|
Re-shoot. Here's what can help you next time:
Many parents offer "incentives" to their kids for good behavior during portrait sittings. Sometimes they offer a treat, or going out to a movie later, etc. Even my own kids wouldn't pose for me unless they knew they were getting ice cream afterwards!
If the kids are really young or particularly unruly, another option might be to set up a portable DVD player on a table behind your shoulder.
Mike's suggestion about going indoors is a good one. Decide ahead of time where they will pose in relation to the light. Use the mom or other person as a stand-in to see what the light is like in various locations. If you decide to go outdoors, know what the lighting will be like in certain locations and plan for that.
Plan some poses ahead of time. Look on the Stroke of Genius artists pages to see how other people compose two-person portraits.
Don't go for the toothy grin look. Though sometimes it's hard to avoid (strong client preferences, etc) a pleasant, more relaxed expression gives a more classic feel.
As Sharon Knettel often says, planning is the key. A successful portrait sitting/photo shoot requires lots of advance work before you take any pictures.
|