A couple of weeks ago I posted this month’s Project Ten/Share Six theme: Where I Stand. Of course, when I go out shooting for a series of ten images, I always end up with far more than just ten images, and today I’m sharing with you the ‘outtakes’ from out backyard-session-where-Jordan-practiced-smize-ing.
Yesterday I talked about posing tips for women and mentioned some of the tricks of the trade. Well, if you want to see it all put into action, just keep going! You see, Jordan has been my ‘model’ since she was a kiddo. In fact, I won a contest in the Coventry Reminder when she was barely 2 with a photo of her. ((Told you I’ve been photographing since I was in the single digits… though maybe not with as much intention as I do now.))
As she grew up, so did my skills. Thankfully, she’s always game for my shenanigans and secretly practices her posing in between sessions with me.
The nice thing about photographing Jordan is that I can be incredibly blunt (ok, bossy) and she gets it. She wants to look good in the images, so we’re on the same page. If I’m shouting out commands to ‘TILT YOUR CHIN DOWN’, ‘NO!’, ‘YES!’, and ‘OPEN YOUR MOUTH SLIGHTLY… NOT SO MUCH… OK, THERE!’ she neither gets upset nor falls into fits of giggles… anymore.
When we first started these sorts of shoots, it was either frustrating or hilarious, but now I feel they’re fallen into place… we both know how to achieve what the other one is looking for in the final product.
I don’t offer nearly as much direction with her as I would with a client… or maybe I actually offer more? It’s confusing even to me. For shots like this, I probably said something vague along the lines of ‘go over there and pose’ and then ‘play with your skirt’ and this is what I got. <3
Or, here…. I said ‘pretend like you’re pulling your hair back’ and then a couple of shots later (and adjustments of her hand) we have the shot. I probably also told her to cross her legs, but the loose arm, arched back, and tilted chin are all her.
This wasn’t me, at all. I just can’t muster up that much sassy in one photo. Maybe I need to hire her as my posing assistant…
After this shot, she asked to check out her hands. She’s been practicing – loose fingers, hands high (and in) on the waist, shoulders back, elbows loose. I’d say she’s mastered this one. I even practiced making my fingers look this delicate on my own waist…. not happening. 😉 Check out some more from the rest of our impromptu session!
casey and her camera is an Indianapolis Family Photographer specializing in family, couple, lifestyle, senior, and wedding photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas.
