Family Shots for C&C

Hi all, I'm really new to shooting people and I'd love some comments on how I can improve these shots using PS to make them look less like snapshots and more like portraits. Thanks!

#1

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IMAGE LINK: http://s101.photobucke​t.com …7548_zps7e27210​3.jpg.html

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Good lighting and composition. The last one is nice. In the others there is way too much head-room. Crop the tops.

Overall, nice shots. I do have some nits/suggestions though.

Having the camera in Portrait-orientation kind of killed the first two. Your subjects are too small in the frame, and there is way too much empty space above (about half the frame is dead space). #2 also has a tad too much foreground IMO. If they were done in landscape, you'd have been able to get your subjects to fill the frame more.

Technically speaking though, they look really good. As Qbx said, good lighting, nice (natural) hairlights, and your colors and exposure look good.

For the poses, #2 is best. Looks natural and casual, not 'posed'. In #1, the way mom is squatting looks awkward and uncomfortable. In #3, dad looks too hunched, like he was worried he wasn't going to be in the frame.

Thanks for the comments! I appreciate the feedback!

Qbx wrote in post #15908941
Good lighting and composition. The last one is nice. In the others there is way too much head-room. Crop the tops.

This.

Great composition and posing your subjects!

Too much space above them in #1 and #2, but that's all I can really comment on. The lighting looks good, the exposure looks good, and the dogs are very well behaved.

EDIT**
Wait! I lied. After looking at the photos a little bit longer I have to comment onthe dog's leash.

In #1, having the leash wrapped around mom's hand is bothering me. I realize they didn't want the dog to run off, i totally get it, but maybe wrap it once around mom's foot and have her step on it. It would make it eaier to clone out in PP because most if not all of the leash would be hidden.

#2, rotate the dogs collar so the leash hook is on the dogs back and not in view.

#3, again rotate the collar so the leash on the dog on the right is not in view. If the dog running off is a concern dad could hold the leash from his position and we'd never know. Also mom holding on to the other dogs collar....again why can't dad hold the lease to free up moms hand to be posed on her leg?

Samll things.

nice stuff, not too bad

The first two look tilted to the left.

dr1ft wrote in post #15918610
The first two look tilted to the left.

Glad someone else noticed that, I was wondering if maybe I was leaning to the left instead

I am surprised no one has commented on how over saturated the yellows in the grass are esp for #3.
Try reducing the slider for yellows only (in PS) in "Hue / Saturation" adjustment. This seems to be common in digital shots.
I brought it down to almost -30 and see an improvement. This has the added benefit of allowing the eye to focus more on the family.

1. Nice but the way the Mom stand isn't working when legs are included in the shot, IMO. It's fine to have her stand that way and leaning over in a tighter shot. As already mentioned, landscape would be better than portrait to compose this group shot.

2. I like this one more. It would also be better in landscape and not cutting off the dog's leg.

3. Nice but I would not have the Dad on both knee and lean over. It makes him look weak. Would be a strong shot if there was a cheerful expression on the kid's face. I would move to the left to use the green bushes to make it their background, so trees isn't right behind the Dad's head.

I am not an expert in Family photos but there are some sample in my webside if you want to look them up.
Keep it up, you are doing great.