Lessons learned from my latest shoot

[gaea106]

1) When dad is 6'6" and the rest of the family is short, pictures become difficult to take and frame without some weird posing.

2) Kids with allergies open their eyes less and less the longer you have them pose in a grassy lawn.

3) There is a lock ratio crop feature in LR that really needs to be just made so it can't be unlocked.

[bgpro611]

I can vouch for number 2. Noses run more also.

[photonewb]

posing takes care of 1...I know this because I'm 6'5" and have a shorter wife and young child

seating dad is one of the best ways to level the playing field. Don't have dad standing, especially behind everyone unless they're on some sort of risers.

[gaea106]

Originally Posted by bgpro611

I can vouch for number 2. Noses run more also.

I never thought I would photoshop out buggers, but now I have!

[ngoduyviet]

#3 shouldn't be a problem. Lock it down and forget about it, that or until you accidentally hit unlock by accident and marvel at how good your framing was

[toverman]

Having dad seated wouldn't be weird posing. In fact, if you have a subject much larger than everyone else, use that person as the foundation of the photo. Place him first and then position the others around him using the guidelines of good posing (creating pleasing lines, etc.).

My family knows a lot about allergies. My youngest had so much sinus drainage yesterday that he barfed in my wife's car (TMI, but thought I'd share anyway).

[gaea106]

It wasn't formal studio portraits, they wanted the "fall outdoorsy" look. They posed in the grass on a picnic blanket and in the fall leaves. Dad sitting is much taller than everyone else sitting so it made for weird setup. The worst was dad and baby! I guess I will have dad hold baby next time.

[toverman]

It doesn't matter if it's in a studio or on location (where most of my work is currently), there are guidelines for posing people to make them look more natural no matter the body shape, height or number of people. Sometimes it's not easy to direct people (I know this), but it's our job as photographers to learn how and how we should position them.

[gaea106]

Yeah dad didn't really get into the project and his wife was brow beating him the whole time. I hated to add to that. I have to control the project better next time right from the start. Thanks for the tips.

[epoh]

Originally Posted by gaea106

I never thought I would photoshop out buggers, but now I have!

Boogers and drool. I am a pro at it now, lol.

[humminboid]

Originally Posted by epoh

Boogers and drool. I am a pro at it now, lol.

Yuk! Whatever happened to good old, low-tech Kleenex?

Don't forget the pre-flash! Kids, dogs, cats, and my daughter in law react in an amazingly short time: eyes closed, or at half mast. DRAT! (or words to that effect.)

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by gaea106

Yeah dad didn't really get into the project and his wife was brow beating him the whole time. I hated to add to that. I have to control the project better next time right from the start. Thanks for the tips.

This was the hardest thing for me..getting the control and still having people relax. They come to the session and are so dang stressed. I know from personal experience this is true!! I was the stressed mother!! I have learned but not perfected this yet..

[mrdat]

Originally Posted by gaea106

1) When dad is 6'6" and the rest of the family is short, pictures become difficult to take and frame without some weird posing.

When you are short and your friends are tall, your background might not be high enough! - grrrr