'Creative' family portraits

jdorseydesign

I got a call the other day to set up a family photo shoot. One of the main things she said she wanted was some "unique" shots, not just "everyone posed and smiling". I've got a few ideas, but I thought I would throw this out there to some of the other people shooters and see what kind of 'creative' ideas you've come up with when shooting families.

Some of the basic ideas I've had are:

Spreading the family out over a large area and taking some wide angle shots.
Some sort of detail shots of the family's hands or other features ( I know I've seen the bare feet thing done, but I can also see that going horribly wrong)
Family posed on an object where they can be at different levels like a staircase or balconies, etc.
Shooting some shots where the different members of the family are close to or further away from the camera but with enough DoF where everyone is in focus.

What other ideas can you guys share?

zoomer

Fooball pose against each other. Back to back in pairs staggered with attitude. Jumps are always fun.

jdorseydesign

zoomer wrote: »

Fooball pose against each other. Back to back in pairs staggered with attitude. Jumps are always fun.

For those who have done jumps before, what kind of shutter speed do you need to really get that right? 1/500th or faster?

Bsimon

1/500th on motor drive will cut it.

jeffreaux2

jdorseydesign wrote: »

For those who have done jumps before, what kind of shutter speed do you need to really get that right? 1/500th or faster?

1/500 would do it.


When I do family work I always ask if we can choose a location that has special meaning to the family. A family farm, a fishing camp, a park where they picnic, etc. Something sentimental to them.

applegal

Are these indoor or outdoor portraits? Are there children involved? I always find it so much easier to do creative, fun poses outside (unfortunately not an option here from Nov-April). Here are a few of my favorites if kids are involved Please be sure to share when you get them. I love seeing others ideas. (Sorry, for some reason its only copying the link, not the image even though I selected the code for the images?)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_h7qbi-NrdWA/THwdmzRc2DI/AAAAAAAAApQ/Pn7d5SZQOeI/s400/IMG_8925-copybw.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_h7qbi-NrdWA/TN1xP1oCnZI/AAAAAAAAA98/NG8jC1sBR7s/s400/IMG_0884-copy.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_h7qbi-NrdWA/TN1xQJCnlDI/AAAAAAAAA-A/P-iRJ9KEQ34/s400/IMG_1034-copy.jpg

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_h7qbi-NrdWA/TN1xQfxYNcI/AAAAAAAAA-M/YezE8jJIdqY/s400/IMG_8007%20copy.jpg

This one, the eldest boy is special needs and we needed a way to keep him someplace safe, add in an super active toddler and we went for jammies in mommy & daddys bed. We did a few of big sister reading to them as well. And some of just feet sticking out of the covers.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_h7qbi-NrdWA/TN1yd1LdG4I/AAAAAAAAA-Y/oBdkb6EChfU/s400/IMG_4854bw.jpg

Bend The Light

I was about to ask a similar question. I have a shoot tomorrow morning, Dads and Kids. It'll be in just one quite small room. I shot there already, so I know a little about where my lights can go, and was looking for good poses. Glad I stumbled on this thread.

The ones shown here are great...I look forward to reading more ideas from people. Thanks, jdorseydesign, for asking this question.

reyvee61

Maybe try some in a candid style have them interact and just shoot away....
It could be too that they have some very specific ideas, try to stay open minded.....