posing suggestions.

[pixmedic]

shooting some engagement photos later this month.
the lovely bride to be is in a wheelchair.
I have not had the chance yet to gather a lot of information on the exact limitations of her condition, but i have thus far been under the impression that she is mostly wheelchair bound.

The couple would like pictures taken at the location where they will be holding the reception, and I will also try and talk them into some formal shots with the backdrops.

does anyone have experience with posing in and around a wheelchair? It is possible for her to be placed in other chairs with assistance, but i don't know what options there will be for that at the reception venue, especially for outdoor shots.

Thoughts?

 

[keyseddie]

IMO, your first order of business is an honest discussion with your clients on how to handle the photography. He's obviously ok with the wheelchair and I would bet she is also. Then I would research sitting positions in posing, sitting together and separately as you'll want to do a formal bridal portrait down the line. Also posing a female sitting and male standing. Sounds like an exciting challenge.

 

[astroNikon]

It depends if she is able to hold herself up from waist up, or if she also relies on the wheelchair for side to side stability too.

For instance .. just ideas .. sitting on large rocks, tree stump, on the ground with her fiance next to her. But it's all dependent upon her limitations

you may want to ask someone if she is able to sit up straight such as on a tree stump or something like that.

but then .. i'm not a guru at posing anyways.

 

[pixmedic]

im meeting with them this week to get all the details in order, so a discussion about what they would like to see or not see in terms of the wheelchair will definitely be high on the list. From looking at her FB page, there is not a single picture posted of her actually in the wheelchair.
she seems to have full ROM from the waist up, and i have seen pictures of her in regular chairs and some , I think, were armless. (i will have to go back and check)
I suppose this will all have to be brought up at the meeting so i can get a good idea of exactly what she is capable of sitting on.
for more formal shots it might not be an issue since i can just use a chair, but will be more challenging for outdoor shots.

 

[sscarmack]

I agree with the, talking with them. They will know better than anyone.

As much as I hate using it, unfortunately it pays off sometimes.

Wheelchair Photography on Pinterest

 

[tirediron]

The first order of business as Eddie mentioned is finding out what the bride's feelings are. I recently did a shoot for a couple where the husband was in a wheel chair, and due to a stroke, unable to sit fully upright. He wasn't ashamed of being in the wheelchair (while it may sound odd, some people are), but he also didn't want to highlight the fact either. What I chose to do was to light them using large a gridded beauty dish, angled so that the it was mostly shadow from the waist-area down. We also played off his forced slouch by having his wife adopt some playful, casual poses, laying across him and such.

Hopefully they just accept the 'chair as a fact of life, and you don't really have to make any concessions for it (but watch your lighting, if it's a chrome one, those things reflect like a <female dog> ) and what I would do is approach it exactly as you would with a standing/sitting couple's portrait. I don't think I'd suggest leaving the chair unless they really want to, as the effort of doing so, may well start showing in the bride's face.