Prepping Your Masculine Partner For A Photo Shoot
Prepping Your Masculine Partner for a Photoshoot:
Here are a few tips I've learned from clients over the years as well as some from my own private stash as a man who is photographed quite often.
Blog Post written by Jeff Baker
Professional photos are a daunting task for any couple; they are a major step for a newer relationship and for a relationship that spans years and countless casual but loved snaps of each other it may not seem worth it; and then when the choice is made to have professional pictures taken there is the potential for reluctance from boyfriends/husbands etc... Because honestly, pictures for a masculine personality can be extremely intimidating; they will show us being vulnerable with someone we love, they will ask us to put on uncomfortable clothes and stand in awkward positions and the fear that we might not look good in them either. A major part of any couples shoot is helping the other person to feel comfortable and excited for the pictures as much as possible; here are a few tips I've learned from clients over the years as well as some from my own private stash as a man who is photographed quite often.
For most men, dressing up is an intimidating prospect; though most guys will never say it a lot of them feel self conscious putting on dress clothes and shirts. Its hard to feel masculine when you aren't in your comfortable pants or shirts or you think your gut has gotten a little rounder over the years and the arms have shrunk a little bit. The positives of hiring professional photographers is our knowledge of how to pose your body to make you look good. We understand that most people have hang ups on aspects of their own bodies and we will make sure that those things are less noticeable or don't even show up at all in your images. A big recommendation is to talk with your partner and discuss what you can wear as a couple in your pictures; talking to each other openly about how certain articles of clothes make you feel about yourself will not only help you gain a deeper understanding of each other but will prevent you showing up in a too short, too small shirt with a bad mood.
The best part of coming out to Jasper for a professional shoot is the fact that you can make an amazing vacation out of it, meaning the whole reason of the trip isn't just for a photo shoot. Jasper offers so many places to stay and a mind blowing amount of activities to do as well. Jasper Park Lodge has one of North Americas premiere golf courses attached to it, and a beautiful outdoor patio to relax on at night with a drink under the stars in our dark sky preserve. You can rent mountain bikes to fly around the trails, or a canoe to paddle our fabulous celestine blue waters, or maybe hike to the top of a mountain. All of these activities are the best things to add adventurous and experienced photographers too so they can follow you around as you adventure together capturing every moment; adding in an activity/holiday to a photo shoot weekend helps everyone feel more relaxed and excited to capture images of the places they go and the things they do. At the end of the weekend you'll leave with the memories and the amazing images to go along with them.
Eat and drink before the session! We realize that no one is themselves when they are hungry, so coming to take pictures when you aren't feeling 100% satisfied will be extremely difficult to do. Our sessions can last for a good chunk of the day, so when we have discussions with our clients before their shoot we like to find out what kind of snacks and drinks they enjoy so we can bring them along on trips in case someone needs an energy boost. Jasper has some of the most amazing restaurants available to choose from so grab an appetizer or have a nice brunch before the shoot; you will be amazed at how the mood can change when you are full. Now when I say drinks I do mean “drinks” if this is your proposal or engagement shoot bring a bottle of bubbly to pop or your favourite beer to crack. Having a drink can be a game changer when it comes to your mood it can really relax you and your partner and popping a bottle of champagne also makes for some pretty spectacular shots!
Sometimes the biggest issue isn't the clothes or the time, its convincing your partner to even go and get the photos done in the first place. Sitting down and telling your partner why these pictures matter so much to you will go a lot farther than telling them they are getting them done. Over the years so much subtle change can happen as a couple that most of the time you don't realize things are different until its even happened or things have changed so much that there isn't any going back; these photos will capture moments you wont even realize you'll cherish in the future. Instead of telling your partner that you are doing photos, have them involved in the decision from the start; pictures together can be an amazing experience if you are both comfortable with it.
On the note of comfort, our goal as professionals is to ensure that our clients are feeling happy and relaxed. We are very experienced at reading people's body language and emotions and adapting our styles and mannerisms to provide an environment that even masculine personalities can relax in and show intimacy in their images. While we are both extremely proficient photographers we are also very laid back and fun people as well, we have been capturing images for a very long time and have come to the conclusion that our clients want an adventurous amazing experience and not a drawn out posing session; we inject a lot of life and candid energy into our shoots making it easy to relax and enjoy the experience instead of dreading and hating it. Hopefully this will help you understand your significant other's hesitation with booking a shoot and you can help them realize that they can have have a good time too!