How to photograph amazing photos in Crowded Places

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Have you ever gone to a session location and almost had a panic attack from seeing how crowded it was?

Did it stress you out?

Did it interrupt the flow of your session?

Did it throw you off your game?!

You are not alone. I have been there too, my friend – many times!!

In my early photography days, crowded locations would stress me out. Today, I have some tricks that help me in these types of situations. By using these tricks, I am still able to provide my clients with the bright and clean images they hired me for.

To be honest, If I can, I typically try to avoid crowded places. But it’s not always up to me. Sometimes my clients have their hearts set on a specific location. And sometimes, especially on wedding days, I just don’t have the luxury to be picky. Whatever the reason for the tricky portrait location, I know it’s my job to make it work.

So how do I make it work? I follow the steps bellow:

1.Make your client feel comfortable with the situation.

It’s really important to ensure your client is not going to stress about the crowded location. So the first thing I recommend doing is to acknowledge the fact that there are a lot of people around. Then let your clients know that this will not affect their images at all! If you don’t they might spend the entire session worrying about it.

2.Use environmental Object as the background.

Find an environmental object that can be used as a background (trees, rock, wall, etc.). Places your subject right in front of the environmental object. Make sure you are positioning your subject close enough so that no one will feel comfortable walking behind them! Once positions, take as many varied images as you can in that one spot.

3. Strategically place your clients to block the people in the background.

Position yourself and move around until your clients are basically hiding the people behind them.

4. Use long lenses.

Longer lenses compress the background and create blurrier backgrounds. Use a longer lens to blur the background and minimize distractions. The longer the lens, the blurrier the background will get (wider lenses incorporate more detail in the photo).

5. Have your client step away from the background.

The farther they are from people in the background, the smaller and blurrier the people in the background will get. This way if there are people/ distractions to edit out – it will be easier.

6. Get tight, close-up shots that include none of the background details.

There you have it! These are my favorite tricks for photographing in crowded places are all yours! The next time you find yourself in a crowded location you will know exactly what to do!

You’ve got this! I am cheering for you!

Do you want more tips & free trainings? hop into my Facebook group! and let’s stay friends!!

February 4, 2021

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