There are so many great photographers on here, and some of you have such a knack for getting really great "candids" out of your couples. One thing I struggle with is getting my clients to relax to a point where they are not just sitting there staring at me, waiting to tell them how to pose. Do most of you find that your "candids", where the couple is laughing, etc...are staged candids, or are you really catching real moments. What are your tricks for getting them to loosen up and be natural, where you can catch some of those real moments. Or, on the flip side, if they are staged, how do you make them look real?

Thanks!!

Feed them a six pack of:



(I'm going to try to get that image into almost every post I do today )

Matt, I normally carry on a conversation, tell a joke or something of sorts. Get them to talking about things that they care about... While they are talking and interacting I would catch what I want, and then, in-between direct them to pose a certain way or to look somewhere. By that time they are relaxed enough to do it.

Good luck!

I usually start off an engagement shoot by having the couple interact with each other instead of posing them. For example, I will have him pick her up and swing her around, have them hold hands and run, have him lift her up etc. They loosen up much quicker when I do this, then when I do want to pose them it looks natural and relaxed. Drinks/shots help too

HEY!! I thought those were for my client!!

I know this might be super common knowledge.. but just in case it isn't. I find that if I use a longer lens, and stand as far back as I can, it helps the couple feel a little more alone. Which when you tell them to chat, kiss, hug.. act normal.. they feel a little more comfortable doing that because the camera isn't right in their face. HTH

Since we feel the relationship between us and the client is very important, and also since we haven't seen them for a little while by the time the engagement shoot rolls around we always meet them first for a quick bite to eat or a cup of coffee - anything for us to sit, talk and re-establish the relationship. We use that time to catch up on them, their wedding plans, etc. as well as explain the day and how it will run. You can't just show up and start shooting without doing something first. Unless they are a professional model people can't switch gears that fast.

We tell them to remember what it was like before they were engaged and they would just spend time together rather than focus on wedding plans - it's a date, but they just happen to have paparazzi following them around!!

We do some staged shots and tell them we will be doing it. Most couples are thankful since they don't really know what to do, and appreciate direction. By staged we don't mean totally posed but having him pick her up, dip her, hold hands and walk. We normally find that by the end of the shoot they are into it, and sometimes are even suggesting poses to us!

It's about making them feel comfortable. Not only with the camera but with you as well.

I just tell them to try their best to pretend I'm not there and to move around, etc. until they are comfortable. I'll have them sit or stand or whatever and then they can wiggle around, smooch, etc. I guess it works.

I just try to get to know my clients by asking questions as we're walking from location to location. Also, throughout the session,I'll tell them how great they're doing and how awesome the photos are turning out. It boosts their confidence and helps them to loosen up.
And a drink before the shoot can't hurt either, right? The few times that I've had couples meet me in front of a restaurant before heading to the shoot locations, they had gotten there early for a drink and then they're ready to go

I am so glad you asked that, I wanted to know everyone's input too...sometimes I feel like I'm scrambling to think of different ways to pose them and it seems like they want to pose like a JC Penney photo.

Damon, I could so use one of those bottles of frosty nectar right about now.

On engagement shoots, I try to meet with my couple for a coffee or lunch beforehand. We talk and get to know each other - which is a good building block for the e-session and the wedding. This usually helps me loosen up the guy, since my experiences are usually with the guy being the more hesitant one. On all the lunches I've done, the sessions went smoothly because they treated me like a friend, but this isn't always possible.

I try to tell them to just interact with each other and not worry about trying to please me - that when I want them to do something, I'll tell them. Otherwise, just talk and hold hands, etc. I'll give instructions to the guy to dance (or spin) his fiancee or lift her - that usually gets them in a playful mood and provides a lot of honest smiles and laughter. I do things like this first, get them loosened up and try to do the posed pictures toward the end, after they are more willing to trust my instructions and are already enjoying themselves.

(*edit - although I have had two guys who just wouldn't loosen up if their lives depended on it and have even seen one guy say "no" flat out when we asked him to twirl his bride..... hahaha)

love it.
from the family portrait side of it---
I SO WISH I could sometimes ask mom and dad if they could go get a drink while I play with the kids... make them chill out a bit!

Oh my, isn't that the truth?!?!?!

Honestly most of the time I just end up talking with them and haven't had but one time a true problem of having my clients relaxed. To answer your question a lot of my laughs that I photograph are fake... I just say "Ok give me a big laugh, big smiles." I remind them that it doesn't really matter what it sounds like because my photos don't come with an audio feature .

Ditto.
What he said.
+1
ibid.
Xerox that.
That jibes.