Ever try to take someone’s photograph and all you got back was a blank stare?

There are plenty of great tips for portrait lighting over at strobist.com and other sites around the web, so I’m not going to get into that here. What I’m talking about doesn’t require an assistant to hold it, a padded equipment bag to carry it, or any photo gear at all – though it helps if you have a camera. I’m talking about the basics – a basic many over look: model interaction.

A good model is worth her weight in gold. Fortunately they hardly weigh a thing (budom-bum)! Seriously, though, having access to a skilled model is great, but it’s far more important from my point of view to know how to get something good out of who ever you have in front of the lens. Try using these steps.

• Step 1: Relax. Yes you. I know, we want the model to be relaxed, but that’s probably not going to happen if you are fidgeting, frustrated, fuming, or fired up. If you find you aren’t relaxed take slow deep breaths, think happy thoughts, eat a cookie – that usually helps me.
• Step 2: Communicate. Who said that? You did. At least I hope you did. Talk to the model (your mom, neighbor, monster under the bed – who ever you can get to pose for you). Before you fire a single frame tell them some of the direction you might give them over the shoot and explain a bit what you mean. Example: “If I say chin up, I’ll just need you to lift your chin slowly like this.” Then show them. I know, this sounds obvious, but I’ve been amazed at how a full grown adult could have gotten though life feeding themselves, driving a car, wiping they’re own butt, and suddenly when they are in front of a camera they invent a totally new way to raise their chin that involves shoving their shoulders up into their ears, or standing on one foot. Whatever. Just let them know what you mean. It will relax them.
• Step 3: The Eyes Have It. The eyes may be the single best chance you have to make your audience connect with the person in the image. Use it! If the model is looking into the lens have them instead look THROUGH it. Explain to them the difference: when they look AT the end of the lens the image will feel disconnected. Tell them to look through the lens and focus as if they were looking you in the eye behind the lens. If you don’t know what I mean, put your camera on a table pushed up against the wall. Focus on the end of the lens. Now focus on the wall right behind the camera. Now look through the lens as if you were focusing on the wall behind the lens. There you go. Get the model to do that. Remind them from time to time. Soon granny will be working the camera like it was a $5000 John — what? Even if you don’t want a shot of them looking into the lens, the eyes will tell the story. You laugh first from your eyes. You smile first from your eyes. You cry first from — well, you already knew that one. That leads us to…
• Step 4: The Most Important Step. Give ‘em something to think about. If there’s nothing in the brain, the eyes have nothing to say. Need a cutesy look? Ask them to think about a puppy licking their face. Want them to look proud? Have them imagine they’re receiving an Olympic gold medal from the Dalai Lama. Gotta have them look like they are a genius of the highest caliber? Ask them to tell you what they had for lunch two days ago, and then while they are deep in thought snap the picture. If a suggestion doesn’t work, try a new one.
• Step 5: Give a Dog a Bone. When you get something good, tell them! Be generous with your praise, but be sincere. Don’t flatter. Oh, and don’t flatter. Did I mention not to flatter? Telling someone they are “hot” or “sexy” or “smell like peanut butter” is no way to get the most out of them. If they give you a look that pulls you in say, “Great! More just like that.” “You’re going to love that one.” Or “Nice.” Granny doesn’t want to hear that some pose just gave you a boner. Oh, you’re not shooting your granny? You’re shooting a beautiful young woman? She doesn’t want to hear about your banana either.
• Step 6: Have Fun. Nothing wrecks an entire shoot for a model – and then the photo – like a photographer screaming at his assistant, kid, wife, monster under the bed, invisible friend, etc. or moping around waiting for that call back from the suicide hotline. Work hard, but enjoy yourself. Take your time to think about what you’re doing. Would it kill you to smile? Only if an evil genius secretly has a smile sensing laser ray aimed at your neck. And what are the chances of that?

Follow these steps. Engage the model. It’s okay if you make mistakes. Just try to learn from them. Before you know it, your portrait photographs will look like – well, Portraits. You know, but with a capital “P”.

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