Family Portraits

[jtmorales]

So, I was recently asked to shoot my friends family. This is my first formal shoot outside of my immediate family. C&C greatly appreciated. Shooting a group like this was a fair amount more difficult than I expected, especially posing. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

http://www.photosbyjcm.com/sessions/Leski_Family/images/IMG_6710_resize.jpg

http://www.photosbyjcm.com/sessions/Leski_Family/images/Girls_BW_resize.jpg

http://www.photosbyjcm.com/sessions/Leski_Family/images/IMG_6694_resize.jpg

[amonline]

I would have had them wear something besides black... was that their choice? They look a little soft too... was there some action run on these? Lastly, the background is pretty boring... and definately un-pro, but I know everyone starts somewhere. The second is great though.

[jamner]

I think that they are all very nice shots. I don't think that they are too soft at all. Maybe adjust them in PS a little bit, they look just a little flat, but overall I think that you did a great job!

[Hellashot]

I would have had them wear something besides black... was that their choice? They look a little soft too... was there some action run on these? Lastly, the background is pretty boring... and definately un-pro, but I know everyone starts somewhere. The second is great though.

I agree on the black item (and all white for that matter) because they can end up looking like floating heads depending on the background and the picture can lath depth.

[dpurslow]

When shooting in b/w or shooting for a b/w images, look for tones not colours. Black really does not have a tone so its hard to play with after in post processing.

Try to get into the habbit of cropping a lot wider than you intend to deliver the finished images, that way you have real estate to play with in your editing and you wont end up loosing hands / feet or worse 1/2 a hand or foot.

I used to have "E" screens in my F5's when I was a Nikon shooter - I got in the habbit of always having my subject within the first of the lines visible on the screen and the F5 is a full viewfinder preview so you dont get any extra like you do with a lot of the cheeper cameras. - on most cameras today you actually only see 97% of what will appear on the CCD

Groups are the worse to shoot imho. Take a peek at a post a few below this called family portrait - I also shot a family this weekend but because of a baby could not get a great family shot. (and yes in my image the dad is wearing black)

Pay attention to your backgorunds, use paper if possible but if you must use a muslin or cloth, try to get the wrinkles out of it ESPECIALLY behind the family - its not as bad on the floor but again in my opinion its a killer behind them.

Also for something like this - try to move the subject away from the backgorund a little so you can apply light directly to the background, that way you can "blow it out" and make it a stop hotter than the forground.

hope this helps.

[D. Craig Flory]

I first want to compliment you on good lighting as well as getting them all to dress alike. With that said, the background is a hi-key white while they are wearing low-key black. It would have worked a lot better on a dark background like grey.

[steveathome]

I think the last one looks odd with Granny poppping out of the picture, I think she should have been above the children, but otherwise they are pretty good

[kevbailey]

There are several plug-ins for PS that will let you add a little depth to the background by adding some kind of texture. This is not a great example, but it shows how the whole image can take on a depth by adding something.

[valerism]

I know not the best background, but just to give you an idea...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/valerism/IMG_6694_resize234.jpg

[roman_t]

you are so brave. i have no group shot i can be proud of. i can set lighting but i cant set family even my own one. someday i hope i'll make it out like you.
but i have an idea about that. actually when i've bought monolights i kept in mind family portraiture in living room space. i wanted to capture relatives in their surrounding feeling safe at home. now people dont go to studio for an album photo. they take photoes with their p&s and even cellular phones cameras.
i really miss those old time monochrome group photoes.
open your grandma photoalbum. i bet it'll inspire you.

[jtmorales]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I realize I have a lot to learn especially when it comes to group shots. I was working in pretty confined space so I couldn't pull them from the background the way I wanted. They chose the outfits so I had no real control over that. I told them not all white if possible, so they went with all black, lol.

I did run a blur action on these and I liked how it turned out with the action. I'm still learning all of my PP options so I have a lot to learn yet.

I learned a lot from this shoot, especially about setting up and lighting. Overall I'm pleased with the shots as it was my first foray into family shots. Most of all the family seems pleased with the shots and that's what really matters I guess.