*First* family shoot, CC!

I would consider this my *first* family shoot. I had one last fall but well, it was terrible. haha. These are some friends of ours, so I was like, "Hey, can I take your family pictures?" The wife's dad is visiting from Finland, so that was cool. My only thing was that...the parents don't really smile. :-/ I wasn't sure what do to to make them smile. "SMILE! BE HAPPY! LETS SEE SOME TEETH!" I doubt the would've gone down well. haha.
I think they could better, but I'm super duper hard on myself. lol. I did noticed my biggest thing was posing. Especially the little girls. I wanted to do some stuff on the grass, but it was really wet.
I would LOVE your CC and how I can improve on anything!
Thanks for looking,
Alex
note:I do have them in color, but I was really liking the B&W.


1)

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​713569237/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​714131002/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​714126934/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​714125772/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​714124064/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …sphotographer/5​713564553/

Take this how you will, but #6 just blows the rest out of the water... Great photo!!

The shots of the girls are pretty good. The last one is adorable, and easily my favorite.

The only thing with the first two that bothers me is that there is too much DOF. Step back, get a long focal length and a wide aperture. But I guess that's a stylistic thing. The only time I use big DOF is when people are standing in front of something they specifically want to see in addition to themselves (a landmark, a landscape, or something like that).

The lighting looks pretty good...I would have tried for full shade but it wouldn't have been completely neccesary.

Shame about the wet grass. That throws out a chance to do a lot of the classic family poses that I've seen.

joe

More color!

probably can use some more DOF on 1 and 2. The background isnt the greatest! Nice smiles and stuff though.

These are pretty good, with #4 and #6 being the best of the bunch.

I agree with some of the DOF comments. Also, the main posing issue with the girls is their arm positions when hands are behind them or stretched straight out in front of them.

You did get some great smiles.

Background in 1&2 is too much. I agree opening up the aperture would help a lot.

I love the rest though, particularly 3 and 6.

DeGraff Nature Center?

Thanks for the CC everybody! I'll be sure and take your advice with me on my next shoot! (: Good to know they aren't terrible. haha.

fyr1296 wrote in post #12400169
DeGraff Nature Center?

Nope. Just a tiny little garden here in Holland, Mi. (: