Family photo attempts

Mitchell

I try to take a family portrait every year when we vacation at Callaway Gardens. Here are my efforts this past week. Tough to get my 5 year old to look at the camera on interval shooting!

These were done with my D700 and Nikkor 28-70mm using and SB800 in a shoot through umbrella.

Any suggestions?




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W.W. Webster

Mitchell wrote: »

Any suggestions?

These are nicely composed and lit. And, as a frequent visitor here, I feel I know some of these folks already!

However the chair looks out of place to me - an indoor-type (office?) chair in a distinctly outdoor setting. I'd either use a different chair, or use this chair in a way it can't be seen.

divamum

I thnk I like the 2nd one better - the comp is better, tree isn't so noticeably growing straight out of your head, poses are better balanced (S. doesn't look so far in front of the group) and it's better of your son. Samantha's expression is the only one that's less good - can you do a headswap for that one from another shot?

I love seeing your family, Mitchell. And my word but Miss S. is just looking more like a (self-assured, confident and lovely) adult every day. Holy cow this scares me, because we're only a few years behind you!! (but only have one to enjoy watching grow up :cry)

sweet caroline

Beautiful! The second shot wins. I'd rather not see the chair, but it's not a huge distraction. It's an outdoor wrought iron chair. I would maybe crop a little off the right and bottom.

Caroline

Mitchell

divamum wrote: »

I thnk I like the 2nd one better - the comp is better, tree isn't so noticeably growing straight out of your head, poses are better balanced (S. doesn't look so far in front of the group) and it's better of your son. Samantha's expression is the only one that's less good - can you do a headswap for that one from another shot?

I love seeing your family, Mitchell. And my word but Miss S. is just looking more like a (self-assured, confident and lovely) adult every day. Holy cow this scares me, because we're only a few years behind you!! (but only have one to enjoy watching grow up :cry)

Thanks for your thoughts. I was torn on these since #2 is obviously a better photo but does not have a particularly good expression from Samantha.

They do grow up fast! :cry

Mitchell

W.W. Webster wrote: »

These are nicely composed and lit. And, as a frequent visitor here, I feel I know some of these folks already!

However the chair looks out of place to me - an indoor-type (office?) chair in a distinctly outdoor setting. I'd either use a different chair, or use this chair in a way it can't be seen.

Thanks for your kind words.

That is most definitely an outdoor, wrought iron chair. I borrowed it from someone's deck!

Scott_Quier

Mitch .... no question .... you are one very lucky man. These are a couple of very nice shots of your beautiful family! Beautiful children, lovely wife, and a nice tightly knit family - it doesn't get any better than that!

A couple of things to think about before you execute next year's shoot:

1. In both these, you have your DW facing directly into the lens ... not the most flattering pose for a woman. Most women look better if they are turned just that >< much from the camera.
   
   
2. The angled sun is doing wonders for Stephanie's hair - a wonderful glow. But the sun is also making the background just a bit bright. Consider shooting at a later time and/or with a background a bit less well lit.
   
   
3. These are both very good examples of a traditional tight composition/pose. Have you considered a looser grouping? One that comes to mind that I would try (were I the pohotographer here) is to have the young people sitting on the gound slightly in front and to either the left or righ of the chair. Then, pose your DW in the chair (the chair angled slightly in the direction of the young people) with you pretty much where Miss S is in the first shot, but a bit (and just a bit) behind your DW. The young ones would be looking at the camera and the parents looking either at the young people or at the camera (try it both ways). Anyway, just a thought.

Anyway, you asked for comments/suggestions. Those are mine - FWIW.

Mitchell

Scott_Quier wrote: »

Mitch .... no question .... you are one very lucky man. These are a couple of very nice shots of your beautiful family! Beautiful children, lovely wife, and a nice tightly knit family - it doesn't get any better than that!


A couple of things to think about before you execute next year's shoot:

1. In both these, you have your DW facing directly into the lens ... not the most flattering pose for a woman. Most women look better if they are turned just that >< much from the camera.
   
   
2. The angled sun is doing wonders for Stephanie's hair - a wonderful glow. But the sun is also making the background just a bit bright. Consider shooting at a later time and/or with a background a bit less well lit.
   
   
3. These are both very good examples of a traditional tight composition/pose. Have you considered a looser grouping? One that comes to mind that I would try (were I the pohotographer here) is to have the young people sitting on the gound slightly in front and to either the left or righ of the chair. Then, pose your DW in the chair (the chair angled slightly in the direction of the young people) with you pretty much where Miss S is in the first shot, but a bit (and just a bit) behind your DW. The young ones would be looking at the camera and the parents looking either at the young people or at the camera (try it both ways). Anyway, just a thought.

Anyway, you asked for comments/suggestions. Those are mine - FWIW.

Great comments, Scott. Thanks for taking the time.

I've got a year to take it all in! <img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

jeffreaux2

For the most part I totally agree with Scotts comments.....


- I do think that the second shot is a big improvment over the first. While square on (wifey) isn't idealm the grouping in the 2nd shot helps to disguise that. Also, the heads are tighter together in number 2. It;s just a better shot as far as posing and composition is concerned.

The BG is a bit bright. Maybe bracketing down on the exposure would have helped. 1/3 to 2/3 of a stop. Let the flash expose the foreground (subjects).

Ya got a great looking family there Pal!



...and dont feel lonely, I missed the BG exposure by 1/3 to 2/3 here as well....though Im happy with the flash.

Mitchell

Thanks, Jeff.

Here's a redo with the headswap on Samantha suggested by Diva. I also brought the background down a 1/4 stop.

adbsgicom