Poses for 2 young brothers and dog?

[SquarePeg]

Hi everyone. A good friend asked me if I will take a Christmas card photo of her two boys and their small dog. She’s not looking for anything too fancy just something outdoors in front of a couple of pine trees that they have in their backyard. The photo will be taken in the middle of the day but in some open shade so lighting with a reflector I should be OK but just wondering how to pose the boys and the dog so that they look good? The kids are eight and nine, small for their age, similar height, super cute. The boys will be wearing jeans and matching sweaters. The dog is a small Shih Tzu. There is space to pretty much do whatever we want out there.

This is not my usual type of thing so I’m not really sure what to do for a pose. Sitting? Standing? One of each? Touching/not touching? Dog in the middle? Thoughts? Suggestions? Examples. Just looking to make sure I get a couple of different looks for her to choose from. I will not cut off any limbs and I will not have any trees sticking out of heads, what else?

 

[Christie Photo]

Well... the boys should be old enough to cooperate. I often tell them I need their help to make everything work. Usually, they are eager to help.

My first thought is to get faces close together. I know I'll catch some grief for this, but in my mind the dog is secondary... like a prop. I might start with the boys seated on the ground with the dog on one's lap. The I want the older boy to be a bit taller so his eyes are not on the same horizontal line as the younger's. I use black trash bags on the ground for a seat as to not dirty the clothing.

I don't know if the trees are trimmed up from the ground. I wonder if you could spread the bags so the boys could lay on their stomachs, positioning them at the edge of the tree. You might get a good situation with the tree blocking the overhead, straight down light. Have them prop themselves up on their elbows, with their faces close together. I'm not sure where the dog fits in this view.

Just a couple of thoughts.

-Pete

 

[PJM]

And, after the formal poses, if they are into it, let them loose to create poses on their own. You might get something cute.

 

[Designer]

Have the taller boy kneel on one knee, holding the dog on the ground in front of him, and slightly bent over. Have the shorter boy stand close, and touching his brother with his arm/shoulder. Possibly with his arm on his brother's shoulder. Make a triangle with the boys' two faces and the dog's face.

Don't worry about where the dog is looking, he is not the most important part of the composition. Try to get both boys looking toward the camera at the same time.

If you get an outstanding shot with the boys looking at each other, then that might be the best shot of the day. Probably the best shot will be spontaneous and unrehearsed. Completely natural in other words.

Good luck.

 

[tirediron]

A lot depends on how much the dog cooperates. Pete's suggestions are good, and for the one of them laying down, faces together, if they prop their heads up with their hands, you can place the dog right in front in the middle. Back to back, looking toward the camera might work. If the trees are climable, have them in the trees?

 

[SquarePeg]

Well... the boys should be old enough to cooperate. I often tell them I need their help to make everything work. Usually, they are eager to help.

My first thought is to get faces close together. I know I'll catch some grief for this, but in my mind the dog is secondary... like a prop. I might start with the boys seated on the ground with the dog on one's lap. The I want the older boy to be a bit taller so his eyes are not on the same horizontal line as the younger's. I use black trash bags on the ground for a seat as to not dirty the clothing.

I don't know if the trees are trimmed up from the ground. I wonder if you could spread the bags so the boys could lay on their stomachs, positioning them at the edge of the tree. You might get a good situation with the tree blocking the overhead, straight down light. Have them prop themselves up on their elbows, with their faces close together. I'm not sure where the dog fits in this view.

Just a couple of thoughts.

-Pete

Thanks so much for your tips and input. I can definitely see a few options now. M

And, after the formal poses, if they are into it, let them loose to create poses on their own. You might get something cute.

They’re very outgoing kids and I know them well so they’ll be comfortable. I love your idea.

Have the taller boy kneel on one knee, holding the dog on the ground in front of him, and slightly bent over. Have the shorter boy stand close, and touching his brother with his arm/shoulder. Possibly with his arm on his brother's shoulder. Make a triangle with the boys' two faces and the dog's face.

Don't worry about where the dog is looking, he is not the most important part of the composition. Try to get both boys looking toward the camera at the same time.

If you get an outstanding shot with the boys looking at each other, then that might be the best shot of the day. Probably the best shot will be spontaneous and unrehearsed. Completely natural in other words.

Good luck.

Great advice and ideas, thanks!

A lot depends on how much the dog cooperates. Pete's suggestions are good, and for the one of them laying down, faces together, if they prop their heads up with their hands, you can place the dog right in front in the middle. Back to back, looking toward the camera might work. If the trees are climable, have them in the trees?

They play lots of sports and go maximum effort all the time. One or both of them usually have a cast or a bandage or at least one shiner so I don’t think tree climbing is a good idea!

 

[SquarePeg]

Here are a few of the shots that I think turned out decent. It was cold out there so it was a quick session. My friend and her husband jumped in for a few as well.

 

[SquarePeg]

Running onto the same issue again where my in focus photos look blurry when I post them here on TPF. Frustrating.

 

[PJM]

Nice job. I like #s 2 & 6.

 

[Derrel]

Whata nice-looking bunch!

 

[johngpt]

These came out well Sharon.

 

[SquarePeg]

Nice job. I like #s 2 & 6.

Thanks! Considering I take portraits about once a year I’m happy with them.

Whata nice-looking bunch!

Aren’t they? Easy to make good looking people look good!

These came out well Sharon.

Thanks, they liked them a lot.

 

[Christie Photo]

Good job! Great variety.

-Pete

 

[SquarePeg]

Good job! Great variety.

-Pete

Thanks and thanks again to all who responded for your advice.

I did end up doing some additional processing of these - mostly to remove those distracting red birds and whiten the boys teeth a bit in a couple of the outdoor photos Not sure why they were not white - maybe a reflection off the red shirts or a shadow? I also reviewed that last pose in front of the fireplace and found one shot where the youngest sitting on the floor wasn’t quite grimacing his smile as much (see below). I wish we had been able to move that blue rug but it would have involved moving a very large sectional sofa and a couple of chairs. Should I clone it out or leave it?

Untitled by SharonCat..., on Flickr

 

[PJM]

I do like that shot.

If it were me, I would try cloning it out. Failing that, I might try to darken it to make it less prominent. Nice job, good luck.