How would you pose this family? - DPChallenge Forums

10/14/2008 11:39:46 PM · #1

My husband's cousin has asked me to take some family portraits for them in a few week's time. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to pose this family, where the husband and wife are close to the same height?
Below is one of their family shots that I took from facebook as a reference.

This link was posted in another thread, and it is very helpful, but I'm struggling to apply it to this family, where the parents are similar heights and the little one is very short.

Any suggestions would be fantastic - I've never done this before, and I'm hopeless at portraits!

ETA: The little boy is walking now, so I have the option of standing him up.

Message edited by author 2008-10-14 23:41:24.

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

10/15/2008 02:54:44 AM · #2

bump... anyone?

lentil

Canon EOS-5D

10/15/2008 03:19:50 AM · #3

sitting shots are good, on a picnic rug or perhaps walking..back shot kids in middle everyone holding hands?

I always get the kids to run around a bit so its not a serious shoot.. relaxed kids = relaxed photos. Maybe take them to the park or beach, under a tree is always nice too.

Damzel

Sanyo Xacti CG6

10/15/2008 03:37:27 AM · #4

I have an idea for you but I will have to get back to you.. tomorrow I will ry...

10/15/2008 03:58:52 AM · #5

Thank you very much Lisa and Jacquelyn :) I'm making a sketch-list of potential shots so I don't forget on the day.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

10/15/2008 04:35:34 AM · #6

Check around the internet also and maybe print out some samples of poses and settings you would like to try. My wife printed a BUNCH for me when I did my first senior shoot and it was very helpful.

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

10/15/2008 04:58:22 AM · #7

Thanks Ken.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

10/15/2008 10:42:50 AM · #8

sitting on a park bench with the taller child standing

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/15/2008 12:22:40 PM · #9

Originally posted by justamistere:

sitting on a park bench with the taller child standing

That might be easy enough for the 4 on the left of the image, but the one with glasses on the extreme right looks rooted to the ground to me, I'd work around that if it were me ;)

Sorry couldn't help myself :)

10/16/2008 07:01:10 PM · #10

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Originally posted by justamistere:
sitting on a park bench with the taller child standing

That might be easy enough for the 4 on the left of the image, but the one with glasses on the extreme right looks rooted to the ground to me, I'd work around that if it were me ;)

Sorry couldn't help myself :)

So cheeky!!

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

10/17/2008 03:49:45 PM · #11

Heh Lonni,

I hope you don't think I was being Rude, I did say the 4 on the left would be easy to move (ie the Humans) I just thought the telescope thing looked kinda like a robotic face :)

Greetmir

Nikon D60

10/17/2008 04:02:41 PM · #12

I apologize in advance if you are offended by brutal honesty but ...

... definitely NOT in the bright sun with harsh shadows and LOTS of distracting background and foreground distractions ...

... if you don't have a studio try a park setting in open shade or on a slightly overcast day with them several meters in front of a green (or even autumn coloured background and use a very small (in numbers) wide open Fstop to blur said background)

... I think they are an attractive family and I think they would look good in an informal pose, like even all sitting on the ground with mother and father in the back and the tallest kid sitting in front of dad and the shorter in front of mom and playing around and jostling with each other (not so that the back of the kids' heads are to you)

Those are my first impressions and I hope they help and also don't offend ...

(edited to change spelling from "day" to "dad"

Message edited by author 2008-10-17 16:05:00.

snaffles

Nikon D7100

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

10/17/2008 04:22:02 PM · #13

This stuff is all so basic you probably already know it, but if I might add my .02 cents CDN...make sure that all family members are rested up, comfy in the clothes they're wearing, and that EVERYONE is happy with how they look. As the photog you can only do so much to ensure that you get a good shot.

I did a shoot for a friend, but she was so p.o.'d and unhappy cause her hair (she did own hair/makeup) wasn't how she wanted it. Though I did get a handful of shots she didn't buy prints of any.

And I echo Greetmir on the not shooting on a sunny day if you can! The day I shot my friend was both sunny and cloudy, and though we got better shots towards the end of the day as the sun was going down, the best shots were those with some cloud cover.

Good luck!

Pikkel

Olympus OM-D E-M1

10/17/2008 05:04:17 PM · #14

I took this families potraits a few weeks ago and this pose is one of my and their favorites.........we also liked one where they were all holding hands walking down a dirt road that is not good for seeing close up features but is still a wonderful shot

Pikkel

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

10/17/2008 05:05:02 PM · #15

I prefer a little cloud cover too!

10/17/2008 06:36:34 PM · #16

Originally posted by Mark-A:

Heh Lonni,

I hope you don't think I was being Rude, I did say the 4 on the left would be easy to move (ie the Humans) I just thought the telescope thing looked kinda like a robotic face :)

Oh, sorry. Counting was never my strong point :) That's actually very funny!

10/17/2008 06:43:59 PM · #17

Sorry, only just got back online after some distractions.

All of your suggestions are extremely helpful. Certainly not offended by anyone, and very very grateful for your pointers. Snaffles' (Susan's) suggestions are basic but so important and easy to overlook. Greetmir's suggestions are also very helpful.

I'll be sure to post my results (unless I'm ashamed) once I have the shoot on November 15th.

carlos

Canon EOS-50D