Fall Family Portraits - Critiques Welcome

[JOSHardson]

Here are a few highlights from a session I shot fall/winter of last year. It was a dreary overcast day with gusting winds, but we were all happy with the results. C&C welcome as I am always seeking improvement.

1

2

3

4

 

[hirejn]

In #2 the couple are a bit heavy. They shouldn't be posed square to the camera. You could just as easily have had them standing and gotten the cross. Then you turn them and put the man slightly behind the woman so she covers him up. The square pose has its place, but not here, not with heavier people. You could even have used the bench as a place for the guy to put his leg and have the woman stand behind it to help hide some of her mid section, both turned off camera axis. A pop of Speedlight up the face of the cross might have been interesting to help separate it out. No. 4: classically you don't want to see the hand coming out from behind the back.

 

[JOSHardson]

In #2 the couple are a bit heavy. They shouldn't be posed square to the camera. You could just as easily have had them standing and gotten the cross. Then you turn them and put the man slightly behind the woman so she covers him up. The square pose has its place, but not here, not with heavier people. You could even have used the bench as a place for the guy to put his leg and have the woman stand behind it to help hide some of her mid section, both turned off camera axis. A pop of Speedlight up the face of the cross might have been interesting to help separate it out. No. 4: classically you don't want to see the hand coming out from behind the back.

I was having a hard time with the hill that this was situated on. I'll give your suggestion a shot next time I shoot portraits of heavier people. It was rather steep, but they really wanted some with the cross in the background. I preferred all the photos facing the field and trees.

On 4, definitely a rookie mistake. Since then I've had to swat down (or politely ask to hide) quite a few arms.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I like 3 and 4. I wish that angle on 3 had been pointing up a bit more. When shooting pictures of small children you really need to get down to their level to keep the proper perspective.

 

[JOSHardson]

I like 3 and 4. I wish that angle on 3 had been pointing up a bit more. When shooting pictures of small children you really need to get down to their level to keep the proper perspective.

Awesome. Thanks for the advice.

 

[tirediron]

There doesn't seem to be any EXIF data on your images, BUT... why so much DoF? I can understand #2; the cross is an important element, but the rest?

 

[JOSHardson]

There doesn't seem to be any EXIF data on your images, BUT... why so much DoF? I can understand #2; the cross is an important element, but the rest?

My best lens at the time was a 17-55 efs 2.8. I've since bought a 50mm 1.4 and my next purchase will probably be the outstanding 85mm 1.2. I rented one for my last wedding and it was spectacular for portraits (not so much for fast wedding photography).