Family Posing Tips and Ideas

[Wes]

I've got a family shoot coming up on 9/12 and I'm a bit nervous. In a nutshell, I think I stink at posing and I have an even harder time with groups. This family will consist of 9 people: man and woman, their 3 kids, 2 of their kids' spouses, and 2 infants. Can anyone point me to a resource that I can study? Does anyone have any tips that they would care to share? Any info that can be shared would be mucho appreciated.

Thanks.

[Wes]

Okay, I scoured the web several times and think I found a link that will help me out. Thought I'd share it here in case anyone else might find it helpful.

http://digital-photography-school.co...-dos-and-donts

[jetblast]

thanks for the link

[HotHolly]

Sorry I didnt see this sooner. I would treat the posing same as any other group posing. You layer them and make triangles for more traditional shots, and spread them out more linear for more contemporary shots.

I'll explain the triangle thing: A good composition has triangles in it. That's the short version. The more, the better. Take the family and vary their heights in the portrait and layer the triangles.

Example: group mom, dad, kid, and baby together. A patriarchal set up would have dad at the top of the triangle with mom of to one side, baby on her lap, and kid flanking her other side.

Here's an old example with more people. I put this one up so you can see it. For simplicity purposes, I didnt assign the toddler to the front left corner her own triangle, but she could have her own, and she is also included in the mother's triangle. Notice how the pose is creating the triangles. Arm placement is important. In case that's greek, I drew it on there for you.

[Wes]

Holly:
Thanks so much for the info. I'll be trying to put it into use during my upcoming session. We'll see what happens.

[Wes]

Okay, my customer changed their mind and no longer wants to do an outdoor shot. They're wanting to do something indoors. This should be real interesting since I don't believe that it's possible to shoot 9 people on a 12'x24' muslin. Thoughts?

[Dennis_H]

How about
http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2009/...tle-brother-2/

That's real good posin' there. It would be picture they won't soon forget (like most of the shots on http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com)

[toverman]

Where will the shoot take place? If it's at a home, you might be able to use one of the larger rooms and do an environmental-type shot.

If you can convince them to go outdoors for just a little while, you can line 'em up or pose them slightly separated by family units. Parents in the middle with husband/wife/kids in little pods. Or put the "kids" and their kids in a group together and have the parents looking on in the background. Lots of possibilities.

I'm booked Saturday morning, or else I'd offer to complicate things and help pose.

[andyz]

You should be able to get nine in there. I like the triangles. And remembering what Hanson Fong said in one of his seminars, make momma look good! Positioning the skinnier in front (if this is an issue) thins the person further back and hides their weight by "blocking" the one in front. Have some steps to stagger their heights so you have variances such as eye to chin instead of eye to eye.

Check some You Tubes out since it is late in the game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WImfO56Y5mU

[djfilla]

Originally Posted by Wes

Okay, I scoured the web several times and think I found a link that will help me out. Thought I'd share it here in case anyone else might find it helpful.

http://digital-photography-school.co...-dos-and-donts

Thanks for the link - I love DPS - very helpful for us newbies!

[HeyVanity]

Thanks Holly for this tip - so helpful!

Originally Posted by HotHolly

Sorry I didnt see this sooner. I would treat the posing same as any other group posing. You layer them and make triangles for more traditional shots, and spread them out more linear for more contemporary shots.

I'll explain the triangle thing: A good composition has triangles in it. That's the short version. The more, the better. Take the family and vary their heights in the portrait and layer the triangles.

Example: group mom, dad, kid, and baby together. A patriarchal set up would have dad at the top of the triangle with mom of to one side, baby on her lap, and kid flanking her other side.

Here's an old example with more people. I put this one up so you can see it. For simplicity purposes, I didnt assign the toddler to the front left corner her own triangle, but she could have her own, and she is also included in the mother's triangle. Notice how the pose is creating the triangles. Arm placement is important. In case that's greek, I drew it on there for you.

[CaptainTom]

Hey Wes, I'll pay you a lot of money to let ME do it.


On the 12th? Never mind

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Hey Wes, I'll pay you a lot of money to let ME do it.


On the 12th? Never mind

Keep the money handy, I have to do my sister's family at thanksgiving.