As I think all of you know, I'm a nature photographer. There are few things I love more than lying in the grass photostalking a bird, bug or bee.

However.

My role at work has expended significantly, and I'm now in the position to be one of two resident photographers. The only downside, is that it involves shooting people. Headshots for websites, group "action" shots (usually posed) for promotional material, that sort of thing.

the other photog has a journalism background, so he has no problem walking up to a random group of people and snapping away. Me, I'm pretty reserved (ok, downright shy), and can only guerilla-snap from a distance unless I know the subject well. Hence, I usually get pretty crappy, ordinary shots.

So photographers, I need your help. HOW do you become a decent people-photographer? How do you learn to become more relaxed behind the camera so the subject is more natural?

Or should I concede defeat and go back to stalking beetles?

Beetles don't usually make good headshots or promotional material. I did a ton of people photos...Little Leaguers, thousands of them, award ceremonies, "grip and grin" photos and over 500 social events such as weddings and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.

The secret here is to not concentrate on the photographic aspects of this. I would never mention "photography" "camera" "smile" or the like. This makes the subject self-concious and often ill-at-ease.

So I'd just keep up a bit of chatter. "Joe, can you get next to Susan and Sam, just step behind them in the middle....Fine" [Click] "Now just one more" [Click] "Maybe two" [Click]

I would avoid at all costs using the current "point and shoot" cameras, which really means anything less than an entry level SLR camera. These cameras have a delay in them so that the photo is actually taken about 1/2 to 1 second after you push the button which is an eternity to a photographer. When I push the button, I want the result to be what I see NOW, not a half second ago. Even worse are the "red eye" eliminators...the multiple flashing before the shot is taken...to me the worst development ever in camera technology. If you get red eye, you can cure it easily in photoshop or its clones.

People photography is not about photography. It is also not about you the photographer. You do have to practice enough (with friends or relatives) so that the technical aspects are second nature.

Don't do a count down "OK 1-2-3 click" The worst thing you can do. The subjects get uptight with that. When I had difficult subjects, the ones very self concious of themselves, I would sometimes say..."OK let's do a few test shots", and I'd snap away so the flash went off. The I'd say "OK, you seem relaxed now, I guess I'll put film in the camera." Of course I had film in the camera all the while. When getting people ready for a photograph, converse, don't command.

When I had a really difficult subject, I would try to humor them.
"Don't be afraid of me, I'm a photographer, not an executioner."

I'm not sure if it is still in print, but Kodak put out a fine book called "Photographing People." It dealt with every thing from babies to families to executives. It was a fine guidebook when I was acquiring the craft.

Jon