but especially those with children. They take on a certain rhythm with the music being the flow of emotions and interactions and the movement being the activity. I do not get attached to things going a certain way as kids are unpredictable and prone to vacillating between sheer joy and tragic meltdown in a single moment. They, like us visual artists, deeply want to feel noticed! So I like to start by literally getting on their level. I’ll get on one knee and offer a high-five. I ask them for insight on the latest issues plaguing their generation like what their favorite ice cream flavor is. That’s later used in place of “cheese” when they are posing for the camera. If it’s a lifestyle image, I direct very little turning my attention to noticing–⁠noticing their face, the light, the background, the range of movement and how those all interplay. Kids have so much magic inside that just being there to witness it is often enough to get a spectacular shot. Here’s something else I do with kids–⁠I don’t react unless it’s positive. I also subtly and indirectly try and get the adults involved to let it go. The quickest way to derail a session with kids is to force a pose for too long and/or not give them a chance to feel their feels. By keeping myself easy breezy, they almost always come back to play.

Worrier turned warrior

But, Leila, I’m a ball of nerves before every photo shoot. I see you. I’m a recovering worrier. Before a shoot day, I used to stay up late seeking inspiration online and prepping my gear. Education and planning are integral to a successful career in photography so that time spent was productive. I just worry less now with many a shoot behind me to draw upon. With practice and repetition I’ve internalized how to work with my equipment, which poses look and feel natural on camera, and subtler aspects like how long I need to pre light for different setups. I trust my instincts and have grown from both my positive and negative results. More importantly, I’ve learned how much my mindset affects my interactions and in turn influences how well a photo shoot goes. Humans are exceptional at picking up on other people’s emotions, so we need to do our part to show up exuding a balance of warmth and expertise. When both you and your subject are at ease, you can both experiment and play. So do put the time in to honing your craft, then let the worries go and you’ll be poised for connection. Be a warrior of calm, cool and collected and your subjects will trust you and mirror your confidence.

Have a funny story about a shoot that went from wild to calm? Share below in the comments!

Shine on set,
Leila