Advice on lighting a family portrait

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Mossberg

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A good friend of mine has a family portrait that was taken professionally when his twin boys were only tiny. The boys were 18 last week and I mentioned about taking some portraits of them with my flash gear. I was thinking of them individually and getting some moody black and white shots, but I have been asked if I could replicate the original.

This will be totally new for me so I wondered if you good folks could point me in the right direction to achieve something similar.

I can do this in a working mens club, so I should have lots of space, including height. I have a number of flash heads and softboxes, so I hope enough to get by.

As always, any help and advice will be greatfully received.

PS. Obviously the boys are little bigger now, in fact going on 6', so I understand there will be a different pose. I would prefer it to look relaxed rather than formal though.

I have attached the original photo for reference.
 

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Don't even try to replicate it.

That's a standard studio pose (think Venture) for parents with young kids.
Shot with six foot 18 year olds, it'll look sill in the extreme.

As for lighting that was almost certainly shot with two lights, camera right and left at about 70° or so.
 
I was thinking mum and dad in front, with boys behind, but I will try different ones. And thanks for the advice
 
We have a few family ones separated by twenty years or so and they are a hoot. Never tried to recreate a serious one though, if that's what they are after
 
scottishmonkey said:
We have a few family ones separated by twenty years or so and they are a hoot. Never tried to recreate a serious one though, if that's what they are after
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I think they would like to get a semi serious one. They do know I will do my best but understand I have only limited abilities. But I would love to get some of them individually and capture some moody in them.
 
I kinda agree entirely with Mark, but for slightly different reasons.

I think you could kinda work out a similar pose with 4 adults (particularly if you’re not aiming for something too serious), but I really don’t like the lighting with the 2 large soft boxes, one either side.

I’d light that with the biggest modifier you can use, as close to camera position as possible, so more or less just above the photographer.
 
Thanks Phil. I will hopefully try both.
I think my largest us a 75cm octobox - would that do?
 
Phil V said:
I’d light that with the biggest modifier you can use, as close to camera position as possible, so more or less just above the photographer.
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AS long as you light the backdrop, otherwise the shadows will look bloody awful.
 
My thoughts were trying this in two ways. One with a lit backdrop (I presume a light from left and right), but the other with nothing behind but with lots of distance, so hopefully a black background.
 
Mossberg said:
Thanks Phil. I will hopefully try both.
I think my largest us a 75cm octobox - would that do?
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Too small, might more or less work if incredibly close. Shoot through umbrellas are typically 100cm, very uncontrolled lighting but would be fine for this
DemiLion said:
AS long as you light the backdrop, otherwise the shadows will look bloody awful.
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Yes, the whole idea behind this tasteless portrait "fashion" - which fortunately didn't last too long - was that
1. There would be no shadows
2. That identical lighting could be used for all subjects, which completely deskilled the process, making it ideal for franchising.
3. That the images would be horribly over-processed (and it got even worse when they switched to digital) so that they had a "unique" look
4. That, with an average salespeople to "photographer" ratio of 17:1, they could find enough people to pay exorbitant prices for this style.

Up to you of course, but you remember the advice about taking drugs? - just say No.
 
Mossberg said:
Thanks Phil. I will hopefully try both.
I think my largest us a 75cm octobox - would that do?
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As above, not a chance. The good news is a big shoot through brolly is cheap as chips. https://amzn.eu/d/0ck9IGTS


But if you want to spend a tiny bit more, a brolly box is the best value modifier you can buy. Not quite the consistency of light you get from a large octa, but takes up no space and is fab for portability.
 
Thank you Garry and Phil. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I will start looking into those items. I am trying not to spend too much as I more prefer the single person with moody shadows look.

However, as a matter of interest, what size octobox would be recommended - though I think it will be way out of my price range.

As always, thank you for you for your help and advice.
 
Phil V said:
As above, not a chance. The good news is a big shoot through brolly is cheap as chips. https://amzn.eu/d/0ck9IGTS


But if you want to spend a tiny bit more, a brolly box is the best value modifier you can buy. Not quite the consistency of light you get from a large octa, but takes up no space and is fab for portability.
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Note: The second link is just for the extra cover - you need to get the appropriately sized reflective umbrella separately.
 
Mossberg said:
Thank you Garry and Phil. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I will start looking into those items. I am trying not to spend too much as I more prefer the single person with moody shadows look.

However, as a matter of interest, what size octobox would be recommended - though I think it will be way out of my price range.

As always, thank you for you for your help and advice.
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Just say no:)
But if you insist, you'd need 2 150cm for the people and 2 more for the background, the background ones could be smaller
 
Faldrax said:
Note: The second link is just for the extra cover - you need to get the appropriately sized reflective umbrella separately.
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Hadn’t spotted that, I bought one for about £25 and was struggling to find similar
 
If you have space you don't need a lot of fancy kit to get good results. Two lights fitted with basic dishes and two big white reflectors will do.

Have the first - the key - in front of the subject and to one side, a good distance from the subject so there isn't much fall off and fairly high.
Have the second - the fill - bouncing off another white panel immediately behind the camera.

Adjust the power of each to taste.

It's directional, flattering and flexible. You don't need to micro position anyone to ensure that the light isn't casting truly horrible shadows. That means you can concentrate on the important bit - the chat.

It's not perfect but you really don't need 4 brand new softboxes for a one off.

I've posted this before; it was a test for something else but it illustrates the results nicely.

_SRC8200.jpg
 
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Try something like this, keep it relaxed and try different things sitting - standing - etc and keep your lighting simple if your inexperienced.
 

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Martinking said:
Try something like this, keep it relaxed and try different things sitting - standing - etc and keep your lighting simple if your inexperienced.
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Yes. That is exactly the sort of s***e that Garry was talking about above.

Avoid at all costs.
 
Martinking said:
Let’s see your far superior shots then mouthy
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Wearing my moderator hat now :police:
@DemiLion often gives very good advice, although he can be abrupt and sometimes rude,
But that doesn't entitle either you or anyone else to make offensive comments, so please don't do it again.
 
I'll add to Garry's mod comment: personal insults will not be tolerated, and personal insults addressed about Mods will risk incurring the wrath of the Admins. Be warned.
 
Garry Edwards said:
Wearing my moderator hat now :police:
@DemiLion often gives very good advice, although he can be abrupt and sometimes rude,
But that doesn't entitle either you or anyone else to make offensive comments, so please don't do it again.
Click to expand...
I believe he made the first offensive comment, I’m fine with constructive criticism but I won’t be spoken to that way.
 
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