Adding Motion

Pictures Can Be Fake

If you think about it, posing for a picture is fake. To stand a certain way, in a specific place does not promote authenticity. The very nature of portrait photography is based on a principle that we are ‘presenting ourselves’ to the world through a photograph.  

Every effective portrait requires a spark of authenticity. This spark comes from two sources:

1. You truly connecting with them through the camera.
2. Adding an element of motion into the picture.

Emotion Trumps Perfection

An important principle that I’ll repeat throughout this section is that EMOTION TRUMPS PERFECTION. A picture can be less than perfect in order to have real emotion. The client will love it if there’s emotion. On the other hand, if a picture is perfectly posed but the emotion isn’t there, the client isn’t going to like the picture. It is much less powerful.

Adding motion to the picture means that your pose isn't going to be as 'perfect.' If you have someone walk into a pose, they aren't going to be perfectly placed. You're adding a variable where you're not as in control. The point I want to make here is that you should give up some perfection if the motion is creating some emotion.

Different Forms of Motion

Motion is simply giving your client something to do during the photograph. This can look very different depending on the situation. Sometimes, the motion is very simple. Other times, it’s more complicated. To illustrate, here are four examples:

Closing & opening eyes

Asking your client to close her eyes and open them or look somewhere when you count to three. As I’ve said, if you ask your client to hold a pose for too long, it will start to look fake. This will ‘reset’ her. Her thoughts will change from ‘Why am I holding this pose for so long?’ to ‘I’ve got to focus right into the camera.’ The fact that she is now focusing and her brain is active, the expression will be more authentic. Here are some examples of what I’m talking about:

• “Okay, close your eyes. When I count to three, look directly into the camera. Thinks of a small bird when you do.”
• “On the count of three, I want you to look at that bus.”
• “Look at me. After I say the word chicken, move just your eyeballs to look at that bench.”

Your client moves into the pose. 

Imagine that I’m asking a woman to pose ‘like she is walking’ but not have her actually walk. How authentic will that picture be?? It will look fake. If she is trying to pose like she’s walking, it won’t look real. The literal body mechanics of walking aren’t being used! Also, as I’ve said: The longer she holds a pose, the more unnatural it will look.

Instead of asking a subject hold a pose, get her to move into/move something as you’re taking the picture. If I want someone to look like she is walking, I’ll have her walk into it. For example, I’ve said: “Walk down this sidewalk and when you pass this point, I want you to look at that tree.” That will be 100% more authentic than if I ask her to ‘stand like you’re walking and stare at that tree while I get ready.’

Ask them to do something

If you’re wanting it to look like your subject is DOING something, have them actually DO it.  This seems obvious but I see photographers asking a client to ‘touch her hair like she’s playing with her hair.’ Why don’t you just ask her to play with her hair? The answer is ‘she might not do it right.’ While that’s true, I still choose an authentic/imperfect picture over a fake/perfect picture. Sacrifice a little perfection to create something authentic! So, ask your client to actually do what it is you want them to do. For example:

• Fixing/Playing with her hair.
• Buttoning his shirt.
• Tying the laces on her shirt.
• Slowly rubbing his chin.
• Adjusting her necklace.
• Lifting up/playing with her dress.
• Rubbing his hands together.
• Reading a book.
• Laughing.
• Celebrating by raising her hands above her head.

Sometimes, it might just be telling them to 'count the lines on that fence.' A little direction like that will get them focused and not simply holding a pose!

The Beauty of Motion

Every image needs a spark of life. That spark can come from several sources:

• Truly connecting with the client through the camera.
• Saying something that helps your client feel or think something.
• Encouraging/Coaching them to truly interact with each other.
• Saying something that will get your clients to laugh spontaneously.
• Getting you client to do ANYTHING REAL instead of just hold the pose.

The spark of life is the thing that you do that breathes life into a static picture. Remember, a photograph is a single moment in time. You can’t see how how two people are talking to each other. You can’t hear what they’re saying. You only have that single, split-second. Your job is to help the viewer FEEL the REAL emotions and relationships that are there.  

If you’re ever facing a situation where your client ‘can’t act naturally,’ stop and consider that the problem isn’t her. It is likely you! Look at what you’re saying or doing to bring that spark of life into the picture. It’s not that the client is awkward, it’s that you are.

Motion does that because it gets the subject’s ‘head out of it.’ They aren’t thinking about how they look. They forget about the awkwardness of it. Their subconscious is taking over and doing what it does - ensuring that they act naturally.