Bluebonnet family portrait

[brewercm]

Took this one back in spring for a family, the boy just wasn't into it but they liked this one best.

Perfect overcast day with just a little flash fill.

[DigMe]

I like brightness in the faces. Seems kinda blah from the lack of that. The dad's face is especially shadowy. Looks like neither kid is into it and the girl appears to be trying to extract herself from a headlock as she looks away from the camera.

Background exposure is good and the white shirts aren't blown out which is always good though I specifically instruct my clients to not all wear jeans+white shirts. No idea why that's such a popular outfit for portraits as it doesn't make for good pics IMO. I was just discussing this with my wife earlier today.

Brad

[bryanlindsey]

Great!

[duronboy]

Wow, kids that age should know how to behave for just a second. I don't know, I've certainly had issues getting kids to settle and have a good expression for just a second. Sometimes you have to have a trick up your sleeve. You want to know from the parents if it's okay if you bring treats along for motivation. This works for kids about this age, or a little younger. Another thing is you want to engage the kids directly so they're not as shy. Smile at them and ask them up front at the beginning of the shoot if they'll do you a favor and help out. Sometimes this doesn't work, that's where the treats come in.

Sometimes nothing works, and the kid just doesn't want to cooperate at all, and I walk away with photos much worse than this. I do wish there was a class on how to deal with kids in a photography setting. Seems like all the photography training material I've come across just shows little angels!

[carrbowl]

I'm sure you know this, but posing needs some help!! : ) It took me a while to figure out where the skin between the man's legs was coming from!! The man has to be very uncomfortable in that position, plus he looks like he is about to strangle his daughter!! and I think the way she is, the pose makes her look heavier. If the boy behaved, I like the way he is posed and the mom...especially mom's hand on dad's leg.

[TxTowman]

Is that a tattoo on Dad's hand?

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by TxTowman

Is that a tattoo on Dad's hand?

Yes it is.

[arich]

You're chopping off an awful lot of body parts there.

[brewercm]

Originally Posted by arich

You're chopping off an awful lot of body parts there.

Thanks. I'll look and see about doimg the crop again. I think the full image may not be like that. Will be working on practicing the posing a lot this year.

[arich]

Always good to practice! I don't think you ever reach the point where you stop needing it