Jeff Courter | Underlined something below the surface

Being natural. Just Relax.

Why do band photos look so cool?  I think it’s rather funny to be a part of a photo shoot for a band or singer/songwriters.  What do I tell them?  Just look cool.  Ok, so how do they look cool on command?  Well, here’s a tip, if you’ve gotten to those questions/informatives on a shoot, you’re probably headed downhill from the beginning.  How do truely “natural” pictures look “natural”?  Here’s a little hint….   THEY ARE!

Whether you’re doing an interview for a video/film shoot or you’re taking band photos, wedding photos, or whatever, you need to take some time to get to know your subject/client/friend– make them feel comfortable working with you.  Even if you have a 1/2 hour, don’t tell them about the 30 different kinds of lenses you will be using, ask them how there day was.  Ask them what they like to do for fun.   Ask them about their dog, Buddy.  THEN, by the time you actually start snapping away, they feel relaxed and they LOOK RELAXED.  Learn to be relational while keeping all those crazy camera settings in line.  Your final photos will improve!

For the photography peoples, I used these settings (photos left to right)

Left:   F/8, 18mm, 1/40th sec, ISO 200
Middle:   F/8, 24mm, 1/100th sec, ISO 200
Right:   F/8, 55mm, 1/125th sec, ISO 200

Touch-ups in Adobe Lightroom.