Informal Family Portrait

[Ant]

Hi all,

I think my shots are getting better but I know there is still a long way to go. This was taken at Arthurs seat recently.

Suggestions on how to do it better next time are more than welcome.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/antinoz/1489695928/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1310/1489695928_92f4a088a9_o.jpg" width="532" height="800" alt="DSC_6625" /></a>

Thanks,
Ant.

[TonyH]

Hi Ant, it is a nice family shot but a few improvements could be made.

I'd like to see the glasses gone, th lady really seems to be hanging on tight to the boys trousers, her hand is shoved between her legs as though she is hiding her hands. The boys hand is cut off and the colour / lighting appears a little flat on my monitor. This could be the conversion to web size or the way the shot has been taken.

If you'd like to email me the file I could have alittle tweek and send it back to you if you like......  BTW haven't been to Arthurs Seat in years.... is the chair lift still running?

[Ant]

Hi Ant, it is a nice family shot but a few improvements could be made.

I'd like to see the glasses gone, th lady really seems to be hanging on tight to the boys trousers, her hand is shoved between her legs as though she is hiding her hands. The boys hand is cut off and the colour / lighting appears a little flat on my monitor. This could be the conversion to web size or the way the shot has been taken.

If you'd like to email me the file I could have alittle tweek and send it back to you if you like......  BTW haven't been to Arthurs Seat in years.... is the chair lift still running?

Thanks Tony, I was debating both ways about the glasses.

Yes, hard to pin a three YO down, so that is why he was being held like that! You have given me plenty to think of in future.

Thanks
Ant.

[shakey]

Its a bit underexposed. Little bit of levels adjustment helped when I played in PS.

Slight magenta cast on my monitor as well. Again easily corrected

The exif shows that you shot at 55 mm, f 8 and 1/40. Since you have a 50 mm 1.8 lens I would have used that at 1.8 or 2.8 or 3.5. That would have allowed you to isolate the subject from the background and given a bit more leeway with the 3 yo movements. If you shot at 1.8 you could have the shutter speed at 1/320 if my calcs are correct. If you had bumped the ISO from 200 to 400 you could have got him at 1/640...enough to keep most wriggly 3 yos under control (unless they have had really too much red cordial)

Re the glassses. The kids ones look funky but the other ones don't add anything to the pict in my opinion

[Ant]

Thanks Simon.

I think my main take home for this is to spend more time preparing. This was done on a nature walk where I only had the 18 - 55 with me. I now want to try and get a similar style of shot, but bettered prepared. Probably with the 50mm and some fill flash (but still try and make it look natural).

Ant.

[Killakoala]

(but still try and make it look natural)

And that is the key to good portraiture. Making it look natural is a challenge at best. A good start would be to get your subject/models to relax. Too often, family portraits have subjects that are just too stiff and rigid and it really shows in the image. Relaxing and 'being yourself' is a good approach. Try to make your subjects comfortable. It ain't easy though, especially when working with children.

Enjoy the challenge.