I need some suggestions

Mary Sparrow · 07-22-2004, 08:47 AM

And I need them as soon as possible, like in the next few hours.

We got some really sad news the other day. Our labrador retriever,
Bailey has been diagnosed with Cancer. Bailey is our "first born", we got him the day we came home from our honeymoon, and is about as close to human as a dog can be. My plan was to paint a portrait of all of my children with Bailey. With this sad news my husband has pleaded with me to get some pictures before he gets too sick. We really have no idea how much time we have left with him so I can't really put this off.

My children are 2 boys ages 6 and 4, and daughter is 18 mos. I would like for the pictures to be taken on our front porch steps.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to pose this group?

Mary Sparrow · 07-22-2004, 08:51 AM

I am simply NUTS over this portrait Timothy did http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=3757

This is the feeling I would like to have in the portrait. (Now If only I could paint like that!)

Mary Sparrow · 07-22-2004, 09:00 AM

While I am pretty stuck on the thought of the front porch, I am not necessarily stuck to it being on the steps.

We also have a wicker sofa and rocker on the porch.

Joan Breckwoldt · 07-24-2004, 06:34 PM

Hi Mary,

I'm sorry to hear the sad news about Bailey. I just saw this post, otherwise I would have tried to reply earlier.

My suggestion would be to take some quick preliminary shots. Don't even get the kids dressed in what they would be wearing in the 'real' photo. Try some different poses, I would try all kinds of combinations. Try the porch, the steps, and then the wicker furniture. At this point I wouldn't care if one child is looking off one way, or another is pinching somebody else (!). This is just to get the lighting and composition figured out, the body shapes and sizes grouped somehow that is pleasing to you.

Then I would study those photographs, or post some of them on the forum, and see which elements you like about the different photos. I would be glad to help. Then try a second round of photos with everybody. I know this sounds like a lot of 'photo shoots', but I'm thinking it's a 10 minute session with the kids wearing whatever they have on.

When you have the composition and the lighting all decided (time of day and the place where you'll shoot from), then have them all dress up and take the photos.

Hope this helps,

Joan

Mary Sparrow · 07-24-2004, 09:02 PM

Thanks Joan, but it is too late. Bailey passed away this afternoon. Gosh, I just can't believe he is gone after almost 12 years. At least it happened fast and he didn't suffer too much.

I got several photos yesterday, but he felt so bad and just kept trying to get away from the kids that I just quit. Here is one of the pictures. While none of the pictures with all of the children are worthy of painting, I really liked some of the ones with Liza sitting on him, so maybe I can just do one of the two of them. The boys have already been painted a zillion times anyway.

Bailey was my first child and my studio buddy, he will be so missed.

Denise Hall · 07-24-2004, 09:21 PM

Mary,

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. I have a shi-tzu that is like one of our kids too and can't imagine losing her - but dogs don't usually outlive us, do they? I just wanted to say hi and also how sorry I am.

I think the picture you showed us is very endearing to your kids as well as a wonderful shot of the dog. He is beautiful. I hope you can find a way to paint them together.

Good luck to you!

Denise