In Part #1 I listed some of the reasons we prefer NOT to do family portraits at our client’s homes. However, when we have a client that insists their home is what they want for their portrait’s location we say sure but, of course, we charge more for that. Why? Well because their location is unknown to me I must schedule a location scout to see what I’m getting into!
The first thing we must do is set a date for their portrait session then we can set a time. Consulting our calendar—which has all the sunset times for the year—I make their tentative time two-hours before sunset for their date.
Next we set a date—usually about a week before the session date—for the location scout. The time for the location scout is also about two hours before sunset, most of the time.
What I’m Looking for on a location scout:
- Where is the sun setting relative to their front and back yards? Because I want the sun setting behind our subjects and the backyard is usually the best and most spacious yard, I want the backyard facing West; I don’t want their house to be the background. Note: If they request it we will do one portrait set-up with their house as a background because we never know what image they may chose for their wall portrait. We’re not about to leave money on the table!
- I’m also looking for trees (especially for fall colors sessions) and a nice lawn for my base.
- What I will request be moved to clean-up the location. (e.g. barbecue; garden hoses, children’s play structures, motorhomes, R.V., boat, etc.) .
- What out door furniture we may want to use for their session. This can be very useful when we are doing large groups.
When it all comes together it can look like this…
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| f6.3 @ 1/200 sec., ISO 800; Lens @ 90mm |
We had scheduled this family for one of our favorite local parks, but by the time their date arrived the park had already lost most of its fall leaves and it was only early October! So, on to plan “B”, their home.
They have a very small but beautiful back yard and its facing West!
The Set-Up:
- Using our posing rock—mom and dad seated—to vary head heights (creating a nice diagonal pose). Our rock also has a small footprint to minimize its presence.
- Placing them between those great Birch trees; I don’t want trees or big tree limbs coming out of anybody’s heads.
- Using the most telephoto focal length I can within the location I was forced to go to only 90mm. The yard from this angle was not very deep and I’m backed-up against their back sliding door on their patio!
So, changing my angle…
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f6.3 @ 1/125 sec., ISO 800; Lens @ 125mm
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Now, I’ve got a little more compression going on because I was able to back-up and use a 125mm focal length.
In addition I rotated to a nice vertical composition to really show those fall colors surrounding them.
Then using even more telephoto on Mom and Dad….
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f5.6 @ 1/160 sec. ISO 800; Lens @ 200mm
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Having mom and dad look at each other during the posed set-up always works! Going to 200mm and opening up my aperture to f5.6 blurred the background nicely. Then among other poses we did a variety of their daughter with and without the dog…
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f5.6 @ 1/100 sec., ISO 800; Lens @ 200mm
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We always do as many combinations as the clients want; e.g. Mom with child, dad with child, child with and without dog, Individuals of mom and dad (for business portraits) and at least two or three different poses of the family group.
While we’re there we also check out their walls for previous family portraits and their available wall space. Then we can suggest wall portrait sizes and orientations at their sales presentation.
Have questions? Don’t hesitate to ask…’Til next week…
Author: Jerry W. Venz, PPA Master Photographer, Craftsman
Training Site: http://www.LightAtTheEdge.com
Client Site: http://www.TheStorytellersUsa.com
