Which picture of boy?
 

I took pictures today for a commission - I haven't gone through all of them, but one really struck me. What do you think of the first one rather than the second two. I have many I haven't really looked through, but I am sure that most of the rest of the pics will look much like the second two. The little boy didn't really have a smile - it was either all out teeth or sad looking. This is the second shoot. (By the way, I realize this first one is kind of dark, but I think I can play enough with photoshop to get decent information). (I will also have to fix the problem with forshortening on the third if I use it - I couldn't get back quite far enough to not have a little distortion)

I agree that the third pic seems alot more appropriate for your work. It's a lot more balanced.

I'd go for the first one without a doubt, it's more moody, has more feeling to it, but the last one is very traditional and symmetric.

All depends on personal preference I suppose ;)

I think you have the boy in a good position as far as lighting. However, I'm not a big fan of the pose. The boy seems a little old to be clutching a stuffed animal, but that's just me.

I fooled around with the background some, trying to square things up. And, I eliminated the light colored vertical supports on the chair back and I think I would eliminate the horizontal support as well.

Hope this helps.

I think what Mike has suggested works.

I had this dilemma with a shoot once. The best pose I had of a little girl was of her clutching her favorite doll, the doll was an old, ugly, pink plastic doll with a one remnant of ratty hair clinging to it's head. It was more in the horror movie genre, think "Chuckie"rather than quaint. She would not let go of it and had a fit every time it was removed.

I later photographed a teddy bear in front of the dress she was wearing and substituted it.

Unless the parents are hung up on this amorphous stuffed animal, does the boy have a dog or cat that could be substituted and photographed in the same light, level and angle?

Also you could make the boy a tad bigger so his head does not 'kiss' the lower part of the curve of the back of the chair. In other words his head could come a little higher.

Jane,

I like the first image the best too, but I concur with both Mike's and Sharon's observations. A real pet would be marvelous. How old is this boy by the way?(he does seem too old for that toy), he may appear older by the perspective distortion. His legs are so big in relation to his head. If you get another chance, take the picture from all the way accross the room, if not further. The farther the better, to reduce distortion. I love what Mike did to the background.

I did some crude and clumsy perspective editing experimentation for you.

Garth

Thanks for the great advice eveyone. Unfortunately I could not get any further away to take this picture - I knew there would be some distortion - we were going to take more pics outside, but it was 112 that day. The father wanted him in the rocker - and the boy wanted his favorite stuffed animal - (he is in second grade) The only light area was in the kids room by this window. I finally talked him into a smaller stuffed animal, so there are other pics with that animal. I would like to take more pics but am stuck with what I have. I think your idea of substitution is a good one Sharon - if I use this pose.
I like the way you cleaned up the background and took part of the rocker out, Mike. I think that works well. I also agree that decreasing the size of the legs works much better Garth.
Here is a picture from the first shoot which was totally out of hand. The dog kept jumping in the pool and the father had to manhandle the dog to get him to stay in one place. The father was determined that the dog would be in the painting with the boy. In this photo I took the father out with photoshop - this was the best one we got with the boy and the dog that day. The dog looks kind of scary -

Geez, 112 degrees! I did not know it was possible to have such a hot day. It's a pleasant 53 degrees back east right now. How does that grass stay green?

The boy does look more like a second grader in the outdoor shot. His legs look the right size. I guess that dog is too big for the chair pose!

Garth

Hey, Jane,

You have a gorgeous subject. I think you should reshoot under lighting conditions you control.

I love the light quality in play in your intial images, but the distortion is really challenging, as is the fact that his face is pretty evenly divided between light and shadow.

Shall we try to play in Prescott this weekend? My family is coming up Friday to help me set up - we'll stay with my father-in-law, then my sister in law comes up, and one of my dearest friends. Let me know where your booth is located. I am at the NW tip of the courthouse. And are you doing the quick draw?

PS Garth, 112 degrees is for wussies].

Chris,

Unfortunately the kid is off to Europe. I was lucky to get the second shoot - the father is a very busy doctor who does not understand that doing a portrait is more than taking a few snapshots. I probably could have done better if I were a little more assertive - I am not that used to dealing with clients yet - especially ones who are hard headed. I am going to have to go with what I have.

My booth is 75 - Let's definitely get together. I am not doing the quickdraw - I probably will next year, but I didn't think to do it this time.

Yes Garth, 112 degrees is when we finally throw off the jackets here Arizona.

112 degrees!
 

I am sitting here in wooly socks, long heavy sweat pants and a sweat shirt. I had hot oatmeal for breakfast. It is going up to a rainy high of 40 degrees.I had to look at the newspaper to make sure it was May 25th.

o-o Jane, are you sure you want to climb mount Everest?
If the father was trying to be in control even at the shooting, I can't imagine what it's going to be like later on.

I think you start disadvantaged. If it is possible I would reshoot, postponing the work, so you will be able to work from the best possible photo, it's already difficult enough. The father will be impressed if you show him that it IS important, it IS complicated and you don't want to work from a photo that needs patching up

Best wishes
Ilaria

For us true desert rats 85 and lower is getting chilly, 100 is nice, 110 is great pool time. At 120 we head for the shade. We also get cranky when the humidity gets over 25%. Normal desert humidity is 8% to11% and explains why hotter is better. It takes a higher temperature at desert humidities to get the same heat index as you folks get back East with your 80 to 100% humidity days.

My wife won't go into the pool unless the temp is 86 or higher. Talk about spoiled. We used to live in Connecticut and will take the dry desert heat over the humidity, rain, ice and snow any day. But that is just us. 300 days of sunshine doesn't hurt either. Also I don't miss the mosquitoes at all. They used to eat me alive.

Which picture of boy.
 

How old is this boy?

climbed the mountain
 

I showed the father the portrait today (he has been out of town for a while) and he loved it. Next year he wants a painting of himself and his three sons (of course I won't count my chickens). It was more difficult, I admit - I used another photo similar to these, and combined it with some other faces I had of his - patched together is the word - but it turned out OK - I am still screwing around with it a little - but will post it on my website in a few weeks.

Thanks for help everyone!!