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Hi ppl,
I've been fortunate enough to be getting more family portrait shoots and I would like to share with you a technique that I have found really useful. It's simple, however when taking shots of a family I now ask that the parents look ONLY at me (and the camera) and not concentrate so hard on getting the child's attention. I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier but it seems to work quite well. Particularly well if I have an assistant, who can get the attention of the child. Whilst I don't have eye contact with the child in this shot, I do with the parents and I quite liked this image. I now start by saying to the adults "I want you to try and look JUST to me and not worry about (childs name)". Comments welcome:



And another one just of the child:

Geoff, having NO experience in this sort of stuff (but a set of studio lights still waiting to be fired in anger) I'll happily soak up any advice on portrait technique. The resulting shot shows your directions have worked really well. Extending that eye contact from the child will finish the job nicely and I'm sure there are lots of ways out there to do just that. (Have you tried growing a second head? Preferably one that looks like Elmo or Big Bird?)

Thanks for sharing.

The one thing that will always get a child’s attention is Chocolate....

Perhaps I should invent a lens screw in chocolate holder; the chocolate would dangle underneath the lens forcing the child to look at it with those eyes that say I am awaiting an imminent sugar rush.

Did someone say chocolate?

Isn't the first one landscape rather than portrait?

I'm not really a good judge of photos of Homo sapiens, preferring other species, but I think the first one is pretty good. It would have been nice to have the juvenile's attention, but getting the adults make for a good shot.

A party whistle...the type that unrolls when you blow it....will work miracles!

Manta wrote:(Have you tried growing a second head? Preferably one that looks like Elmo or Big Bird?)

You could also put a parrot on your shoulder!

Nice shots, Geoff. A good technique.

macka wrote:

Manta wrote:(Have you tried growing a second head? Preferably one that looks like Elmo or Big Bird?)

You could also put a parrot on your shoulder!

What, and take the easy way out?

Yeah its a great technique and it works well..

I seriously adore both of those portraits that you have posted btw.... and I'm betting that they ordered loads of prints of them for family and friends..

Bindii wrote:Yeah its a great technique and it works well..

I seriously adore both of those portraits that you have posted btw.... and I'm betting that they ordered loads of prints of them for family and friends..

Thanks Bindii and yes, the clients were very happy with their images which in turn made me very happy!