She Asked Me to Do What?!
Hi there and happy July! Today I want to be a little lighthearted and silly. Today I want to talk about the most common times clients give me a look that begs, “she asked me to do what?!?” Yes, you read that correctly. There are occasions during sessions when clients look at me like I’ve lost my marbles BUT I promise those moments are always well thought out and serve a purpose. Here are 4 of my most confused expression worthy directions that might make you feel a little silly, but always produce great results!
“I want you to hold each other around your waist and bump hips as you walk.”
I love using this prompt with couples at the beginning of a session. It gets people moving and comfortable in front of the camera and it usually brings out the natural chemistry between couples. Oftentimes there is a partner who is a romantic and likes to hold the other close while bumping hips. Even more commonly, one partner is a bit competitive and likes to see if he or she can knock the other off balance. No matter what the relationship between partners, everyone always winds up smiling and laughing as they bump hips and walk together. This is a super way to start a session on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of our time together.
“1, 2, 3…swing!”
Yes, the old “1, 2, 3…swing” is alive and well with sessions involving kiddos. If a child isn’t particularly comfortable being photographed alone, one of the easiest ways for me to get a close up of her is to catch her mid-swing between parents. Most kiddos love being swung as they walk, so they’re super likely to smile and laugh as I get in close to capture their genuine expressions. Even better, sometimes I snag a few family photos because taking a moment to walk together with a swinging child between you makes everyone smile!
Let me introduce you to…”the Toddler Trapper.”
Have a little one who just won’t be still for photos? Worried we’ll be chasing him for your entire session just to get one good shot? Let me introduce you to…The Toddler Trapper. In simple terms, this is just asking a parent to put a child on their shoulders. A variation for children who aren’t comfortable being up so high is a piggy back ride. The Toddler Trapper is one of my go-to poses because it accomplishes two things. First, it literally traps your kiddos so they are securely in one place while I shoot. Second, kids LOVE being on a parent’s shoulders or back and most immediately grin widely at the idea of being up so high. Throw in some encouragement about “how tall” the child is on a parent’s shoulders and we’re golden.
“Snuggle your partner in close and tell him/her about your favorite…”
I saved the best for last here. I often use a variation on the following prompt when I do a session with couples. “Snuggle your partner in close and tell him/her in a seductive voice about your favorite…deli meat…or thing you’re most looking forward to eating at your wedding…or the chore you wish he or she would do that you hate doing.” Nothing is better than watching one partner whisper the answers to these silly prompts in their partner’s ear. A great pro of this prompt? Couples can keep their responses between themselves because I ask them to whisper. The best part? The reactions on people’s faces are genuine and priceless.
These are just 4 of many prompts and poses I may ask you to do that might make you say, “huh?!?!” during a session. While my directions might feel unique, remember that my experience photographing all types of sessions in the last 8 years has made me a pro at knowing what’s needed when. Want to see these in action for yourself? Get in touch today and let’s get your next session scheduled!
