| Re: help with large family portrait
Sure, the good old standard of two rows, one sitting, one standing behind, is mandatory; you have to take it. This is the one where you can easily go with what the families want in regard of order [who beside whom, who in front, who in the back]. IME you will not get by without this standard shot.
From that you can develop your freestyle choice. Depending on the cooperation level of the families you can let them strike up poses in regard to relationship - e.g. half-profiles toward the camera so Pa looks at Ma instead of you. Someone can lie in front of the rest, or better yet, be held up ...
A favourite of mine is using perspective to balance out any height differences - at the same time this gives you some geometric relationships [diagonals, triangles and such]. I find that using a very wide angle or even a fish-eye [be careful!] and going in on the group can make for some interesting shots. These lenses, particularly the FE, open up circular and elliptical forms.
With a very wide WA or FE you can position the camera on the floor, lens pointing up, round up the group members in a circle around it, looking down. You know the pose, just like this American Football hug. This gives the impression of a very tight-knit family, holding together what come.
If you have a few days time before shooting, go over to the next public library and take a look at sports magazines and books on sport teams. You'll find some very dynamic images, which you can adapt. Remember, carrying a pose over from its original context to another often creates something interesting.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
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