Family Portraits - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

10/20/2007 09:50:56 PM · #1

A few images from today's studio session...

NOTE: None of these have been edited. They are converted from raw via Lightroom and then resized for web using a simple photoshop action which adds a border at the same time.

Monique64

Canon EOS-30D

10/20/2007 10:25:32 PM · #2

These look great. The large group ones are awesome. Good job!

10/20/2007 10:30:31 PM · #3

I didn't show the "full" group, because the edges of the canvas are visible (i.e. some editing work will need to be done before printing). They were a fun group to shoot ... and quite a "handful" at times! :-)

Thanks!

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

10/20/2007 10:32:28 PM · #4

Which lens for those large group shots?

10/20/2007 10:52:09 PM · #5

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Which lens for those large group shots?

I used the Canon 24-70 2.8L for most of the shots. But switched to the Canon 70-200 2.8L IS whenever doing individuals or couples shots. That way I could pretty much stand in the same place the entire time I was shooting regardless of the size of the group.

Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS

10/20/2007 10:54:57 PM · #6

By the way, the little girl at the bottom ... I fired off several shots of her. She was as good as any model I've ever seen! She knows how to "work it". I couldn't believe the number of poses she came up with while we were just standing there.

I would SERIOUSLY love to photograph her again, with a little more time to slow down and get some nice shots. She's gonna be a real heart breaker when she grows up! :-)

buzzrock

Fujifilm X-M1

10/20/2007 10:58:13 PM · #7

This one isn't camera shy, lol

What a little ham.. :)

Very Cute shots..

Edit-- I didnt read your above post--- It defintly shows..

Message edited by author 2007-10-20 23:01:46.

Fujifilm XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS

10/20/2007 11:09:05 PM · #8

If anyone's interested, here is a link to the "proofs" that I posted for the family: //www.dterryphotography.com/gallery/3682522

buzzrock

Fujifilm X-M1

10/20/2007 11:11:55 PM · #9

Im interested in knowing if you just used your Lightroom workflow, or do these have some additional PS applied.

Dear God, I have to read these post more clearly-- I just seen your lightroom only comment.. Sorry, LMAO

Message edited by author 2007-10-20 23:12:46.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

10/20/2007 11:14:09 PM · #10

Originally posted by buzzrock:

Im interested in knowing if you just used your Lightroom workflow, or do these have some additional PS applied.

The only PS work is in sizing for web (max 800 pixels) and adding a border. Oh, it also sharpens as it reduces in order to maintain sharpness (though sometimes the sharpening this automatic action provides is a bit too sharp).

I save all editing for when a print is ordered. I just take way too many pictures to go around editing images that haven't been purchased. So nearly all of the images that I tend to share with DPC are unedited.

Louis

Nikon D800

10/20/2007 11:15:20 PM · #11

Can you let us know your lighting setup? Position plus power output and mods etc. would be great.

Edit: Especially for the large group shot.

Message edited by author 2007-10-20 23:15:49.

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

10/20/2007 11:17:28 PM · #12

Originally posted by buzzrock:

Lightroom is quite the powerful editor in it's own right. Basically it's the photoshop for just photographers and David has gotten quite good at using it. Oh and I'm sure he's on the Adobe payroll too. :P

Message edited by author 2007-10-20 23:18:02.

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

10/20/2007 11:28:42 PM · #13

Originally posted by Louis:

Can you let us know your lighting setup? Position plus power output and mods etc. would be great.

Edit: Especially for the large group shot.

Three lights:

1) A bare-bulb background light.
2) A large octagon softbox for the main light set for f/8.
3) And a smaller strobe bouncing off the white wall/ceiling in the back to function as the fill light (set for f/4).

In all of these images (with no time to "think" between shots), the softbox was on my right at approximately a 45 degree angle to the subject (both 45 degrees to their left, and 45 degrees above them).

This group was so large that it took us two hours to get all of the shots and that was moving quickly. If I'd had more time, I'd like to have explored more creative poses and lighting.

On the large group shot, I simply pulled the Octagon back and (this will sound like heresy), lowered my aperture down to f/8. I shot most everything else at f/11. But I didn't want to have to re-calibrate the lights again!!! So as I lost light (by pulling the octagon backwards) I dropped my aperture. But I figure I was "safe" as far as DOF was concerned, because the camera was being pulled back too. :-)

Louis

Nikon D800

10/20/2007 11:32:08 PM · #14

Thanks for the info. Don't feel too bad - I do that stuff all the time to avoid re-metering. :P

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

10/20/2007 11:33:31 PM · #15

I think the large group shot is a bit dark at the edges, but it makes the group pop really well.

10/20/2007 11:42:07 PM · #16

Originally posted by Louis:

I think the large group shot is a bit dark at the edges, but it makes the group pop really well.

I used Lightroom's Vignetting to darken the edges. I didn't want the customer looking at the edges of the canvas when I haven't had time to edit the images yet. (okay, so I'm a cheater!) :-)

Medoomi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

10/20/2007 11:57:02 PM · #17

I like you'r use of light (it shows in other shoots you've done).

And I just love the poses of the two girls standing lone.

Do you follow a pattern for getting a group to cluster. I find I'm stuck for ideas when I try this...

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

10/21/2007 12:03:33 AM · #18

Originally posted by Medoomi:

And I just love the poses of the two girls standing lone.

Woohoo... I get to take credit for that! :-)

(by contrast, I can't take ANY credit for the poses of that little girl, I just stuck her in front of the light and let her do her thing)

Some groups come up with their own ideas and/or simply fall into nice patterns. This group I did most of the posing myself.

Originally posted by Medoomi:

Do you follow a pattern for getting a group to cluster. I find I'm stuck for ideas when I try this...

The main things I'm looking for are: 1) Diamond or V shapes, 2) Avoiding one head right above another, 3) avoiding a straight line-up of people, and 4) avoiding two of the same colors next to each other, if possible.

The rest of it is just a big "puzzle" game. Put them together in a way that makes sense and that breaks as few rules as possible. (and move quickly because neither the little kids nor the adults have much patience when it comes to pictures)

amandak

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/21/2007 12:04:30 AM · #19

These are all great shots and very well done! I left you a comment on 2 of them about a light/cord or something distracting in the background.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

10/21/2007 12:08:21 AM · #20

Originally posted by amandak:

These are all great shots and very well done! I left you a comment on 2 of them about a light/cord or something distracting in the background.

Set you a PM. But since you mention it here, I'll post my reply here as well.

Regarding this shot:

The background light is right behind the girl. In most of the shots, the people are in front of and hiding the background light. She is effectively hiding the light here. But you can see the cord that runs up to it. I normally didn't shoot the ground. BUT SHE WAS SO DANG CUTE!!!!! I had to put her whole posture into the shot. If figured I'd clone it out later. But as none of these images have been edited, you still get to see the little imperfections. :-)

amandak

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/21/2007 12:19:42 AM · #21

Agreed...she is *very* cute!! And yes, sometimes it's more important to *get* the shot than worry about the light cord being there when it can be taken care of later. I just wanted to make sure you knew it was there as sometimes it's very easy to overlook in post-processing when we're excited about our captures. Thanks for the clarification!

10/21/2007 12:29:28 AM · #22

Originally posted by dwterry:

Oh... one more thing I've been trying to do more and more of lately ... is play "connect the dots".

Basically, I want to see something more than just a line up of strangers. I want to see "relationships". And those relationships come about by touching. So more and more lately I've been posing my groups so that the people are touching (OR NOT!) to show the relationship.

For example, this one:

I know the boy was against touching his sister. But ... he IS the "big brother" and I wanted to show strength in his appearance, while at the same time, showing that his sister loves him and feels comforted by his closeness.

Same girl here:

I wanted her to demonstrate her affection for her mother by having her wrap her arms around her mother's arm and hold on. The boy, meanwhile is still a bit stand-off-ish. The mother tilts her head in slightly towards her husband. And the father connects to the daughter with his hand, thus completing the circle.

In this one:

The age difference between the older girl and her siblings made me want to show her off in a position of prominence. She is purposefully much taller than her brother and sister (I could have sat them down to bring the heights closer together, but I wanted the age difference to be obvious). And while she holds the position of first born, to be looked up to, I wanted her sister to hang on to her and show that she cares. And her brother to "lean on her" for support.

I love this image:

because I got nearly everyone touching! :-)

10/21/2007 12:31:31 AM · #23

This is a shot I did several weeks ago where I just LOVED the "touching" that I got here.

Prof_Fate

10/21/2007 12:36:05 AM · #24

Very nice stuff. Nice even lighting and no shadows (i looked at the big group shot).
I see some eyeglass glare - I hate that myself, I never seem to fix it to my satisfaction so I've worked hard an not getting it in the first place but with 12 people I think you did good.

I like your 'touching' deal. Nice unique look to the images. I'd like to steal the idea but I have trouble getting folks to touch 1/2 as much as your folks are touching.

Is there a reason why everyone is not dressed alike/coordinated? I think it works here which I find interesting.

Nice work.