4 generations shot... eeek... advice please

theMusicMan

theMusicMan

Suspended / Banned
Messages
3,838
Name
John
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey All

I have been asked to do something that I consider my most difficult challenge to-date. I have been contacted by someone who wants me to take some family shots of their 4 generations - not too much to worry about, but check this. They want all the people in the same photograph - that's 9 of 'em, AND, they want it done in their own home!!! yikes....!!

So, I am after some pointers as to how on earth I accomplish this. I am sure we can arrange the group into a shot where the 9 folk are in the frame, but... indoors...??!! how on earth am I to do that.

I have 11-22mm and 14-54mm prosumer lenses, but I am not sure there's going to be enough room in their house to take such a shot, and using a wide angle would distort the final image. They have asked me to go there when they are all next together, which is Monday evening, so there's no chance of a outdoor garden shot, so I have to light it as well.

Daaaaaavvveeeeeee..... where are you when I need you...:)

How would you all approach this shot please.

I have set expectations with the client that I would need to see the location prior to being able to 100% commit to being able to produce an acceptable portrait, but they are fine with my coming up and just shooting away. I have further explained that it might not be possible in limited space in a home, and they accepted this so... it's all on for Monday evening.

Any advice from the good folks of tp world...? and please don't say... "run, John!!":D
 
:exit: john :runaway:



haha..

only kidding mate im sure you can sort something out as in having the older generation sat on chairs with the next gen stood behind them then the young whiper snappers sitting on the floor in front of them..
thus getting them all in the shot and minimizing room

only what i would do hope someone has a better plan mate

good luck


dave:thumbs:
 
It would be best if you could see the place before the actual session.
Anyway, if I were to do this, I'd take wide angles and portrait lenses (whichever you use for portraits usually) and a flash with a flash bounce. How long is the house? Perhaps you might be able to use the portrait lens if it's long enough (although I doubt it) :)

monkeydave has a point there.

I almost forgot, one thing you perhaps could use would be some of those portable reflective things you can fold (whatever you call them), preferably golden for a warmer tone.

I suppose CJ could give you a bit of advice here too.
 
Hi MM

You really get them don't you! :lol:

A large bunch in an unknown setting at night - I'm soooo NOT jealous

I did this one in pretty much the same scenario a couple of years back. I wanted a different pose, they wanted this one. I can't stand the effect, but they had a picture of this (awful) style they wanted a version of and they were delighted with this too.

I took about 30 shots of this group and this one (yep this one!) was easily the best. The baby cried almost all the time, the smallest lad wouldn't sit still never mind look towards me, the 2nd youngest last kept running off and is being firmly held by the older lad. Baby's Dad couldn't have raised a smile for love nor money - nightmare

Actually, this one helped tip me over the edge to NOT doing this sort of shot in people's homes! Oh, and there's 10 of them

10_peeps.jpg



FYI as to how... it was a sofa in their conservatory. The back 4 are sat on the windowsill, the window itself was covered with a sheet of blue paper (all I had at the time). The lighting is the MD400 (you now have) with the diffuser (not a softbox for anyone else looking), this allowed light to spill out and bounce around the room and white ceiling, softening it a bit more. I think it would have been around 35mm equivalent, so not exactly a 'portrait' focal length

For your own go (make it your last!) take something with you to block out the background, whether it be paper, a big sheet, whatever; wallpaper, pictures, windows, etc. are terrible if they aren't supposed to be in the shot.

Chances are, you won't have nearly enough room to light the background separately, so don't try. If the ceiling is white, consider bouncing one light off that down onto the group, with your key light wherever seems best or there's space. Just make sure your ceiling bounced light is a couple of stops lower power than your key and you'll do fine

With this number of people in such a confined space and tiny-tots too no-one expects miracles from the photography, if one happens, great, but if you make 'em laugh and have fun yourself they'll love the shots whatever

Good luck! :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:
 
DiddyDave said:
The baby cried almost all the time, the smallest lad wouldn't sit still never mind look towards me, the 2nd youngest last kept running off and is being firmly held by the older lad. Baby's Dad couldn't have raised a smile for love nor money - nightmare
Click to expand...

:lol: Happy memories brought back there.... not!

Another vote for run. :D

The Fong Diffuser would be my choice in this situation. It's no replacement for a proper light set up, but it's highly unlikely you're going to have the space or environment to set lights up properly anyway.
 
CT said:
The Fong Diffuser would be my choice in this situation. It's no replacement for a proper light set up, but it's highly unlikely you're going to have the space or environment to set lights up properly anyway.
Click to expand...

Good point CT, but MM has a decent lighting set-up and the light stands he has require less space than a normal tripod would use. I'd always go for a big flash off-camera wherever possible to a cleverly diffused one on camera.

I may be be right or I may be Fong :shrug::lol:
 
DiddyDave,
people may mock and it may not be your favourite,
but if the customer likes it, then sit back and count the £££

I happen to like it also,
but nowhere near as much as the write-up that went with it!!! :clap:
 
Indoors?
With only one flashgun I'd have that off-camera providing almost side-lighting, and a big (D-I-Y) reflector on the other side to open up the shadows. This also begets a darker background.

Ideally, I'd want 2 strong hairlights (big flashguns with snoots?) behind the group, one left one right, and 2 big (D-I-Y) reflectors in front of the group (left and right of the camera) to reflect the spill-over light back into their faces. And then expose for the faces.

Good luck!

Show us what you got, Monday!
 
W.Smith said:
Ideally, I'd want 2 strong hairlights (big flashguns with snoots?) behind the group, one left one right, and 2 big (D-I-Y) reflectors in front of the group (left and right of the camera) to reflect the spill-over light back into their faces. And then expose for the faces.
Click to expand...

Not seen that done before m8 - sounds like a menu for blown hair to me, so please show us some examples? :thumbs:
 
I saw a great family pic recently, very cleverly put together. Roughly 9 or so people, but photographed as individual family groups and then placed together in a panoramic print and framed. It looked stunning. Simple white background, well lit foreground. Father and mother standing, then eldest son, wife and two kids etc etc. Something different from the ordinary too, it looked really impressive.:thumbs:
Think about it MusicMan, it would make the actual photography easier if you have the post production skills, and a good printer will produce the goods for you, all tied up in a decent quality frame matching the customers home. Remember in any group shot you need to be above them to get everyone in clearly.
 
I like the idea of this Jim, thanks for the suggestion.

This shoot is tonight at 6... so I'm off to the darkest depths of South Wales - Blaenavon, wish me luck, and send the search party if I'm not back online in 24 hrs :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top