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Found out a large family is difficult to shoot. Please comment and

critique. Need all the help I can get with how to pull this off.

Need to know if I am on the right track.

I'm not an expert. In fact, I had the same difficulty early in the year photographing two families for a reunion with the added element of me being in the photograph. It's not easy and I can definitely say you chose a better location and did a better job than I did.

 

I like the setting, the fence, the background. It's a nice strong frame for this family photograph (and it doesn't hurt that this is a very photogenic family). Dad has a nice appropriate expression on his face, it's a dad expression. Love mom's smile and those of three children on mom's side. Ideally, we'd want the youngest to smile or open up his expression a bit more. But it's hard to get everyone 'on' at the same time.

 

I like the casual way dad's posed on the fence, it's a strong pose. All the kids are posed nicely. I think mom looks a little perched, not quite as relaxed as her family. And it brings up a problem of having a family of six spread out in this long line. Unless you view the photograph at full size (and even then), you lose a little impact of the faces and expressions. This is because you have to back up a bit to get the whole family in the shot.

 

I would have been tempted to try a shot where mom is standing behind dad and the kids, maybe leaning against dad or looking down at her family and smiling. This would have got her off the fence, where (and it may just be me) to my eye, she doesn't look at comfortable as the rest of her family. It would have shortened the line a bit so you could move in closer.

 

Then and I'm not sure this would work, but with mom standing behind the fence, I might try moving the left most son (in his white shirt) in front of the fence where he could kneel or maybe lean back against dad. Or maybe having the youngest move so he's leaning against dad's legs and move the other three boys so they're up against dad. It would again, tighten the family line up a bit and you'd come in closer in effect with the shot, so we have more of the family in the shot.

 

Ah, one other small point, the exposure is great for mom and dad, but the whites and some of the highlights on the children's faces seem a bit overexposed, a little blown out.

 

In the end thought, there are just a few thoughts. I think this is a beautiful family and a very attractive photograph. I can't believe any family wouldn't be thrilled to get this and I hope I can do as well next time I try a large group photo..

Wow! Thanks Mark. I really appreciate you taking the time to give such a great critique. I did not really think about the over exposure of the kids, but I do notice it now. I can't remember, but I may have been using a reflector on this shot and it just centered on the kids causing them to have too much light. The one thing you did not mention that bothers me a little is the blade of grass in the front. I remember that I got rid of a lot of that when I laid on the ground, but must have missed a few. Thanks so much. Brent.....

 

Nice job. I agree that it's a nice location and setup. It will be up to them how well they like their expressions but to me they are all fine, the mother seeming the most friendly to the camera. The lighting is very nice for the most part. I see the "over" exposure being discussed but don't find it too much of a problem. Have you tried some where there is actually some interaction among the family members. I always find it a good idea to include some shots where not everyone is necessarily focused on the photographer or camera. It can present a nice alternative and some people really respond to such kinds of photographs. So, perhaps one kid looking up at one of the parents or even looking off to the side, suggesting something of interest out of the frame and adding some dynamics to the feel. Also, I think you've gone a little strong on the blue toning. The jeans are not coming across as realistic nor is the sky, especially where the branches of the trees and many of the leaves have taken on the blue instead of retaining their brown branchlike color or the green of the leaves. Blue also bleeds into the shadows of the wood they're sitting on and my attention is really drawn away from their faces and to the strong electric blue of all of their pants. Consider posture as well. What if one of the kids' bodies were facing profile while their head faced back toward the camera. I could also imagine a really lovely touch where the youngest boy, instead of having his hands down at his sides had one hand resting on the knee of his brother or father. Gesture can be very important in a portrait, solo or group, and I always try to keep that in mind.

Fred,

Thank you for your time to help me out. It is much appreciated. I too like the setting and the overall look and feel of the photo. The fact that there is too much blue is due to an inexperienced photographer not paying as much attention to detail as he should. I shot in RAW and enhanced to color too much. I pulled up another image and payed attention to the trees, leaves and such and see exactly how the blue bleeds in with too much vibrance. Thank you so much for you helpful comments. I will also attempt to do better with subject interaction. Brent....