Communicating With Your Model: From Their Perspective

I was inspired today to write a blog post about the Photographer/Model relationship, but after starting to write, I realized there was no way I would fit this into one blog post - I don't have the patience to write that much at once and God knows no one has the patience and stability of mind to read all there is to know about the Photographer/Model relationship in one sitting. So I decided to break this down into a series. It may be too ambitious of me to start a series with all I have going on, but that is my nature.

The key point in any relationship - romantic, personal, or professional - is communication. We talk about communication in every self-help book, every business class, every counseling session, and yet, as humans, we still suck at it. So that is where I shall begin my series - communication. Specifically the Photographers' communication with the models. (Fear not, photographers, I'm not hating on you. The next post will be on the model's communication with the photographer).

I have a unique view, being both a photographer and a model, on the communication between the two parties. As a photographer, I understand where the comments come from. As a model, I understand their effects. I'm going to split this into Do's and Don't's, as that seems the simplest approach.

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Do's. Talk (obviously). No one knows what you're thinking unless you're telling them. The key here is not to do all the talking. It's easier to shoot with someone you're comfortable with (especially from the model's perspective) and you get comfortable with someone through conversation, not being ordered around. When talking to your model, be sure to keep your suggestions and pointers calm and soft - you are dealing with humans (and very insecure ones at times, though that's a topic for another time) and they deserve to be spoken to as humans and not objects. Ask questions. Discuss things like where you and your model went to school, what you do for work, what your hobbies are. You never know, the conversation may lead to a shot you wouldn't have achieved without it. Be sure to discuss before your shoot how you and your model communicate. For example, I’m a words girl. Show me a picture and I might be able to replicate the pose 6/10 times, but give me an emotion or feel you’re going for in a word or two and I nail it 99% of the time. Allow your conversation to flow with your shoot – from the moment you meet to when you wrap your shoot up for the day. When you meet your model, be sure to make conversation. Possibly share a fact or two about the location you’re shooting. Ask how your model’s drive was. Be sure they know what you’re looking for and you know what they are looking for. As you shoot, continue your conversation. Stopping your shoot to tell a story breaks the flow of your shoot, which breaks your models’ concentration. Depending on your model, that can take a while to get back.

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Don’t’s: Don’t start with criticism. Whether you’re just starting your shoot or you’re starting to change a pose, tell your model what you like first and what you want to change second. Never start a conversation or a comment on a negative note, it makes you look like a negative person (and negative people are a bore). Don’t objectify your model (obviously). She’s probably a lot smarter than you think (and possibly than you are, who knows) and she knows that her field makes her look otherwise. (Side note, I’m using the pronoun ‘she’ here simply because I’m female. Any pronoun can be changed as the situation suggests – this works for every gender). Your model knows that the world views her as an object of art, not as an artist. It is our responsibility as artists to critique and change the views of the world, not to conform to them. You are collaborating with another artist, not capturing a view of an object (remember that and you will be an amazing model photographer). Along the same note, whatever you do, DO NOT, under any circumstances, DO NOT HIT ON YOUR MODEL. Telling her she is pretty is totally fine. Using words like ‘hot’, ‘sexy’, or anything along those lines is absolutely unprofessional. Keep your relationships with your models professional and fun. It’s really not that hard. (I know it’s obvious, but I had to say it).

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I am going to come down off of my soapbox now, but before I close, I would like to say that the best shoot I’ve ever done started with the music that was playing in the background. It set the mood perfectly and filled any silence throughout the shoot. The photographer and I shot for five hours completely content, and a lot of that mood I attribute to the music. Try it out. If you shoot on location, bring a speaker and play some music that fits with the theme you’re aiming for. It may change the way you create.

That concludes my rant of the day. I’d love to hear your feedback! Shoot me a message under ‘contact’ or on social media! I’ll be back soon with some do’s and don’t’s on the model side of communication.

(Photography Credits: Relentless Elegance Photography, Larry Sanders Photography, and GBallonPhotography)