owen_clarke Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Hi people just wanted to let you know i'm just back from doing a portrait session with three kids. God talk about hard work, ages were 1 1/2, 4 and 6. Tryng to get them into position was some fun,guess the old addage of hardest pics being weddings and children is true but have to say it was great fun working with them. So i guess my point is just do it, it can be a fun rewarding experince Shoot on :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 So lets see?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen_clarke Posted April 9, 2004 Author Share Posted April 9, 2004 ok here's the first one i have ready just a single portrait to start<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owen_clarke Posted April 9, 2004 Author Share Posted April 9, 2004 one more of the three of them what do u think?<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walterh Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 great shot for the nice spirit! i am terrible though with crops - how about this as a suggestion (slightly less artistic gradation as well - sorry). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el_fang Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 I think you need to balance the light sources a little better... seems that the pictures would do better with a bit more fill from the lower and shadow sides. Also, since all the kids are so light in complexion, a dark grey or black background would separate them a little better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h._p. Posted April 10, 2004 Share Posted April 10, 2004 The lighting seems too harsh to me as well and the background is definitely too intrusive for my taste. Photographing groups of children together is a thankless task but preparation helps. For fair haired children I'd certainly recomend a plain dark background and very soft lighting - bounced flash at the least or even better a softbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_c Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Owen - I agree with the others. White background, light hair, light clothes, bright light. Harsh all around. White for kids (unless doing diffused pictures) is hard, heck even for adults. It takes a lot of planning like the above poster said. Neutral/dark backgrounds are usually best. Also for good portraits, give the parents some tips for getting their kids ready - clothes should be neutral with little/no design (blues, greens, greys work really well all around), make sure they are fed and well rested, have some of their favorite toys around to get their attention, as the photographer...bribe (lollipops, stickers, etc), get a couple of posing stools to help with the single height line, props are always good (the girls each holding a flower and brother holding a watering can)..... Here are two I did this weekend and one of my son I did a few weeks back as examples.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_c Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 another<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_c Posted April 12, 2004 Share Posted April 12, 2004 Keep up the good work. Portraits are tough, kids are tougher. I just started early this year and have visited this website a lot for feedback. The suggestions and constructive critism here have helped me excel so much, as I hope it will help you. You might want to check out the lighting forum...they do a lighting exercise each week that helps a lot and two weeks back there was one on short lighting. There are some really great portrait examples there for ideas if you need them.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_lloyd1 Posted April 14, 2004 Share Posted April 14, 2004 I love doing child portraits, they are so unpredictable. This little fellow had so much energy just getting him to stop for 1 second was a challenge. M<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cristina_fumi Posted April 15, 2004 Share Posted April 15, 2004 taking pics at children is hard work indeed! I have a daughter of 3 and a half and I take a lot of shots of her(you can visit my portfolio if you want). I have tried both inside pics and outside ones. I really do prefer the ones taken outside, expecially the one in the green. If you plan to work a lot with children I would suggest to create a scenery where kids can play and have fun: you'll get plenty of happy pics the way their family want to. But if you are for classical shots taken in studio, then you have to filter the light since it does look a little too harsh. I don't mind the white background, but with a softer light it would look so much nicer and real. I'll attach a pic in the green... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric merrill Posted April 16, 2004 Share Posted April 16, 2004 Children are definitely a challenge. The little buggers just don't stay still for very long. :) <p> I like the picture of your daughter, Cristina. She's about a year older than mine: <p> <a href="http://canid.com/current/playground4.html"><img src="http://canid.com/pics/jbm_playground4_small.jpg" border='0'></a> <p> (Click on picture for a larger version.) <p> --<br> Eric<br> <a href="http://canid.com/">http://canid.com/</a><br> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amanda mumma Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 I imagine the 4 and 6yo were fine but the 18mo wouldn't have sat still for a moment! I agree with all the tecnical points and will add that I use 2 softboxes on studio heads at 45 degree angles and at equal power. Whilst this doesn't give any facial modelling it ensures the light source is even which is crucial with 3 youngies.It is better than losing that one fantastic shot because the shadow isn't where you want it. When shooting 1 child if they are younger than 4yo it allows them to move within your light space and allows more spontaneous shots. My advice for relaxing them....music, music, music!!!! Appropriate to the youngest one's age is best as the older kids will still like it (even if they pretend it isn't cool). Under 3yo it is a good idea to immobilise the child if you are getting a group shot. This has to be done quickly or the youngy will get antsy. So....explain to the older kids and position them always starting with the eldest as they have the longest attention span. Use a wicker basket or a deep container filled with fabric that matches the background, plonk your bub in it standing of course. Let the fun begin....have mum and dad dancing being silly whatever it takes to get them happy....bubbles work well at keeping the babies happily confined - remember you only have 2 - 3 minutes if you are lucky! If you are lucky enough to have mum and dad, get one parent to get baby's attention and the other to do silly stuff to amuse the older kids. Make sure the parents are right next to you and crouching down at camera level so you have them looking at the camera. Alternatively, compose the shot and tripod mount the camera and entertain them yourself with peek a boo toys etc. I am not a fan of the tripod though as I like to move and get different angles etc. One kid might start performing and the others play up and you want to be there - even a quick release tripod isn't quick enough for kids. The only other pointer is to explain to the parents and the older kids exactly what you want to do and why before you start shooting...everyone has their job to do and will do it well if they know what is expected of them. You have to be prepared to do ridiculous things, sing, dance, blow raspberries etc. One of my best tricks for primary school age kids (who go all serious and do silly 'cheese' smiles) is to bring an old bra or big knickers and do silly stuff like put the bra on my head and say " does this look good?" in a stupid voice.....NEVER FAILS, they get the giggles and you have your shots. Good luck and feel free to visit my portfolio if you like - by the way, I prefer outside, kids are usually relaxed or I like to use my fast prime lens that allows me to shoot indoors flashless - only works with one child though as the DOF is very shallow to allow that kind of shot.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airazell_riedlinger Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I have been a child photographer since 1990 and I love kids. Ya, they can be hard but thows are the best sitting in the end because usually they have been difficult to photograph for awhile and being the first to get the child to smile is satisfaction in it's self. And a BIG seller in the end. A suggest to thows of you doing two young children (One unable to sit up and the other not able to hold the baby well enough to be safe) Lay the oldest one on there stomach crossing there arms and bring up their head, and the infant can lay on his stomach coming over sister or brothers back. The parents LOVE IT!!!!!!! Airazell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pradeep1 Posted May 9, 2004 Share Posted May 9, 2004 i happened to have the honor and pleasure to photograph my friends daughter, here is the photo. you can see a bigger version of the photo (it looks better when big as u see whats in the eye better) in the portraits folder of my portfolio.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrim Posted July 31, 2006 Share Posted July 31, 2006 I like kids in their natural element...digging through their parents garden and sticking their thumb in a tomato...works for me.. Corri<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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