tip tuesday | portraits

What do you think of when you hear the word portrait?  I’m guessing something like this:

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Well, while our job requires us to do some those, that is not what comes to our minds when the word “portrait” is said.  We are all about showing the truth of the moment and creating an honest image.  Lining people up in a row and having them say cheese, or putting them in some awkward stiff pose is the furthest thing from the truth in our book.  We realize that these types of photos can be necessary during special events to insure all of the important people get photographed during the day, but a portrait can be so much more than what immediately comes to mind.  These “traditional” shots are what can create the weird and sometimes quite hilariously awkward frames you can find at  awkwardfamilyphotos.com … have you ever been there?  Go have a look.  : )  Here is a taste:

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com

Hahahaha.  : )   Sooo… here are some tips to give you a tad bit more natural shots… if that’s what you’re looking for.

NOTE:  If you like the styles above, you may be following the wrong blog : )  And, a big thanks to www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com for the perfect samples and giving me a hearty laugh at least once a week!

When you’re photographing little ones, don’t pose them in some uncomfortable way and force them to smile.  Get down on their level.  See the word through their eyes.  Let them play with their favorite toys and capture what they truly do when they’re teeny tiny.  Thinking ahead, wouldn’t it be 100x more special to have that picture of them laying on the floor in their playroom, playing with their favorite toy when they were 3 and, in turn, showing off a fun, natural smile, because they were doing what they loved to do?  Not only would you get the “specialness” of that moment when they were so little, but you will be able to remember the way the room was decorated and forever have the memory of their favorite childhood toy.  You may think that these are just snapshots and not something that would actually look professional, but this is what we do!  Welcome to a lifestyle session, folks!  They are full of fun and truly capture the realness of what goes on in your lives.

When photographing families, same thing goes!  Of course, everyone wants that one great traditional shot, but you have to think outside the box.  What does the family do for fun?  Puzzles, books, going out for ice cream?  Ask them these things when they book you.  Make a plan to have them sit our the couch and read their favorite story.  It will be cute, cozy and full of smiles : ) Meet them at a local ice cream shop and have them all get cones.  It’s pretty easy to imagine the great shots you could get with that set up.  For winter shots, have them build a snowman or make snow angels.

99.9% of the time, we don’t pose.  We put people in a situation and then let them do their thing.  This way of shooting is applied to everything we do; seniors, kids, families, engagements, all mini sessions and during weddings.

Another tip about portraits–still going off what people typically think of; a portrait doesn’t always require a face.

“A portrait doesn’t always have to have a face in it. Be aware of your subject’s body language and look for ways to depict emotion that are not obvious.” Isabel Lawrence

I couldn’t have said it better myself…. so I didn’t.

The portrait above show the entire family without showing a single face, and still manages to tell the story perfectly.  Dad and child playing in the background and mom + baby in the foreground… mom in the “aching back stance”.

Here is one Eric took of me.  No face, but I do believe the hands in the pockets tell the story:

This photo show both tips.  Miss Ella is doing her favorite thing; drawing.  That girl goes through 20 sheets or more a day.  And to us, the photo will always be a memory of how she is such a fashion statement.  She refuses to wear anything by a dress, and pink tights are the best… heck, anything pink will do!

This “no face” thing is something we seem to do all the time.  For me, they are probably my favorite shots.  Here are some more examples to show you some ways we put this tip into action at weddings.  These photos, as well as the portraits of the guys above, are all from Jake + Maggie’s beyond stunning wedding.

I hope you find these ideas helpful.  And, I hope you enjoyed some more of our Hintzsche Christmas ‘09 shots ; )  Someday I may actually do a full post… but for now, just little peeks here and there.