|
|
|
Family Portraits
Summary: Family portraits. They are among the most prized possessions of many. They hang in family rooms worldwide and tell the story of a family. However, if you are in charge of photographing family portraits, you no doubt have a few interesting stories to tell about mistakes, miscues and missed photo opportunities. Check out this Family Portraits Made Easy: Techniques Phototorial to see how PORTRAITSECRETS handled a family portrait.
This PORTRAITSECRETS Techniques Phototorial: Family Portraits Made Easy
will give you a starting point and offer tips and techniques that will
give you great results. All you need is a little planning, ingeniuity and patience.
Location, location, location
All good portrait sessions begin with the selection
of a location. Good light is necessary for good photos, so, we chose a
location in a basement for our family portrait session. Two windows
located in the basement provided the light necessary for the photos. The location does not get direct sunlight so it
could have been shot anytime during the day.
Background simplicity
The basement location called for a background. A
white sheet, secured to a suspension rod with shower curtain hooks,
provided a simple and inexpensive background.  | | Window light, a simple posing bench and a sheet, suspended with shower curtain hooks, provides a simple but effective backdrop for a portrait session. |
The sliding hooks gave us
the ability to drape the sheet and give is a little style. It provided
a visually clean background that we could create quickly and
inexpensively. The draping effect of the material provided a much
better alternative to a plain wall or even a piece of seamless
background paper.
Places everyone
We chose a small bench for our subjects. The family
wanted a somewhat formal pose, but desired a natural look to the
photos. We decided to let the parents sit and the children would be
placed around them as composition dictated.
This is a closeknit family. Both photographer and
parents felt that holding the children would trigger a natural
interaction. That closeness and interaction would prove vital to the
success of the portrait.
Some minor changes to the seating and the poses were
necessary during the session, but the plan went off without a hitch.
Lens selection
A medium length zoom lens was selected for the
portrait. Shooting at an f4 aperture, there would be sufficient depth
of field to keep the subjects in focus. The lens selected would also
allow the photographer to engage the subjects individually for posing
prompts and suggestions. In short, the photographer would be close
enough to interact with the subjects and they could see and hear the
suggestions.
This keeps true to the PORTRATISECRETS
philosophy of engaging your subjects and establishing eye contact while
taking photos. Since this is a portrait session, candid poses can be
enhanced to bring out the personality and character of the subjects.
That urging and communication is a hallmark of many successful portrait
photographers.
A familiar routine
Since children were involved in the portrait, the
mid-morning time was best because the kids would have awakened, eaten
breakfast and not been rushed to the session by eager or impatient
parents. We picked a weekend day that had little scheduled and when the
family was normally together.
Nothing can trigger alarm in small children like a
break from routine. The little folks can sense the anxiety of hurried
parents rushing around trying to get everyone organized for the
picture, so the parents stuck to their normal weekend schedule.
Clothing, neutral colors put the focus on the faces
Time and again, we at PORTRAITSECRETS
stress that this is a portrait, not a fashion show. It's a moment in
time where people are together in a comfortable setting and a
photographer is present.
We recommend neutral colors in clothing. Bright
colors and uncoordinated apparel distract from the faces of the subject.
Following our recommendation, the parents chose
light blue shirts for dad and the boys, while mom and daughter wore
light pink.
Since it was an intimate portrait and would be from
the waist up, the kids wore comfortable play pants and sneakers to let
them feel at ease.
 | | With subtle posing suggestions, a photographer's patience is rewarded with this "portrait moment" (above/left). It provides a welcomed contrast to a well-composed traditional portrait (bottom/right) that lacks spontaneous charm. |
Composition
The parents are the center of every family, well at
least that's how it beings. So, we put the parents at the center of
this composition and placed the children around them. Sometimes, mom
held the daughter and sometimes dad did. There is no secret in posing
or placement of subjects.
The casual and natural poses of the family are best.
A photographer can make some suggestions as a starting point, but usually
finds that the subjects choose what is natural for them.
We have found that the majority of PORTRAITSECRETS
readers prefer the natural and "at-ease" compositions in their
portraits. We respect their abilities and offer advice to draw out
their creativity with regard to composition.
Sometimes it is best to step back for a scene and
let the photo compose itself. Then a photographer can add little
suggestions on composition as the session progresses.
Keys to success:
- Have a plan
- Location selection
- Good light source
- Camera and lens selection
- Clothing choices
- Composition
Family portraits are a treasured keepsake and should
be fun for everyone, especially for the photographer. Remember to keep
a positive tone when working through the difficulties that will arise
during a portrait session. Your efforts will be treasured for years to
come.
|
|
Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
• more tips & tricks
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
• read Michael's answer
• submit a question
Submit your photos for review and display in our online gallery.
• visit the gallery
• submit your photos
 Michael E. Keating is an award winning portrait photographer...
 more...
|
|
