LESSONS FROM A CRUISE-SHIP PORTRAIT SHOOT (17pics)

I want to teach you the best way to learn photography... by telling you stories and anecdotes that help you see the world and people a little different. That help you interact with those things a bit different. And most of all to realize that all the technical tips in the world won't do much if you still can't see the potential that's there with your eyes.

During a day at sea I took a friend around the cruise ship and did a little photoshoot, these are some of my photo insights.

All pictures are viewable large if you click the picture

HOW I APPROACHED THIS PHOTOSHOOT

This "Photoshoot" was more like a stroll around the boat with a friend that included a few pictures. During the 90 minutes we probably only took pictures for 30 minutes. Walked around for like 20 and talked for like 40. I took about 200 and she came and helped me pick through the pictures later that evening and we were done.

Earlier that day she spent about 3 hours helping me go through the other cruise pictures, it was very kind of her, so I figured we would go get a few more for her and have some good conversation in the meantime and become better friends.

This was not a client
But there is very very little that I would do differently with a client

See all the pictures here http://www.jarviedigital.com/People/2018/Talaisha/ on my site

With a normal client we wouldn't sit there for 20 minutes discussing life but we would probably discuss life while driving up some cool mountain to the destination.So really this was pretty close.

I mention this so you get a sense for one way of doing a photoshoot. Like spending time with your friend, being creative together, putting them at ease while making them confident and excited to be seen in the best light possible.

Even though most of my paid shoots are like me just hanging out with friends, I recognize that not every photoshoot can be this way, and some of them make more sense to be much more formal. However, if you are in situations where you can do it...

Make your subject feel like they're just being creative together with a friend

• They'll open up more
• The pictures will give a view beyond the walls they put up.
• They'll have fonder memories attached to the pictures
• You'll have a more enjoyable time...
• Maybe you'll also have some good discussions and a better friend in the end
  
  You'll see so much more of their personality shine through

FINDING SOLITUDE ON A FLOATING CITY

On a boat that fits thousands of people who are in a constant state of walking around or laying out in a confined area... finding places to do pictures is a challenge but actually easier than you may expect. You can have lots of places to yourself early in the morning or late at night or when the ship is docked and people are exploring the mainland... however if you're out at sea and the weather is nice then the deck will be packed. We chose a day at sea during perhaps the busiest time of the day, but it still was not that bad.

The trick is to not be so hung up on any one particular spot and be willing to explore and stumble upon some awesome places which at that particular moment have less people.

In the pictures you'll see not many people because we found nice little corners that weren't hotspots for sunbathers. aka look for the places that don't have the sunbathing-lay-down chairs.

Even if you have people bokeh/blurry backgrounds are your friend

On 4 cruiseships I've been on I've never really seen that many people down on the lower level outside walkways and those areas tend to have some wonderful patterns and lines.

CANDID MOMENTS - IN ACTION

Get the shots walking to and from. Don't just wait to get somewhere, get the shot as you're going there. Walk ahead a bit and and stop and take pictures as they follow you.

Walking through the automatic doors.

Heading up the steps to another level.

And i have no problem taking that candid moment as we walked around and turn them into a good place to pose or have them walk up the stairs again.

On the other side of the window

You could also get them doing some of the activities on the ship but we kept it more low key for this one.

DON'T DRAW ATTENTION

I have lots of opinions why this is important but here's mostly how I did it.

I carried a camera and one extra lens (no camera bag) and wore my swim shorts and we mostly just looked like two friends taking pictures of eachother. And really that's what it was we really just strolled around and talked and took pictures maybe 30-40% of the time. Maybe even less

I am actually a very low key photographer in general, I don't like drawing attention to me or my subjects on any shoot I do (let alone a for-fun shoot of a friend on a CRUISE SHIP... where people are just laying there sunbathing with nothing much else but to stare awkwardly at your photoshoot because let's face it you're right in there space unless you go and find the less crowded spots like I suggested.)

It's easier on me to not be worrying about other people staring, or the subject to feel another reason to feel uncomfortable... they're already working on increasing their comfort level in front of a camera. No need to add another layer of difficulty.

One fun thing was to just sit down and I'd take a few pictures and then we'd chat and then when I thought about a couple more things we'd take a few more.

So just picture two people sitting in seats facing eachother and then I randomly get an idea and say "look up and to that direction it's great light", she does I snap a picture and we keep talking.

We also did this while leaning up against the railing. We'd chat for a while and then after a bit of chatting she'd just be doing something naturally that was really great and I'd quickly snap a shot before she had time to be back in her head and thinking about posing.

BE QUICK

One way I didn't draw attention (and helped make the photoshoot comfortable) is that when it mattered my pictures were super quick shots. I didn't sit there on my haunches, all posed like a pro sitting there taking picture after picture after picture of the same setting and have them posing again and again.

Have a spot in mind, plan for it, get the shot check that it didn't suck and then move on. And if it seems quiet and comfortable take a few more if you're wanting an even better shot.

So just picture in your mind any scene from a movie of a photogapher in action and don't act like him.

Unless of course part of your shtick is to be over the top and that's what your clients like to be the center of attention.

PACK LIGHT - LENS SELECTION

A portrait lens like a 50mm will be awesome. And if that's all that you have you'll probably just fine.

I also took a 135mm Sigma for some really cool headshots.

However if you can find some nice open areas and you want to get more of the ship a wide angle can be nice. I only really have a couple with a wider angle like a 24-35mm range.

OUTFIT OPTIONS

People love dressing up on a cruise ship... so get them to wear a formal outfit and then something casual as well. Then of course some beach attire if you desire. Formal tends to draw the most attention as you can probably guess.

There are plenty of places to change on a boat as well and even though the boats are huge the rooms aren't really all that far at any given time.

DOCUMENT PERSONALITY

This isn't a tip about photographing on a boat... that's just my tip for every photoshoot. Get a bunch of aspects of their personality. If they normally smile all the time those ones will be easy so you have to be on the lookout for the other things as well. And vice versa.

We all have different sides to us... get the fun and the poised sides and all the others

BE IN THE PICTURES

I thought it was awesome combo for the formal attire and the cruiseship beachwear. haha
One of us looks a little out of place. haha

Come on suck it in jarvie

Make them take a picture

They enjoy it and you end up with pictures as well

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If there's a tip that you liked most or you have one to add I would love to hear it in the comments

p.s. Each picture is clickable to view larger.

p.p.s. Talaisha may not be on Steemit but share a compliment and she will be reading them for sure. It's fun because I know that the comments are great and uplifting on this platform.

p.p.p.s. I do this for a living ... happy to book photoshoots for you.
Specially west coast ... but weddings I travel anywhere in the world.