Okay calling all creative thinkers

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

08/20/2008 09:29:21 AM · #1

I have a family shoot in a couple of weeks that involves three girls, ages 15,7,5 and three boys, ages 12,12,4. They want to do a funny and off the wall picture for their grandmother and give it to her at Christmas. I have been searching site after site after site looking for weird and funny ideas.

I have about 2 or 3 that I am not happy with.

Does anyone have any ideas they can think of???

The shoot will be outside at something like a local park and there will not be any snow around. I have then wearing red shirts but they are not limited to them. Whatever I can come up with they are open and willing to do...

Photoshopped images aren't out either so I could put them in something like Santa's sleigh...

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

08/20/2008 09:38:53 AM · #2

If photoshopped isn't out, then why don't you have them each riding a reindeer pulling Santa in his sleigh. Find something for them to sit on that they'd have the right position. Sorry, that's all I could think of (it's early).

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/20/2008 09:39:51 AM · #3

Depending on the flora available, you might try something along the line of having them perched in a "family tree" arrangement. If you have a ladder, tree, or play structure nearby, you could have them arrange themselves in a pattern on the ground/grass and photograph from above.

It might be in poor taste given the US experience in Iraq, but they could acrobatically stack themselves in a pyramid.

Someone recently posted a group portrait I liked, with the group in a huddle looking down, and the photo shot straight up from ground level.

Telehubbie

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

08/20/2008 09:41:56 AM · #4

Heck, you got the whole Brady Bunch right there. You could take individual shots with a blue background and piece them together just like at the beginning of the show, with "The Smith (or whatever their last name is) Bunch in the middle square in a similar font. -Stupid idea, sorry, it's still early. :-)

magenmarie

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/20/2008 09:49:16 AM · #5

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

That's exactly what I thought of! I don't think it's a stupid idea, i think it's kinda funny! :) And it would be really cute.

Trumpeteer4

Nikon D7000

08/20/2008 09:57:46 AM · #6

You could have a "normal" portrait and then set up little scenarios inside of it, like the twins fighting over a cookie or something small like that to give each person character.

08/20/2008 10:10:24 AM · #7

Awesome brain storming guys keep em coming.

I think I like the Brady bunch thing too. I'll write that one down.

08/20/2008 10:14:11 AM · #8

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

The funny thing is their last name really is smith. hahaha

Sam94720

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/20/2008 10:16:00 AM · #9

Instead of having them just line up and smile, you could take a picture of them doing something together. You could have them all climb some structure on a playground (if something like this //img.alibaba.com/photo/11059338/Wooden_Playground_Units_Swings_And_Seesaws.jpg exists in your neighborhood), for example. Put them all on the slide together. Or have them all do different stuff on the structure (preferably close to each other) and look at you. (The older ones might feel that they are too old for the playground, so have them help the youngest ones do something, they'll like this role.)

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

08/20/2008 10:24:54 AM · #10

Do one of those PS composites (keep camera & lighting stable with multi shots) and repeat each kid in a different pose/clothing in the same room so there are like 30 people in the room (6*5). Keep track of where each one is and a map at the start might help. With 6 of them it must feel like 30 sometimes :-) Have each one fight with themselves in a part of the image or something, so there is some detail the more she looks at the image.

luv2photo

Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical(IF)Macro

08/20/2008 10:25:46 AM · #11

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

I like the Brady Bunch idea too...only do the Brady Bunch gone bad. Give the older ones those little ipod headphones to stick in their ears as if they are not involved in the session one bit. Give the tweens cell phones for texting and arm the little ones with squirt guns, water balloons or silly string. And when it really does turn ungly keep shooting.

Telehubbie

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

08/20/2008 10:31:22 AM · #12

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

The funny thing is their last name really is smith. hahaha

Wow, that's too funny! Lucky guess.

Jessi

Mamiya 645Pro TL

Mamiya 80mm f/2.8

08/20/2008 10:35:33 AM · #13

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Someone recently posted a group portrait I liked, with the group in a huddle looking down, and the photo shot straight up from ground level.

I like this idea :)

Maybe have them all swinging on a swingset at the same time...

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/20/2008 10:41:00 AM · #14

For a keepsake photograph meant as a Christmas gift, I don't think a Christmas theme is required, or even especially desirable... For whatever that's worth... This gift transcends seasons, really. A lot of what you can do with a crowd that size, depends on how BIG the print will be, so bear that in mind. If it's quite a large print you have more leeway with environment, full bodies, etc while maintaining recognizable faces.

R.

justamistere

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

08/20/2008 10:44:29 AM · #15

Judi did an excellent take on the "rady Bunch" theme for the recent Cardboard Box challenge. Buy some cardboard boxes any where they ship large items (warehouse/shipping dept.)

08/20/2008 10:45:48 AM · #16

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

She is going to get a 20x30 size print and some smaller ones for other members of the family. But the large one will be given to the grandmother to be hung on the wall.

Telehubbie

08/20/2008 11:02:45 AM · #17

Originally posted by luv2photo:

Love it! Then have the Mom and Dad looking a little frazzled but as if they're trying to keep it together for the photo... like a really fake smile and big eyes, hair a little off, Shirt buttoned one-off, circles under their eyes, etc.

FireBird

08/20/2008 11:14:09 AM · #18

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Awesome brain storming guys keep em coming.

I think I like the Brady bunch thing too. I'll write that one down.

If you have a tripod, setup a shot with all of them in it. Then, not moving the camera, arrange them in different spots on the frame and take another shot. Maybe even three shots. Just make sure none of them overlap the other positions they were in. Then photoshop them together with layers and you'll have a crowd of them. Two or three of each depending on the number of frames you take. Will confuse grama sumpin serious.

08/20/2008 11:18:24 AM · #19

Hey real quick off topic does anyone know where that page is that has all the print sizes and which format they are.

Niten

Canon EOS-20D

08/20/2008 11:21:24 AM · #20

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Don't forget to have them dress 70s.

pixelpig

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 1.8/50mm SAM

08/20/2008 12:10:36 PM · #21

Much depends on the Grandma & what she likes & where she would display the photograph. If She's the type of Grandma that has a pinao with framed pictures displayed on it, then she might be most comfortable with a formal portrait. If she has a lively sense of humor, then she would be happy with something that shows off each kids individual personality. The Brady Bunch theme would be good if she is a fan. Alternatively, you could dress each kid in the clothing of the appropriate parent. There's nothing cuter than a little kid in a big hat, or a little girl in pearls. That would also get the parents involved. It would be semi-formal but also amusing. That's my $.02-worth!

[eta] One big print is good, but don't forget you have an option of one of those pre-cut matts that let you put a bunch of individual shots under glass together. And you have another option of making a Grandma's Brag Book in a 5x7 format that might fit in her purse so she can show it off to everyone she knows.

Message edited by author 2008-08-20 12:14:43.