Family portrait help....please

[LeahCoger]

My husband has asked me to do our family portraits this Sunday. I am still new to photography and I am quite nervous about this. There will be a total of five people including myself, any tips on how to pull this off and get nice photos? I really want to make sure that all sets of eyes are in focus and lighting is good, I have a hot shoe flash and softbox for it...other than that I just have the on camera flash... Thank you very much for any help.

[E3_Photo_Studio]

Do you have a remote for your camera? That will help, so you're not running back and forth from the camera.

What are the ages of the kids in the pictures? If they're young (under 8 years)....you might want a grandparent or friend to stand behind the camera and make funny faces or something to get their attention. We've had to do that a few times with our family pics.

The most important part though....just stay calm and remember patience. :)

[LeahCoger]

Thanks E3. No, I don't have a remote, but I think I should get one some day. The kids are 19, 15 and 13...

[suecassidy]

with those ages, you should be fine. As long as you don't pick a pose that is too lame for the ooh-so-too-cool 15 and 13 year olds. Find a pose you like from researching on the internet and use the gear you have. educate them as to exactly WHEN the camera is going to fire so they are not wasting their smiles on the blinking red button, only to give up just before the countdown is done and the shutter snaps. If you take PLENTY OF SHOTS in exactly the same pose, you should be able to do the old "head swap" in photoshop, and get a decent expression on everyone.
I would also suggest that you not force the kids to wear clothes they don't like. you won't get much cooperation from a teenaged boy forced to wear a shirt and tie. They probably will rail at the suggestion of "everyone wearing khaki pants and white shirts" -- oh puh-leese. Let them wear what they love. If the clothing does work, photographically speaking, you can always print it in black and white and color becomes moot. Just give them simple guidelines to choosing clothing: nothing old and ripped, no tshirts with words on them.
Once you've posed everyone, and have set the automatic timer, and before you trip the button for the countdown, that is the time to step outside of yourself and look at the photo with a critical eye for detail. Check the composition, the clothing, the hair etc. and fix it all then. Once everything is good, push the button, get into position, remind them that the button will blink for X seconds before taking the picture, and just before it fires, you can say something completely off the wall, obnoxious, silly, whatever, to illicit a smile. Or not. Just an option. You will be able to tell from the first couple of shots whether you need a bit of wrangling in that department.
it is difficult to take your own photos, because normally the photographer is behind the camera, saying "move your head a bit to the left, steve," "Jennifer, your hair is in front of your eyes, move it away" etc. before the shot is taken. the role of the photographer is MORE than just to push the shutter button, it is to manipulate the best photo possible out of the group by observing who is the person not smiling or is smiling fake, and to get it out of them.
Don't overthink it and feel you need to buy out the camera store with new gear. You can get the shots you need with what you have. Have fun. If you are stressed, everyone will feel it and it won't be much fun. Enjoy!!!!!!!! You may even want to do a collage of "outtakes" that shows the best shot, surrounded by miniature versions of non keepers. Kid 1 making bunny ears behind dad, kid 2 zipping up his fly, dad with his eyes closed, etc. ending up with picture perfection in the big shot. Just a wild thought....
have fun!

[LeahCoger]

Thank you very much Sue...I will really be trying my best...Thanks again to both of you!

[E3_Photo_Studio]

Thanks E3. No, I don't have a remote, but I think I should get one some day. The kids are 19, 15 and 13...

Oh those are EASY ages...it's when you have 5, 3 and 1 that's when ya wanna just pull your hair out. LOL :lol: I agree with Sue...just search through the internet for some poses that you like and go from there. Good luck!!

[LeahCoger]

Postponed another week....weather issues....

[munzzzzzzz]

Depending on what camera you have, you may want to consider getting a remote sooner vs. later. In most cases you can pick one up, either canon or aftermarket, for $30 or less. IMO they're invaluable if you're trying to take a picture that you need to be in.