Large family portrait examples?

[Trina_F]

I am doing a outdoor portrait session this afternoon with a family that includes: Mom, Dad, 6 year old girl, 4 year old twin girls and a 2 1/2 year old boy.

Any ideas? Any examples you can show me? I'm simply not finding much online that fits this scenario.

Thanks a bunch!

[coreypolis]

make triangles, make sure there is a physical connection between each person, avoid having heads ont eh same plane

[Trina_F]

Excellent advice! Thank you!

I remember hearing that before, but had forgotten. I'm so glad you were here to remind me. :)

[Jostel]

I am by no means a 'great photographer', maybe passable at 'decent'; but here are 2 examples of poses. i shot these for friends, as a 'gift' to them, last summer. Their one son graduated last year, and they wanted some family 'snap-shots'..

Again just examples of poses....

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r213/joanfstel/SterlingFamily25043.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r213/joanfstel/pogodustincindyjimchance.jpg

Hope it gives some inspiration!!!! Good luck!!!!!

BTW-- Absolutely NO Post-processing!!! (I am sure it shows!!!!!!!)

[awad]

http://www.johnawad.net/alfamblog.jpg

[Jostel]

Now, THATS a large family!!! Cool!!!!! the connection is the colors, and it works. A nice, common theme... the rolling feel of the field is very calming, as well!!!!

[milleker]

Love that shot Awad. Background is completely awesome.

[Scott_Quier]

I don't have anything that's outdoors (as you can see, it was in December and it was quite cold outside), but here's one that I thought was successful. It's not magical or especially wonderful, but I was able to get a shot of a quite large family:

http://lovenlaughter.smugmug.com/photos/119858782-L-LB.jpg

I was lucky I had some very nicely white ceilings that weren't so high that I couldn't bounce light off them.

[elledunlop]

What lens did you use for this family portrait? It is gorgeous! I am doing a portrait of 9 people this week at 5pm in the shade - I have a rebel XTI and was thinking of renting a 85mm 1.8. What do you think?

[bl4scott]

85 on the xti might be to close if you are needing to use a flash - if it is outside, it might work.

[heathermarie]

Okay, so the best advice I have is to start with one person and then add on.. making sure that the one person you add each time.. 2 ppl equals a great photo by itself, then another, 3 ppl, great pose, photo by itself and if you do that for everyone, this will equal a great photo. Another rule I live by is staggering, theres always an exception, but if you have 3 heads, they should equal a triangle, straight upside down and white not... if that makes any sense, sorry I don't have any examples :\