Parents-in-law
 

These are my in-laws - two of the most wonderful people ever put on this earth.

I did a portrait of them about 10 years ago. It haunted me every time I visited. I finally ripped it down and destroyed it. This is a big, fun loud family and the uproar of anger over my actions has not died down!

Needless to say I have to do another. I only see them every few months and I took these today. This was very difficult as the comedians in the family wouldn't stop harassing them while this was going on - at least 20 people were behind me. Not only that, but they do NOT want to pose. My mother-in-law was gorgeous, and still is at 84, but she is very concerned over her thinning hair and size, etc. My father-in-law hasn't changed much at all - except for the thinness of his legs (cancer treatments).

Because I love these people so much I will thin her and plump her hair, etc. I am planning on widening his leg up on the porch as well - and leaving that vertical post out. And I'll add more room to the composition also. I have eyes clear in several other photos - same pose and all.

What do you think? I took 80 photos, but with their son's help (my husband) this one seems true to them the most. I am not conficent I could get another photo shoot with them - this was like pulling teeth. But, this will be the most personal portrait I have done for so many people in the family - this is a VERY loved couple and I want it to do them justice. But, there is time to consider - they are getting older.

Lovely photo
 

Hi Kim,

I think this is a lovely photo, their personalities really shine. I like the way the light falls on their faces too!

I think you should omit that vertical post behind them, you probably already know that.

She's 84? Wow, she looks fantastic. She looks great just as she is, but I know how sensitive people are about their weight. It's a tough call, you change them too much and they don't look like themselves, don't you think? I've read some about this on the forum and I find it interesting. But, you do have to please the client. The only place I think might present a challenge is your mother-in-laws right cheek/jowl (as we view her). Maybe you could darken that to make that part less prominent, I don't know, it'll be interesting to see how you handle that, I know you'll come up with a great solution. Do you see where I mean? She may feel like that chin/jowl makes her look fat.

Again, great photo and this is a lovely photo. Get to work!

Joan

P.S. I didn't even notice his leg was thin at all. He just looks like a tall slender man.

The dress
 

Me again. I have been thinking about that black dress she is wearing and it might be too busy. Some might say you could make it solid but then you would have a large black mass in the middle of your painting. I would suggest you play down the print so it's hardly noticable. You could enlarge the print so it's not such a tiny detailed print.

I was recently in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts thanks to a suggestion by Sharon Knettell (thank you Sharon) and on display was John Singer Sargent's painting of the four sisters with those huge blue and white vases. Well, next to the painting were the ACTUAL vases. They're about 6 feet tall. When I first saw the vases I thought, oh, those look similar, same shape, but different pattern. The actual vases have lots and lots of pattern on them, but JSS simplified this pattern (to almost half, I would say) in the painting. This is what I'm suggesting you do with your mother-in-laws dress, to simplify that pattern. And play down the contrast between the black and white of the print. Flowers could be off-white, not stark white, and blurred.

Hope this helps!

Joan

Thank you for responding Joan. You made good points. I feel confident I can do this well, except that jowl area you mentioned. That worries me a bit, but I will give it a shot. Since it is not a commission I can take my time and work on it until I am satisfied completely.

Kim,

Beautiful couple.

In addition to Joan's observations, I would minimize the amount of glare/reflection that is being picked-up on her glasses. I think you will want the viewer to see more of her eyes.

Good Luck and keep us posted as to how it is developing.

I brought this back up because I am still sstruggling with it. My husband, the kids, etc. keep pressuring me to have this done for Christmas, but the first attempt at the above photo is a bomb.

I tried thinning her a bit and lost likeness, which figures. I am going to post another photo - THIS is what she really looks like most of the time. If I could somehow combine these two - the first one of him and the second of her. I did try in photoshop - keeping in mind the light is different, but it doesnt read true to me.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Since it is for family I could go with the second more informal pose, but his mouth....

I have never ever spent so much time being frustrated! I am just at a loss - there is no perfect one of each and the poses/light varies.

This was my first attempt - and it bites so bad. :sunnysmil

Reshoot, reshoot, reshoot.

...and it never will.

Only paint from reference you are really happy with. It's not worth banging your head against the wall for weeks trying to cobble together a painting from the wrong reference, or especially using photos in which the lighting doesn't match.

It's not just his mouth that's a problem in the second shot, his whole lower face is in deep shadow because it's being shaded by her head. Hate to say it but I think it's "back to the drawing board...."

Thanks Michele,

They get more stubborn as they get older. I will try again on Thanksgiving.

Here is the best I could do at mixing and matching - I dont think a neck can do exactly what I have hers doing here. ;)

How about doing them individually? And shoot for Easter.

I never liked this kind of two person pose. Sure there souls are united but why does there portrait have to be. Were they not individuals? Hang them in the same room.

If you photograph them again try doing them individually in addition to the couple shot.

That IS an idea Mike. For this project it feels like I have 30 clients to please...what IS it with big families? Easter sounds marvelous.

I know that sometimes we have no choice, and there have been many a fine painting of bunches of people, but I am much prejudiced toward the individual portrait.

When you have an "individual" in front of you there is a simple direct communication that takes place, whether they are being painted or photographed, that you can't create when another person is added to the mix. There is something pure about the individual portrait.

Kim, I know I keep saying this but I really do think that most people... anybody not young, fabulous or picturesque.. look better indoors.

I was also thinking tonight that the only time I've ever been happy with my portraits of "older" people was when I've done at least some work on them from life. They start talking, and I find them interesting, and I think I paint them as being more interesting. (Or else they fall asleep, which is okay, too.)

I really ditto those indoor comments.

Are you still talking about natural light indoors? I have yet to take any kind of decent photo with indoor lights - of course I dont own any real lighting equipment.

Someone - and I think it was Michele - on another post drew what she said was a good setup for natural light (indoors) for an older person. I will have to find that - I remember it was my friend Bridget's reference photo she was commenting on - I will go look. I haven't done too many older folks - I need to learn how so it becomes more instinctive for me. Those pretty young things are easy to photograph!

Photographing by window light is very easy.

Here's the standard formula: For people of this age you want the light to fall fairly frontally on their faces with the typical ratio of three-quarters of their face in the light and one quarter in shadow. So, set your tripod up with the window behind you, but not directly behind. You want the light to come over your left shoulder. Set the people up in front of you and fire off a hundred or so shots. That ought to do it.

Oh, and don't paint "from death" although they really hold still that way. :exclamati

:exclamati Good point Linda.

My husband and kids keep saying "Hurry up - they are old and are going to die soon!" Talk about pressure. Besides - I've never met more active virile people in my life! They are both 87, or 88 now and they buy homes and remodel them themselves to re-sell. They work 6 days a week - you should see this fella hopping up on a 12-foot ladder. You'd never guess their age.