Help! "Shooting" Army guy and mother...

[TomMessenger:Photo]

Hi, I've just had a request from my site asking for some "modern" shots of a mother and son before he goes into the army. How would you go about this? I would have several ideas for him on his own, but I don't know how to incorporate his mother into the photos? Also bearing in mind that I "effectively" only have a 70-200 F4 to use.

Can use OCF with my 430ex as well, but it would likely be my first try.

Any ideas would be great!

Cheers,
Tom

[TomMessenger:Photo]

45 views and no-ones got any ideas?

[jhkphoto]

will its up to u and your personal style if you ask me. if i was asked to do this i would probably do some shoots of there hands together. focus on the situation read the emotions of the mother sad scared? and the emotions of the troop, proud sad? i don't know. then try to depict there emotions as best you can.

[gonzogolf]

I keep getting hung up on your words in quotes. "Modern" doesn't really give us much to go on as it can mean pretty much anything other than retro. Also what does "effectively" mean in this context? I'd suggest if you have any time to work with them, start out with some standard portrait stuff to make them comfortable and then see what sort of relationship they have and how you can work with them.

[Lightworks Imaging]

I'm confused with the statement that you only have the 70-200 to "effectively" work with. Is the 18-55 broken?

[TomMessenger:Photo]

The 18-55 IS isn't broken, but I don't like it! I know it can be a perfectly good lens and I could make do with it, but I need something faster ideally, like a 50 1.4.

As for "modern", that was a quote from her email and I need to ask her what that means!

Thanks for the replies so far!

[JerelXTI]

Well I don't know how much of a help I can be seeing how I'm new to the Photography world, but I am a Soldier. I would say get photos of them doing things together. Meaning eating a meal together, shopping together while holding hands, Mom helping him pack and the two of them having a conversation in his old room. ETC. These were some of the things I did with my parents before leaving home to join the army. I hope i was able to give you a few ideas.

[Shellback]

I go along with what Jerel said. I did a similar shoot two years ago but I had an "inside", it was my stepson leaving and so I was there for everything. IMO the best were taken at the recruiter's as he was saying his final good byes (candids) but these probably aren't what she has in mind.

Being a veteran myself I also knew that no matter how good the photos were they would only have short term value. When he graduated from basic we took more at Fort Benning and these are the ones my wife treasures, her son the soldier.

BTW Jerel, when he finished AIT (25B) and Airborne his orders where for Wainwright but at the last minute changed to the 82nd at Bragg. Thank you for your service.

[JerelXTI]

I go along with what Jerel said. I did a similar shoot two years ago but I had an "inside", it was my stepson leaving and so I was there for everything. IMO the best were taken at the recruiter's as he was saying his final good byes (candids) but these probably aren't what she has in mind.

Being a veteran myself I also knew that no matter how good the photos were they would only have short term value. When he graduated from basic we took more at Fort Benning and these are the ones my wife treasures, her son the soldier.

BTW Jerel, when he finished AIT (25B) and Airborne his orders where for Wainwright but at the last minute changed to the 82nd at Bragg. Thank you for your service.


Well He may be happy he went to Fort Bragg. Winter at Fort Wainwright are tough your first year. I've seen -50 you talk about cold. The ice fog is something i have never seen before in my life. No Alaska is a beautiful place to be stationed if you love the great outdoors. I'm soready to get back so I can put my Rebel XTI to good use. By the way I went to Drill Sergeants School at Fort Benning, Just like basic all over again LOL.

[Karl Johnston]

Ask him what he wants, and if he could provide you with some sample images of a style of photography that he wants his shoot to be in.