Creating a slow session pace sounds like something that could easily be done, but when you’re in the moment it’s not always what comes naturally.
As photographers we know that we’re in an experienced based industry, and it’s really easy to become overwhelmed with making sure your experience is top notch. Sometimes that need to give our clients the best experience bleeds into their session and we become overly concerned with making sure we’re posing or prompting them and forget to just breathe and slow down a bit.
I’ve grown into an extremely slow and relaxed session pace and am frequently asked by other photographers how they can do it too. Here are three things you can do to create a slow pace during your sessions.
1. Let your clients know what to expect, multiple times.
As unnatural as it is for us as photographers to show up to a session and give very little direction, it’s equally unnatural for our clients. There’s an unspoken expectation when you book a photographer that they will know “what to do” with you. And we do! Don’t get me wrong. But I don’t need to tell you what to do in order to know what I’m doing.
Because my clients (nine times out of ten) aren’t expecting to show up and not be told what to do, I make sure they know what’s up. I tell them, multiple times, before their session to not expect to be posed and to go with the flow of their session. This helps them to show up prepared and ready to be themselves!
2. Get inspired (without a shot list)
Because I don’t constantly pose or prompt my clients to create images, it’s important that I’m still mindful of the images that are being created when they’re being their natural selves. A lot of the time I will use the Unscripted App to gather some inspiration and ideas before my session.
But instead of using them as a shot list, I more so keep them in the back of my head while I’m shooting as a reminder of what moments I’m capturing in my images and actively looking for those moments as they happen naturally, and not when they’re prompted.
3. Structure your session around stepping back
I make sure to communicate to my clients (again) in person before their session starts that I won’t be posing them or telling them what to do a whole lot during their session. This works as a reminder for them, and for me, that I will be stepping back and observing them during most of their session.
This looks a lot like me directing them to the spots of light and them just moving around them constantly as they engage with their environment and each other to capture images. There’s not always a ton of conversation between me and them during their session and I tend to hang out on the outskirts of whatever family huddle or loving embrace they’ve created on their own.
Reminder: all sessions are paced differently
These simple steps will definitely help you to create a more laid back and slow paced session, but it’s important to remember that not all sessions are going to be paced the same.
It’s extremely easy to have a slow paced and uninvolved role in a family session. I love telling parents that the kids are in charge (the kids usually love this too). It’s simple to follow the kids around and just observe their wonder and love for their family.
But when there aren’t kids involved, it’s a little more difficult. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a slow paced session. It just means that the session prep might look a little different on your end as the photographer– being more intentional about placing your couple in spots where you’re able to take one moment and create multiple photos, giving slight direction on where they should be looking or taking more time to intentionally capture details. Extended family sessions typically have a different pace to them as do wedding days or elopements.
Knowing your session and being prepared for it will help you nail down your pace regardless of what you’re shooting.
