Photo Tip
Fun With Outtakes
Many of you may have seen this Family Portrait posted on Facebook after our trip to Lauderdale Lakes for Thanksgiving. I thought I’d give a Photo Tip and also explain a little bit about the recipe for this image and another one. First of all, I shot it with a Canon 5dMkIII DSLR, 24-105 zoom lens (set at 32mm), tripod, one flash fired into a reflective umbrella (to the right of and behind the camera) and another one fired through a small lightbox (at the extreme left and slightly behind the scene), along with the gorgeous light coming in through the large window on the right. Exposure: ISO 500, 1/13th of a second with the aperture set at f7.1 for enough depth of field for the scene. Also, I recently read a book on photo portraits by one of my favorite photographers, Gregory Heisler, who mentioned that portrait photography is something like 80% furniture moving. I’d say this setup involved about 40%. That is, I had to move chairs, a table, and a few things in the background, etc. All this to make it look “natural.”
NONE of that information is part of the photo tip! Here’s the tip (below):
This (above) is the first shot. I intentionally strolled slowly into the scene so that I didn’t make it before the self timer went off. Got a good laugh which is always a high priority in everything that I do!!
With this next one (above), I had allowed enough time, but I took a detour. Got another big laugh.
One of the next frames was the final result. By that time, everyone was loose, happy, and focused.
THAT is the photo tip! In my opinion, all that mumbo jumbo about gear and settings is secondary to working with your subjects to try to get a desirable expression. Engage with your subjects. Yes…even when taking family photos.
Let’s look at another photo that also appeared on Facebook and was taken right after the group shot with the same setup (and some additional “furniture moving”). In this image, our four grandsons were lined up by age. My photo tip applies here, too: You have to let them have some fun, too! So, first I told them to make funny faces and do whatever they wanted. We did that a couple of times. Then I asked them to put their arms on each other and by that time, they were ready for the portrait and so was I. I actually like all the shots because they each show their personalities!
Here’s the series (below) in order:
Fun stuff!
-Stephen M. Levin
“Life Scapes”
www.stephenmlevinphotos.com
Great tip! Great family photos!
Thanks for your comment and for stopping by, John!
(For those of you who are not familiar with John’s work, check him out. I’m a fan: http://johnbarclayphotography.com/)
Fun to read! I always enjoy you!
Glad you enjoyed it, Merle. So sweet!
Thanks.
All the pics make a great record for the family. Are you going to make a calendar of the fabulous outtakes?
Ha! No calendar. But I frequently like the outtakes!
“Almost made it” outtake #1 would be worth your converting to Christianity and using it as a Christmas card.
Do you think people would be happy to get that in the mail! oy
Great tips! The family photo is beautiful. And the one of just the 4 boys is completely adorable!!!
Yep…and it’s an important tip and an easy one!
Thanks, Erica!
The years of our Thanksgiving family photo makes a great look back – this one was will stick in our memories – lots of fun taking it! Thanks Stephen for all the laughs and great photography – you make us all look good!
Likewise! You all make my photographs look good.
(Glad I still make you laugh!)
Even your outages are wonderful. My family – not so disciplined – I can’t get them to wait around for anything! 🙂
Try laying on the floor like I did! I would love to see that photo!
Thx, Clive.
Steve,
Always a great shot and tale.
Thanks so much, Ben.
Beautiful family, Steve, you and Judy are blessed
Aw…thanks, Bob!