Passport/Identification. What if I showed some sort of identity card for each subject I photograph? Of course omitting private information for security.
Location. What if I asked my subjects where THEY want to be photographed. Choose a spot that holds some meaning to them and let them take me on a journey. As long as the background is fairly blank this could be anywhere.
Lighting. Use windows, try for daytime. Natural lighting is best
What do I want to ask my subjects? What kind of conversation do I want to direct? Do I want them to scribe, do I want to scribe, do I want a voice recording? All these are things to think about in terms of the content of the message I am trying to send.
Think about how I want to use maps/words. People may not be willing to have me write on their bodies, and is this what I really want? Writing directly on the portrait can also distract for the photographs. Is it taking away from the connection I want my viewers to make? For example, Emma is quiet, her portrait is quiet, the words across her are making noise. Does the map take away from seeing Mr. Yeoh’s face? What is I write/print on transparency that is hung with a few inches separating it from the photograph… this might help see both the photo and the message.
Maybe stick with the natural straight on pose, hands clasped together. Keep the hands. Hands can tell you a lot about a person, they are interesting.
Carry a stool around? Regardless of location everyone will be sitting at the same height
Go to kinkos/staples and get paper samples, decide on size and material (weight)