Photos of Elderly Homebound?

lifeinfocus

In a few weeks I will be taking photos of about dozen senior citizens that are homebound, or at assisting living, or nursing homes . Most will be at different locations. The photos are for a church photo directory.

So, I was wondering if anybody has done this before, or have ideas about photographing people in this stage of their lives.

For instance.

1. Do closeups or not?
2. Focus sharpness - soft, medium or more?
3. Natural or artificial light?
4. Window light?
5. Background - location background or small portable one?
6. Post processing - none, a little, fix many wrinkles and skin blemishes?
7. Anything else?

My thoughts are not to do head shots - maybe from elbow up, soft focus, bounce flash or window light, use background at place, and do some post processing to remove some skin blemishes and a few deep wrinkles.


Any and all comments are welcome,
Thanks in advance.

Phil

Tinstafl

I would try to bring a background with me. Small is ok.

Bring yur own lighting and a reflector or two.

Personally I would not remove the wrinkles and blemishes. They are hard earned.

I would do the portraits in the same style as the rest of the directory.

I shoot church directories and I bring the background and use the same one for the home bound as well.

lifeinfocus

Tinstafl wrote: »

I would try to bring a background with me. Small is ok.

Bring yur own lighting and a reflector or two.

Personally I would not remove the wrinkles and blemishes. They are hard earned.

I would do the portraits in the same style as the rest of the directory.

I shoot church directories and I bring the background and use the same one for the home bound as well.

Thanks for your response and expert comments. I asked about post processing and removing wrinkles and blemishes because elderly, and I am not that many years away, seem to prefer to have some touch up. Do you ask them if they want some touch up?

Thanks again,
Phil