Family Shoot - I'm not happy with these!

Hi All,

I had another family shoot today. I came home and didn't feel happy with the shoot overall. I usually engage really well with children and can get some really cute shots by interacting with them or by just following them around. Today with this little sir I just could not get a 'feel' for at all. I feel the photos show this. I feel like they are flat and really lack any sort of feel and variety to them. The photos I like best are the ones I had to 'set up'. I don't think any of this shoot will go in my portfolio.. would love to head your input in them and your take as well. Where can I improve.
This was my first shoot with my 7D - I took my 450D along as well (because I know that camera like the back of my hand). I was happier with the images I got from my old body as opposed to the infamous 7D. I know it will take time..

Anyway here are 6 of the shots I like the most.
1.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800151305/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800705338/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800698026/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800140403/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800152601/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800699416/

Just a guess, but when you woke up the day you took these, did you feel sad?

I ask because the work is not as bad as you seem to think.

Thanks Sam.. I've slept on them and woke this morning and had a re-look at them. Changed a few edits. They don't look as bad I had imagined them to be..

I think perhaps it was very stressful weekend for my husband and myself with his working commitments. I think this may have spilled over into the session - which is very naughty!

I think they're sweet. #6 is a little light on impact, but I'd say a job well done overall. Do have a one with father/son we can see?

sure.. This dad, I felt, was not a very affectionate father. It was like he felt awkward around his own son.. I asked him to pick him up and carry him on his shoulders, he took two steps said 'that's enough' and put him down. I asked him to have a bit of a game with him and he picked him up once and lifted him up and said 'that's enough' and put him down. LOL. I had to be quick to get these couple of photos!

The bottom image I had to clone a stick out that the child was holding and kept whacking his father in the head with it!!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​802441909/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/61053852@N05/5​800141011/

I like the bottom one the best. Since you told us about the stick, I can visualize it. You can almost see discomfort in the dads eyes in #7. Maybe the dad is a shy guy and doesn't take to well to pictures on top of any relationship quirks. Sounds like you had a challenging situation that you made the best of. I think you did fine under the circumstances.

samueli wrote in post #12542877
Maybe the dad is a shy guy and doesn't take to well to pictures on top of any relationship quirks.

The set isnt bad at all. I agree, I see alot of dads that arent so affectionate with their sons. Each is to their own. But I enjoy the set. You caught some of this childs emotions.

Number 4 is great!

Yup, you're being too hard on yourself Angela, these are more than acceptable. Good set overall. I like #3 a lot.

lol...if only I could have a "bad" photoshoot like this. I think the photos are fantastic! Except for #6, I really like them all.

weimoo wrote in post #12542484
Thanks Sam.. I've slept on them and woke this morning and had a re-look at them. Changed a few edits. They don't look as bad I had imagined them to be..

I think perhaps it was very stressful weekend for my husband and myself with his working commitments. I think this may have spilled over into the session - which is very naughty!

I think that is just normal.

I think it is extraordinary not to have stress or any other emotion spill over into work.

i think you did a very nice job! you can tell that the dad is a bit shy/reserved and that may have contributed to the overall feel, but nevertheless, these are very nice! we photographers tend to be the hardest on ourselves!

tim

These are great; you're being far too hard on yourself. I LOVE #1

Here's my thinking, and it certainly seems to be a trend. There's no photo that one can grab onto and say, "That's my family" And while I realize all of our styles are getting more and more casual, photojournalism works great on weddings, but sometimes not so much on portraits. Just do a search of Tim Park's photos on here. He has some absolutely great family portraits. Yes, his are a little more posed, but who cares whether images are "posed' or not, as long as they capture your subject in flattering manner.

I think we often get way too caught up in "I don't want posed images", when what you (or the client) really means, is "I don't want badly posed images". And so we go for this more freeflowing look, and while some of these images are great, I think the 'keeper' rate goes way down. Imagine the images that we would take if we were operating, say, a view camera? Imagine the thought and preparation that would go into that image. And borrow some of that and put a little more thought, preparation, and design into each image, and we'll end up with far more powerful portraits. Just my .02

Having said all of the above, these aren't bad images. In fact, I love the ones of the child, but again, no seemingly definite portrait of all of them together. In the last one you can't see the dad's face...

#2 is my fav, all are nice though...like the lighting