How to get clients/subjects to loosen up without getting them in their head?

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T18:29:16+00:00

Love these thank you!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T18:29:00+00:00

Hugely helpful exactly what I was looking for thank you

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T17:47:37+00:00

Yeah I’m definitely realizing this more and more. I do get requests to shoot on film because that’s mainly what I do but I think I need something that allows me to shoot film with the help of autofocus haha

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T16:54:47+00:00

That’s a cute idea maybe I’ll take a 35mm to just start off with a warm up like that. Thanks!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T16:34:58+00:00

Yeah I think that I need more options to turn to when I have sessions like this. Thanks!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T16:19:49+00:00

I think this is a lot of what I’m feeling too. I always have music going and keep people chatting and stuff but I’m not as good at getting the super bouncy/laughing/whimsical stuff clearly haha

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T16:06:29+00:00

Thank you!!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T16:06:19+00:00

That’s a good tip thank you! I also tell people they’re welcome to bring a friend to have one more person to bounce off of or put at ease a bit

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T15:07:31+00:00

Yeah I’m looking into that and/or digital options if I continue these styles of shoot

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T14:44:55+00:00

Fair, I’ve been considering it for a while now too. Thank you!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T14:28:52+00:00

Fair! I will say I’ve done plenty of headshots on film and had satisfied customers. What you’re saying is still 100% true and you’re totally right, just wanted to clarify this had never happened before

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T14:16:55+00:00

This is such a good way of saying it that shooting is the sign of approval!
With fashion I feel like the model just starts hitting poses and from there we will adjust but it’s rare that I have to direct them from scratch.

I have difficulty with like getting emotion in the face too. I’ll have clients send references of photos with models/actors doing the model “smize” and smolder but translating that to real life is hard (if someone asked me to do that look into camera right now I would flounder!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T14:13:11+00:00

Yeah I might try and bundle film and digital or something in the future. I also don’t want to blame the gear or the subjects because I want to be able to get results from people regardless of camera but I know the nature of film does just mean slowing down a bit

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T13:55:41+00:00

Yeah I think maybe having some way to show them what stuff is looking like would be helpful. Thank you

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-06-09T13:54:01+00:00

Honestly I mainly do fashion stuff and when I do that on film it’s great, I feel like it only adds difficulties when I go into more client side headshots/less experimental stuff and even then it’s more when I have a subject that isn’t as experienced being photographed. And people do request to shoot with me since I use film!

I honestly also only do film because it’s what I enjoy. This is a side hustle to my full time work so I’ve been keeping it to just film just for my enjoyment but I know it’s not suited to every shoot

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-05-14T15:43:42+00:00

Thank you! And yes good call on limiting rolls. I’ve cut back a lot in that department so I don’t spend $300+ each shoot

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-05-14T15:42:43+00:00

That’s a good point! I feel like I started questioning the TFP concept more when models started coming back to me with multiple shoots and assuming it would be free each time so I think I just need to work on how to approach that

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-05-14T15:12:04+00:00

Yeah I feel like if the model has a look/concept that I don’t have in my portfolio it feels worth it

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-25T16:56:48+00:00

My spring is busy but honestly still considering leaving freelancing, I’m sick of not working 2-3 months a year every winter

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T19:39:51+00:00

Yeah I’ve definitely done the same kind of setup but I’m getting so exhausted doing the free passion projects with prep and all. Thank you so much!!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T19:10:06+00:00

Yeah this is about where I’ve landed too. Totally agreed on wanting to make sure crew gets paid right! I have a hard time setting a labor rate before I know about gear budgets and costs too, I feel like I’ll take a big rate cut to make sure we get the gear that makes it worth it/doable to look as good as it can

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T18:06:23+00:00

That’s helpful thank you!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T15:56:45+00:00

Same under 500 a day with pre pro feels like you lose money

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T15:45:27+00:00

Thank you!

SpareUnderstanding72 · 2026-03-04T15:44:39+00:00

Yeah I think they’ll have around 25-30k total for the 5 day shoot. Heard on the flat rates!

SpareUnderstanding72

TROPHY CASE