I’m not a celebrated photographer, and the people I shoot with aren’t exactly world-famous models. In fact, a lot of them are just friends or family I’ve managed to rope into modelling for a photoshoot. Because of this, I’ve gathered some tips that have helped me a lot with shooting with new models. And these tips aren’t only for working with people who have never modelled before, but also just some general good advice for when you’ve never worked with the model before.

The most important thing in my mind is the person’s comfort level in front of the camera. There’s something to be said for being uncomfortable in a shoot, and I can definitely see the value in that, but when working with new-to-modelling people, I think it’s much better to make them feel comfortable first.

Communication is key. I’ll always strike up some small talk with my model during the first few pictures. This helps create a relationship between the two of us, and allows us to get to know each other better. If I’m shooting with multiple people, I’ll take some solo shots away from the rest of the group to get started. Simple posing and confidence in your instructions will help the model feel more sure of your expertise, and help them to trust you more. After the first sequence of pictures, I always like to show them my favorite picture or two of them and compliment them. This always helps to boost their confidence in modelling.

Another key point is to come to the shoot prepared. I keep a folder of photos I use as inspiration on my phone, with ideas of different concepts and different posing, both for solo shoots and group shoots. Talking to the model(s) about what they would like out of the photoshoot and collaboration is always a good idea. I’ll usually have them look through the photos and let me know if there’s anything they would like to try. Even if there isn’t, usually it helps to get their creativity flowing.

After you’ve built a rapport, the rest of the shoot should go pretty smoothly. My tried-and-true method is always to compliment the good, suggest tiny changes if I don’t like what I’m capturing, and to make sure the shoot is fun. Not only will you and the model enjoy your time more, but you’ll be more likely to be able to convince them to shoot with you again in the future.

Something else that can help with this process is playing music. Bringing along a speaker or even just playing music from your phone can help set the mood of your shoot, or at least just bring a more of a chill atmosphere to your photoshoot. My worst fear when working with a new model is that they’ll be uncomfortable and stiff, so I do everything in my power to avoid that.

And remember, if you feel uncomfortable at first working with new people (believe me, been there, done that) these can work for you, too. And if worst comes to worst, fake it till you make it. If you act comfortable at the shoot, no one’s going to know you’re not. And soon enough, you will be comfortable.

What do you do when shooting with a new model? What are your tried-and-true methods? Let me know in the comments below! We can all learn from each other.