MaggieMay1978 Loc: Calgary Alberta

Hi there, I am wondering do any of you have any ideas on how to fill a full family session, 1 hour long with 2 teenage daughters with un-posed portraits?
Normally I do mostly posed with a few natural, but to do a full session unposed, I am stumped....
Help!!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Google image search.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=902&q=Unposed+Family+Portrait+Session&oq=Unposed+Family+Portrait+Session&gs_l=img.12...2605.2605.0.3867.1.1.0.0.0.0.141.141.0j1.1.0....0...1ac..64.img..1.0.0.5JpK9KvtmrY

If you had something of interest for the whole family to enjoy for the session time....
Pat

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Good luck, you are talking about herding cats w/o even trying...

Put some cat food on the table?

Meaning create an event where all can participate w/o hissing and spitting (as cats do)...

Oh, ah, food does not apply to human... Ugly critters who sometimes (if not often) chew with their mouth open...

Photocraig

My first thought is to have the family engaged in some activities like a game, wrapping presents, carving a Jack-o-lantern, making cookies or Pizza.

It is all about giving the individuals a chance to interact and display the relationships. Don't worry, the teens will look great no matter what.

Perhaps having the girls explain to the parents the musical and cultural contributions of Hip-Hop music. That would be reminiscent of my brother and I 'splaining why Elvis was the new Frankie or Bing to my ol' DAD!

For a not posed group they must be in situations or activities otherwise they'll look like The Adams Family.

Think about how we shoot little kids and what we use to get their attention. This isn't the same, but you must animate the group to get what you and they want.

unclebe1 Loc: NYC & Wellington, FL

A full hour of candids........seems to me you've got to get them in an environment where they are enjoying themselves and just being themselves. You need to find out from them what will keep them active and distracted. Could be at the park, the zoo, the mall, playing instruments, getting ready for an evening out... the possibilities seem endless. What you can't do for an hour is put them in your studio and expect them to be 'natural'. Just my two cents. Good luck.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Maggie, I'm not sure what you mean by unposed. Does that mean you wander along behind them and shot candids? Or are they simply informal or environments portraits? ;-)
SS

MaggieMay1978 Loc: Calgary Alberta

This is the 1st time I have been asked to do unposed portraits, I am not sure what they entail - I am very nervous as I generally always do posed.

Photocraig

I like Sharpie's idea of "environmental portraits." You probably won't get them each in their "environment" but that could be a way having them doing something like an activity.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Maggie, I think your overthinking this. Environmental just means that it's where one works, plays or lives. If you are at their home, you are definatly in everyone's environment. Take them into the backyard and ask them to all climb into a tree! In the kitchen, have the parents sit in the chairs with the kids all under the table. The parents can look like" where are they all". Shot the kids sitting on their messy rooms surrounded by toys or piles of clothes. Have then all form a human pyramid on the living room floor(carpet). Have them all line up on top of the house. Have them all sit in the family car, you get a long hood with all their faces through the windshield.
Maggie, the possibilities are endless. I'm sure they just mean not like a sterile studio backdrop where the personality is stripped away.
Make it for for both of you.
I shoot models, a lot, and when I say lets do THIS, and that say"wow, that would be sooo COOL, I LOVE it", I know I'm doing my JOB !!!!
Maggie, don't stress, just make it fun for them and it will all fall into place!
Maggie, you never know when you'll get "the shot"! Some concepts work, some don't! 🙉 🙈 🙊
Good luck. ;-)
SS

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

All the suggestions are great with one common theme - they have to be involved in a group activity. A family picnic would be great. Or meet at a local bowling alley for some bowling. Or a family pizza party - featuring home-made pizza with everyone involved.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Looks / sounds like this will be a paid for assignment? I've had similar requests on 'Wedding' enquiry / potential bookings. Turned them down though. I ( The Photographer) needs to be in charge of the event, or chaos will turn up and spoil the whole session. You will be the only 'Photographer' at this occasion perhaps, but it is surprising how many (pseudo) photographers can emerge with their own agenda. Best of luck if you decide to tackle it.

studavis

use a long lens and see what they do.

billybob40

The best this time of the year is...
carving a Jack-o-lantern
Its a family thing, evenly one gets in the act.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

The best thing would be to say "I on't do that"--they can fish but your don't have to bite
Stan

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Unposed? Sounds like two hours of two teenagers texting! Good luck!