Advanced TLR techniques?

[Wade D]

It's not the format but your interaction with the subject. You have to motivate and choreograph the subjects with witty banter and make them feel at ease without noticing the camera. This was just a side income but I learned these techniques from a full time pro many decades ago. I did weddings for 20+ years with a pair of Yashica D's and never had any client complaints. The tripod might be a stumbling block so try hand held and adjust the lighting to suit. Many people might see the tripod as a staid object and tighten up emotionally.
Good luck with your endeavors and keep at it. You will find that with practice it will become natural to you.
All the best,
Wade

 

[Christopher Walrath]

You just have to learn to be comfortable chatting people up. Easier said than done for some. For extraverts such as myself it comes much easier. Find out something they have recently done or a favorite destination or some ideal they hold and strike up a conversation with them at the helm. The go along for the ride and snap a few along the way.

 

[Bosaiya]

Agreed! Not a camera issue but a personality issue.

Any idea where I can find videos on how he work his sitters? I heard he is not "hands-on" as opposed to Bourdin.

Not videos, but the text that accompanies In The American West has a lot of interesting information. Granted those photos were with an 8x10", but any excuse to look through that book again and again is its own reward.