AS A FRIEND
The photographer who said this quote was a cannoneer, drafted into the German army a century ago in WW1. Hit with shrapnel in late 1917 during the second Allied western offensive, he nearly lost both his legs and witnessed his entire battalion die in the carnage. His name was Alfred Eisenstaedt.
An uncle gave “Eisie” a camera on his 14th birthday and later, using one of the first available-light cameras, Eisenstaedt made iconic candids of regular people and movie stars. He said of photographing people that “they don’t take me too seriously with my little camera. I don’t come as a photographer. I come as a friend.” 
TOUCH the PERSON FIRST, BEFORE the CAMERA
We might give some thought to Eisenstaedt’s idea of coming as a friend. While we acquire new gear, and obsess about social media, our preoccupation with screens and devices may lead us to overlook a human truth: treat people as special and unique and not as objects for the camera.
EMPATHY
My aim here is not to offer guarantees or tips such as what lens to use for people, but instead share a couple key ideas from experienced photographers. The main one is Empathy. Columist Bill Bullard wrote:
“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge. It requires no accountability, no understanding. The highest form of knowledge… is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.”
―
Be a friend to the people you photograph. Let kindness be your aperture. Touch people before you touch the camera. Join your fellow human by making a personal connection. You might start by asking a question about the person and listening empathetically.
Then, if a person is uncomfortable, take a step back and wait for awhile before moving in close. Take the first shot but then keep the conversation flowing as you make 2 to 10 more; your subject will probably relax when you are chatting together.
“I think what makes a picture is a moment that is completely spontaneous, natural and unaffected by the photographer.”
~ John Loengard
NO TRICKS
Our body language, laughter, how we mirror and dance in conversation, the way we ask questions, all of these things make up the art of relating. There are no tricks, and often just hanging out to soak up how another person is feeling can lead to more intimate pictures of them.
“A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it.”
~Edward Steichen
There are no short cuts for clicking with people. Eisenstaedt’s greatest strength is the consistent way he reveals a telling expression on someone’s face and a key detail in the scene.
“For me, the subject of the picture
is always more important than the picture.”
Diane Arbus
“Before you touch the camera, listen with your hands, feet and heart.”
~Jim Austin Jimages
PRACTICE SEEING
These photographic skills take repeated practice with slight variations and nuances. While there are no tips that work in all situations, two suggestions I can offer for making people pictures, are first, to treat people as people, and second to keep your ethics clear.
Don’t lie. Don’t misrepresent. Be as direct as you can, and be who you are. If you are making money commercially from a portrait, disclose the fact. While it may not be possible in some situations, try to allow the person you are photographing to have informed consent of who you are and why you are making the portrait.
The web is full of sites that talk about photography tricks. Don’t buy in to that thinking. There are no shortcuts, tricks or easy ways to taking more interesting people pictures. It takes and open mind and a lifetime of learning.
“If there is a secret to creating better art, it isn’t to buy new gear or stand in front of better things. If you want to make more interesting photographs, become a more interesting person.”
~ Chris Orwig
About the Author: Jim Austin Jimages is a catamaran sailor, folk musician and lifelong adventure photo coach who helps photographers become more mindful and creative. His downloadable $10 ebook of Bahamian portraits is Bahamas 55: Beyond the Beach.
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