Family photos for C&C

[myko5]

I finished up a session yesterday for my step-sister and her family. It gave me some practice with my lighting set up and seamless backgrounds. I am happy how they came out, but as always, I know there is room for improvement.

All shots were with a Nikon D90 and sigma 24-70.

1.
AB800 and SB600 on background along with AB800 in octabox high camera left.

2
AB800 in octabox high camera left.

3.
AB800 high camera left in octabox. SB600 high camera right behind subject.

4.
AB800 high camera left in octabox. SB600 high camera right behind subjects.

5.
AB800 high camera left in octabox. SB600 high camera right behind subjects.

6.
AB800 high camera left in octabox. SB600 high camera right behind subjects.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Robin_Usagani]

Are these all the same background or you switched? Thought maybe you put more powerful light on the background on 1 & 2.

 

[myko5]

No I switched from white seamless to black.

 

[Robin_Usagani]

I like 2 and 6 the best. I am usually never a fan of family photos in the studio in front of seamless but #6 looks pretty good. #2 looks pretty fun.


I only have a gray background and I can make it black or white using just strobes. I just thought maybe you did the same thing.

 

[jowensphoto]

^+1

Two is great, I might have shot wider from a higher angle to give it a little bit of distortion, but that's a matter of personal style. Fun photo!

Number four is why I'm not a fan of these type (in studio) of family photos; they look awkward and uncomfortable. Compare that to 6, which is pretty nice; they look much more relaxed and natural.

 

[myko5]

^+1

Two is great, I might have shot wider from a higher angle to give it a little bit of distortion, but that's a matter of personal style. Fun photo!

Number four is why I'm not a fan of these type (in studio) of family photos; they look awkward and uncomfortable. Compare that to 6, which is pretty nice; they look much more relaxed and natural.

I agree they definitely look more relaxed in #6 then #4, but why would it be any different if this was outside of a studio?

Posing is something that is definitely not a strong suit of mine. I am reading up on it and trying different things. I do however try to make them as relaxed as possible. Even though they are family, once that camera is pointing at them, they do tend to "Lock up".

 

[myko5]

Anybody have any input on the lighting?

 

[Designer]

Anybody have any input on the lighting?

#'s 4 & 5 seem underexposed.

#' 1,2,3, & 6 all very good lighting.

 

[amolitor]

Yes, 3, 4, and 5 (mostly 4 and 5) have unbalanced light. The rim/hair light high and right is too strong relative to your main, so you wind up looking underexposed, and still probably overlight on the hair.

If you were going for a little christmas/religious feel, with the light primarily from above right, you need a bit less main, and I would move that high/right light forward a bit. If you were going for a traditional portrait look, tone the high/right light DOWN and open up.

 

[myko5]

Thanks...

 

[OrbitalJosh]

I think they're all great photos, but the one where they're all hands on shoulders is set out slightly strange.

 

[jowensphoto]

Touché! It wouldn't look any better outside of a studio, it's just a really awkward pose all together. That's easy to improve on though!

 

[DiskoJoe]

6 is the best imo. Mom is a rather large woman and here with the two men in front you mask some of that and accentuate the positive, her smile and cleavage, lol. You did clip the hands of both men though.

 

[DiskoJoe]

I think they're all great photos, but the one where they're all hands on shoulders is set out slightly strange.

I had the same feeling. It just seems odd. Like a group back massage. I would avoid this pose all together in the future. Might have been better if just mom had her hand on the sons shoulder and dad was holding her waist or something.

 

[myko5]

I had the same feeling. It just seems odd. Like a group back massage. I would avoid this pose all together in the future. Might have been better if just mom had her hand on the sons shoulder and dad was holding her waist or something.

Lol