Successful Photography--Building Rapport

I’m often asked, “How do you get your subjects (models) to pose so easily and comfortable?” My answer is long, but there is one simple word that describes it best, rapport. Rapport is like credit, it takes time to build and only one incident to destroy it. It’s based on effective communication that forms over time. It is an evolving process with your subject, knowing what to say, where to say it, how to say it, and when.

It all starts with the first communication (spoken or written) between a photographer and model or subject. Whether it’s via email, phone or even in person, rapport starts immediately with the first contact. I’ve often met many of my future private glamour subjects through personal introductions, some by other clients, some by family or friends, often by coincidence like one client who sat next to me while traveling on an airplane, the latter is also a great reason to keep at least a few business cards with you at all times.

Regardless how you meet a potential subject, it’s that initial communication that pours the foundation and starts the infrastructure between you and your subject. The rapport process can end on that first message or nourish the process that leads to great photos for you and your subject. As noted in many communications theories, there is a messenger (sender) and a receiver for effective communication between two people, in glamour photography sometimes you are the messenger, sometimes you are the receiver, and great glamour photographers know how and when to distinguish the two.

Most communication is based on common sense, and I cannot stress this more, you must judiciously use common sense in all your communications with your subjects or it will bite you in the future when it comes to an actual photo shoot, and miscommunication or lack of communication can even ruin your reputation as a photographer.

As an example, if a client asks you, “Do I look fat?” you must provide the proper response, which like most married men will tell you, “No.” (And that is with absolutely no hesitation!) Remember, chances are many of your private glamour subjects are married.

Never belittle or make negative statements about your subject (client) especially before a shoot. If your subject needs to tone up her body, do a test shoot, let her see a few of the better prints were her face rocks while still showing the body as best as possible—she’ll see she needs to work on her figure, most do, and most will work harder on their bodies and diets before the next shoot and if they enjoyed the glamour photography process they will return to you, not another photographer.

Never discuss politics with a subject either, any more than critize another photographer, yet engage in small talk as it’s essential to open the door to your subject’s inner-beauty. If your subject picks a topic you’re uneasy with, change it smoothly, if your subject doesn’t like the topic, then learn to sense it and move on to other topics. If you must apologize, apologize, never say your sorry. People admire people that admit their mistakes, people don't like sorry people. Don’t forget, it’s about the subject, not you, not I, not me.

If your subject is quiet, encourage her to talk. While at the photo shoot location, make mental or paper notes about what is her favorite spots and discuss it. During the tour if she states, “here’s my favorite area, sitting in front of that window while reading a great book,” then make a note and photograph her sitting in front of the window reading her favorite book.

Ask her what types of books she reads, this is a professional start in connecting with your subject that comes full-circle at some point during the shoot. This process will guide you from taking pictures to capturing photographs.

If she tells you she likes to read books on cats, have her cat sit on her lap during the shoot, if she says she doesn’t like books but prefers to read the celebrity gossip rags, then inform her the roots of glamour photography go back to celebrities as early as the 1920’s and your goal is to make her look like a celeb. Speak to her in her language, her level, not over her head, use subtle but confident, reassuring tones in the inflection of your voice. Inflection while communicating with an individual is everything.

Learn to ask “open-ended” questions, not closed-ended questions. Closed ended questions are those that are answered with a simple yes or no, open-ended questions are those where they must provide you an answer, thus helping them relax for the shoot. This is a technique I learned while gaining my certification as a mediator for the State of Texas for identifying underlying reasons. There is a reason you are photographing this individual, understanding or locating that reason will lead to better photographic results and a satisfied customer, often an emotional success.

In summary, rapport or rapport building is an ever-evolving process, it never stops unless you halt it by communicating the wrong thing or idea at the wrong time, at the wrong place with the wrong words. Understanding the value of rapport to your photography sessions with your subject will not only create a conducive environment of success in the environmental portraiture of your subject, but it will allow you to develop a long-lasting and professional friendship with your subjects while bringing out their inner-beauty. Rapport is a mandatory ingredient necessary in the recipe of effective glamour photography.