Last week, I did an interview with Pictage and a number of photographers asked for suggestions on How to Photo Coach a Session for Natural Family Portraits. What is Photo Coaching?
Photo Coaching is a term Brian and I came up with when we realized we are not photojournalists. We are not the fly on the wall. Our clients look to us for direction in how to relax in front of the camera to get natural family portraits. And we love using a number of strategies to help this happen. Whether your client is paying you $200, $2K or $20K, at some point they look at you and say “Now what do you want me to do?” Photo Coaching is our answer to that question.
This was SO helpful! Thank you for taking the time to share “your secrets.” I was wondering if you have any tips on what aperture to start out with when photographing families? I love to have blur in the background, but it seems like I can never get any because to keep the family in focus my aperture is F8 or higher. And that doesn’t give me that “dreamy” background that I love. Any advice??:)
I can’t thank you enough for this! I’ve had my DSLR just a little over 3 weeks now and already have had 3 people ask me to do family pictures (starting this weekend) based on pictures they’ve seen on my blog and to say I’ve been “freaking out” would be an understatement. I had absolutely no clue where to even START but this post has definitely given me a point of reference…and then some!
Thank you thank you thank you!
Great advice! I listened to your Pictage interview and put the “barking like a dog” trick to use! It worked great! Mom was a little embarrased but her kids cracked up! Great tip. What about the family that just wont loosen up??! they want “candid” photos, but stand there and when you try to “coach” them, they just look akward?? Any special tips??
Oops one more question…Do you like a particular lens for shooting family portraits, or do you change them around a lot??
these are great tips, especially the one about tickling and having the dad make faces.
I am so grateful that you are willing to share these tips with us!
My question is more directed at an all-adult shoot (3 generation for example). To get the laughter and have the adults all relaxed do you have similar or totally different ways of getting them to loosen up and laugh with one another?
Diane
23 days!
Thanks so much for the tips! I had a session a few weeks ago with two sisters- 8 and 5- and the mom was so worried about their behavior. I kept telling her they were fine and in the end, the photo that I got the most comments about was the totally candid one where the girls are giggling and just being who they are. Those are the best!
My question is this: I have a Canon 30D and am waiting to upgrade to a 5D. I used to work for a photographer who had a 5D and we use the same lenses. When I zoom to 100% on his images they are always in perfect focus and mine rarely seem to have sharp focus. I’ve tried shooting with different settings, with center focus and selective focus and neither are getting me the results I want. I love the images but am terrified of a client wanting a huge print. Do you think it’s the camera? Thanks again!
Great post!!! I always have everyone give me their “silly faces,” then their “mad faces,” etc – they usually lighten up and start laughing and acting more natural. And often, the mad, or sad, or scared photos are keepers too!
Thanks for the tips and I will try them all! My question is more like Diane Schuller’s though. I will be shooting all adults and I don’t even know where to begin and I don’t want the photos to look so serious or over posed. Any thoughts, anyone? MeRa? Thanks in advance!
Awesome tips MeRa, Just in time as I have a few family shoots coming up in the next couple weeks.
Thanks so much!
Thank You SO MUCH for the tips! I have a bunch of family sessions booked through November. I do want to know how you do your B&W? They look so chocolaty. Please share..:)
So Fun… Barking like a dog! I just love that and will try it on Saturday.
Speaking of dogs…Have you done much work with the family pet? Any tips on how to pose the furry members of the family and at what point to include them in a shoot and how?
I have a second question about photographing BABIES. Do you have any suggestions for props that a photographer should have on hand while shooting newborn thru 1 year olds. Are there some favorite positions that you just love to place a baby in so you can get just the right shot of pure sweetness?
youre so smart to have the parents act goofy – I would have never even thought about that- A photographer barking like a dog is just lame and insane – their mom doing it is hillarious!
Fantastic tips! We are getting a new boss at work, and one of my peers suggested putting together a ‘facebook’ with short bios as a way to help orient the new boss. Instead of the horrible badge photos, I offered to shoot everyone.
It went so well, I’m getting asked to do Christmas card family photos, etc. It’s kind of freaking me out, but all that experience really helped me understand what makes a good photo, that everyone can take a good portrait (it’s finding that angle/smile/lighting that makes the camera love the subject), and that I hate direct sunlight 😉
Thanks for these tips!
Sooo unbelievably helpful!
Thank you Me Ra, LOVE what you are doing with these posts!
Very helpful! Thanks for the tips. Two questions from above I also want to know: photographing adults (or teens that don’t tickle any more, etc.) and what lens to use (zoom or wide angle)? I have one extra question that hasn’t been asked above. How much do you get in close as opposed to leaving extra space? I thought there was some rule with when you enlarge pictures you lose some parts of the sides so I just want to make sure I don’t cut that off if it gets enlarged in printing. Does that make sense?
Love This! This post was so helpful and I can already see the positive direction it is going to take…They are the questions that I am always asking myself..they seem so simple but are so vital and difficult to answer at times. Thank You! Thank You!
Mera
It is the posts like this that make me adore your work and who you and Brian are! Thank you for sharing your tips to success and helping us all along the way! OK… I am sold! See you in December!
I need to echo steph’s comment. I feel so blessed to be let in on all your hard-earned secrets of the trade, and that’s my question… how do you DO that? It seems like everybody and their sister is starting a “photography business” around me these days, and though I try the positive self talk about my unique vision and talent, it’s hard not to compare myself to them and feel like I don’t stack up, let ALONE encourage my fellow photographers! What brought you to this aspect of the job? Did it come naturally or was it something you had to choose to embrace?
I want to PICK YOUR BRAIN in Chicago! Get ready! 🙂
Me Ra,
This is great. I have both your DVDs which I love. The photo tips and photographic examples are my favorite part of your blog. The additional questions that have been posted about which lens, what aperture, etc. are my questions as well. I very much appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise with those of us who are interested in becoming better photographers.
This is wonderful advice. Thank you.
Thank you so much for publishing what you do on shoots. I’ve always wondered how you get such amazing shots. Plus I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t the only one that made silly noise and did weird things to get kids to smile for the camera.
Awesome advice! Totally going to do this on saturday w/my family shoot! Me Rah.. you rock!
Thanks for the great tips Me Ra they are fabulous. Have you any advice for doing newborns? I offered to to take pictures as a present for my friends and now I am panicking, just a bit, as I can’t mess this up!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I have been wondering how in the heck pros get their clients to look the way they do. I find myself at a loss of things to say to my clients to get them to do what I want them to do. I think I was trying to be too photojournalistic which I am discovering is not really my style after all.
I am too broke and too pregnant to attend your workshop in Seattle in Dec. This may be too early to ask but do you have a date in mind for when you want to have your NEXT Seattle workshop and does anyone ever bring nursing babies….hmmm I’m guessing the baby thing is probably a no?
Okay, I have some questions. How do you coach an engagement session? I feel like I get the same poses over and over again when I do those shoots. I find I have more trouble with the guys as the girls seem to naturaly pose themselves more. What kind of things do you say to them to get them to relax? Do you and Brian always do engagement shoots together? Sometimes I wish my hubby were with me so I could demonstrate to the couple what I want them to do rather than tell them.
One more thing :)….I totally feel what Beck said in her comment. It seems like everybody is a photographer these days. How did you get to where you are right now to have the confidence to share your hard earned secrets with us?
[…] here to see Segment 1 : How to Coach a Family […]
Thanks so much for sharing this!! A friend of mine had some engagement pics taken earlier this year but she and her fiance weren’t thrilled with them. I’m no pro, but I’m hoping to get a few that they love. 🙂 Again, many thanks!
Great site. Keep doing.
Beautiful site!
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