Great people photos are about building relationships.

Before introducing a subject using your camera to an audience, you must have introduced yourself.

Here in Managua, Nicaragua we are teaching photographers/videographers how to make your photos work. Yesterday I watched one student shooting with a Nikon 5300 and 28-300mm lens. She was zooming out, so her lens was 450mm. She was so far away from the people and often shot the sides or even the backs of people’s heads.

I pulled up the photos above and showed her what I was getting. I helped her to see the importance of being engaged with the subject.

Nikon D5, Sigma 24-105mm f/4 DG OS HSM Art Lens, ISO 100, ƒ/5, 1/200

I also realized I needed to show her what to try and thanked her for doing the same t

I even took photos next to a pastor preaching to show the congregation and give a different perspective to help engage the audience.

I asked her to follow me and shoot the same photos. She was getting the difference very quickly.

Nikon D5, Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 DG Art, ISO 100, ƒ/1.4, 1/1600

Now I can tell you and even show you that there is that one subject that may get a little upset with you like here. It just shows I may have moved too quickly. As I am doing here in Nicaragua, you must smile at a subject if you don’t speak their language. If you want your audience to feel like they have been right were you are standing, you have to get close, and to do that, you have to build relationships with people.