Need help posing couples: I wish this was a April Fools situation but unfortunately its not. My next door neighbors 40 yr old daughter has recently been diagnosed with inoperable...

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I wish this was a April Fools situation but unfortunately its not. My next door neighbors 40 yr old daughter has recently been diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 cancer. Her wedding anniversary is coming in a few weeks, it will likely be her last. They want me to take photos of her and hubby, and maybe include their two young children. Im pretty decent with photographing things but dont really have confidence photographing people. I have searched the internet for suggestions on posing couples without much success.

My plan is to find a shady area to eliminate harsh lighting conditions, but I really need help with posing itself, as I would like to do as good a job as possible. Does anyone know of any good resource material or internet sites that can help me? I would be very grateful.

KimParks Loc: Kenosha, WI

I found this site with some really nice idea's good luck to you. I am sure you will do just fine. You will truely be making everlasting memories.
http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/2011/09/posing-for-families.html

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

Check out pinterest, you can get wonderful ideas.

travlnman46 Loc: Yakima WA

jackm1943 wrote:

I wish this was a April Fools situation but unfort... (show quote)

Hi jackm1943: I only have one suggestion when they are all posed have them lean their heads together as close as possible. They may feel awkward but it makes for a more memorable picture. I picked that one up fro Scott Kelby. Good luck on your shoot, sorry to hear about the circumstance that triggered it.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Thank you everyone, I really, really appreciate it. I've done weddings for friends and family members, but this one I really want to do as well as possible.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

I was widowed and have one major regret: there were not enough photos - whatever the quality.

Take lots, different expressions, different stances. Everything counts in these circumstances. Keep some back and hand them over after the inevitable has happened. Your neighbour will want every picture available - good , bad or indifferent.

Good luck
Jim

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Will do. Sorry about your situation Searcher, but thanks for the good advice.

Searcher wrote:

I was widowed and have one major regret: there were not enough photos - whatever the quality.

Take lots, different expressions, different stances. Everything counts in these circumstances. Keep some back and hand them over after the inevitable has happened. Your neighbour will want every picture available - good , bad or indifferent.

Good luck
Jim

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Every year I have my children who are now adults lay on the floor and put their four heads together in a circle and take a pic. These have become treasures to them and they are on the wall. There are now some 39 years worth. To take the shot I stand on a step stool and use a 50mm prime.

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

ole sarg wrote:

Every year I have my children who are now adults lay on the floor and put their four heads together in a circle and take a pic. These have become treasures to them and they are on the wall. There are now some 39 years worth. To take the shot I stand on a step stool and use a 50mm prime.

great idea!!

jimberton Loc: Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Searcher wrote:

I was widowed and have one major regret: there were not enough photos - whatever the quality.

Take lots, different expressions, different stances. Everything counts in these circumstances. Keep some back and hand them over after the inevitable has happened. Your neighbour will want every picture available - good , bad or indifferent.

Good luck
Jim

agree 100%...this is always 1 common regret that i alwasy hear. take lots and lots of photos.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

It's always interesting to get dramatic backgrounds that are meaningful to them, but I've found that the best way to get a family relaxed and posing is to get a conversation going. It does depend on the age of the kids, and if they're really young the conversation has to be directed at them. If the kids are at least eight or nine, start a conversation about the spot they've picked as background, or a favorite vacation or activity. As the conversation proceeds, you interrupt periodically to have them change positions or seating order, but otherwise stay out of it and take pix.

This method reinforces those memories when they see the shots, and results in very natural poses.

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

Another helpful suggestion from Scott Kelby's "The Digital Photography Book" is have everyone close their eyes, open them on the count of three and click the shutter on the count of four. I very rarely have closed eyes in people pictures anymore.

Robin Anderson

If the woman is larger than the man have her faced sideways so she appears slimmer and if the man is slight in built have him face more towards the camera to make him appear larger. Whoever is largest in size should be more towards the back and cover with children in front. If they all have average shapes then all in a row is ok...holding hands as they are walking towards you or walking away from you makes an intimate shot or just having a picture of all their hands posed together will make a nice memory. If you have time...it also would be nice to have each child pose alone with their mom, both children with their mom, and also alone with their dad. Kids just being kids...hugging, kissing, playing with their parents would be good memory keepers. Do close-ups of just the heads on some of the shots.

photogrl2 Loc: California

KimParks wrote:

I found this site with some really nice idea's good luck to you. I am sure you will do just fine. You will truely be making everlasting memories.
http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/2011/09/posing-for-families.html

Great blog !

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

Thanks everyone, you've given me a lot to look at and consider.

JackM1943