A few Questions

[stewart bradshaw]

I have been asked to take the photo's for a couple in May of next year. I have a few years experience in Wildlife landscape and Sports photography, and i am pretty competent and confident technically.
Posing is something i have a lot to learn about.
The Brides mother died only a year or two ago and her ashes are scattered at the church where they will be married. This is the reason the bride wanted to marry at this church. The couple also have a young daughter she will be around 15 months old at the time of the wedding.
When setting up the formal group shots the composition could be a bit one sided with the FOB without a partner, ( the grooms family is also larger than the brides). How would you approach posing the formals in this situation. Also how would you bring their daughter in?. And a final question is there any tasteful/ sensitive way of giving the feeling of the mother bieng there? or is this best something left out of the day. ( i am not suggestig posing around the grave or anything by the way, just maybe some kind of subtle hints)

Sorry for the long winded question, Thanks for any help.

Stewart.......:D

[ShootingStars]

Here is a an option a recent bride used. The shell as held by the teenage grandaughter. This way when B & G took rings from the shell Mom was there to share the moment.

[Padawan Dad]

My personal opinion on this would be to not think too much about the sensitve issues here; meaning, let the B&G suggest to you what they would like regarding the brides mom. Leave it out, unless the bride requests it from you.

As for the child, I would just have the B, or G hold the child during photos. But I would first ask what they want.

If I were in this situation, I have a list of basic formal shots I cover (your typical traditional ones,) then I open it up to the B&G with "special requests." My style is: I bring to the table all the basics (regarding formals,) then the B&G give me their input. Talk to them about it before hand... you have plenty of time :D

[tim]

So long as the right people are in the shot, and they;re all happy and comfortable, it's a good shot.