I met Yana at a Costco she works at. At my wife's suggestion I asked her if she would be interested in doing some photo shots and gave her my card. Luckily she contacted me a few weeks later and we set up a time for some test shots. She was a little nervous because she hadn't done anything like this before.
I think Yana rocked it.
We're going to arrange some time for a "real" photo shoot.
How often have other photographers here made a cold approach to strangers to take their photo or arrange for a photo shoot? It's something that I've just recently started doing and I must say it's a bit invigorating. Nerve rattling, but invigorating.
I often think about it, the tough part I can't get over is the fear it will seem creepy. I have found people in various places that for whatever reason I think would make a great model for a portrait in mind. But asking them to do so has always felt odd to me.
You raise a legitimate point. I think a lot of it has to do with the approach. I always have a business card that on one side has some of my work and the other side has my website and email address.
Also there is a Flickr group, 100 Strangers. That is what kind of got me started with this; the idea of taking a photo of a complete stranger, quickly and letting them know that it's part of a photo project and explain it to them.
I admit that it's not easy, but I've never had anyone balk at it except for a person who was a member of the media. Even they were receptive, but because of their public position they had concerns. It's amazing how receptive people are.
And then when you come across someone like Yana who is freakishly naturally photogenic, it suddenly seems worth the risk :)