Family Portraits

[house1999]

Took some quick family pictures the other day and was wondering if I can get some suggestions on how to improve in the future. Thanks!

1.

2011-04-04 @ 20-26-31 - IMG_5371.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

2.

2011-04-04 @ 20-30-38 - IMG_5380.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

3.

2011-04-04 @ 20-32-56 - IMG_5384.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

4.

2011-04-04 @ 20-36-46 - IMG_5386.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

5.

2011-04-04 @ 20-40-05 - IMG_5389.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

6.

2011-04-04 @ 20-41-17 - IMG_5390.jpg by h-huang, on Flickr

[auddii]

I don't know much about portrait photography specifics, but in the first picture, the guy on the right seems to be a little too far away from the rest of the group.

I also find the picture of the horses in the last several photos to be kind of distracting. I think it would have made a better picture to take it off the wall. I do like the use of the couch arm to give different heights to your subjects.

[texkam]

Yep, take down the clock. Take down the picture. : )

[DigMe]

Overall they feel a little flat and a little too tight to me. The cropping doesn't feel like you were going for a real tight look and purposefully cutting stuff out but it looks like some stuff got cut off like just the edge of an elbow, a fingertip or a sleeve. Of course it would be nice to not have the edge of the blinds in the first shot. Also, the big guy looks like he'd rather be somewhere else.

#4 - the reflection in the horse picture is distracting to me.

#6 - I hate to say it but I respectfully submit that sometimes a smile can be TOO big!

I think #2 came out the best.

The older guy has a good camera face and a nice, warm smile in all of them.

brad

[texkam]

I very much like the casualness of the family members. Everyone looks like they're having fun, .....with the exception of the guy in blue. Tell him a good joke next time.

[house1999]

Yeah, I agree that the background is too busy, but it was the best I can come up with at my in-laws' house with cranky and tired children and brother-in-law (guy in blue). Disregarding the background, what are some advice on the framing/cropping and posing? And my wife is the one with the smile that's too big :)

[danchez]

take them outside, get out in the late afternoon for some good natural light. Get them away from anything right behind them, so do not put them right in front of a wall.

[Tsladaritz]

For snapshots they are great. For portraits they need a little work.
In addition to what they mentioned:

#1 guy needs to take his hand out of his pocket- does not match the flow of the others.

#2 boy needs to put his hands down and stand like a soldier (what I tell them then catch it when they begin to relax their arms a little - only works on some boys. LOL) Mom needs to get her hands out of babies crotch and under the bottom like she did in first photo.

#3 watch the fingers. Dad (I assume) almost had his fingers showing on her shoulder. THis is not bad, but something to watch for. Again it would disturb the flow if no one else is showing their hands/arms much.

#4 horse pic does not bother as much as the reflection in it. If they were a working farm/ranch and this were their animals it would be making a statement. If it is just art from art center...I would just pull it off the wall no matter whose house I was in. Yea I am a bossy thang. LOL

#5 kids toy shows up in his lap. Maybe next time have them hiding it behind a leg better. Dont' tell him he can't have it, just hide it better. ;-)

Those are little things and they won't make/break the deal. They are what I notice when asked to look. Everyone looked fairly good with getting their photos done, which is really half the battle on this sort of thing, ya know!