Total chaos photo session

[Lisa Brazell Cook]

On Saturday, I went to a client's house to take the first round of reference photos of her children ages 2 and 5. Well, they did not listen to me or her, so I basically chased them around for 30 minutes. I actually got some good shots of nice expressions, but will really have to do some major work to come up with a cohesive composition. I will probably pass on doing another session as it will probably just be a waste of time.

Does this happen to anyone else? What do you do? Should I sign up for a class in photoshop?

Luckily, the kids are very, very cute....
Lisa

[Michele Rushworth]

I would probably pass on this commission altogether unless the mom is willing to let you create two separate paintings. The likelihood of being able to combine reference that will have been shot from different angles and with the light coming from different directions is pretty much slim to none.

[Julie Deane]

Hi Lisa -

I have been learning a few lessons, after I went to do a photo shoot, and the lighting was poor, the child was hungry and tired, and not dressed appropriately, and his older brother kept wanting to butt in.

Turned out the mom really had her own picture she wanted me to work from, so she had not prepared for me at all.

What I have learned -

1. It's very important to discuss the physical layout, and, if possible see it ahead of time to control surprises. Or set up my own layout and have them come to it. In some childrens' cases, I think it would result in better behavior.

2. Discuss clothing choices.

3. Before even discussing these things, first send the client a procedures list so they will know what to expect.

I seem to learn things the hard way. The more professionally I treat this process and the most respect I ask for, the more cooperation I will get.

[Mike McCarty]

Chasing kids around a house is a little like the dog that chases the bus. What does he think he's going to do when he catches it?

Whether doing this at your house, their house, or at the mall, your mission is to find the best light (or spot to set up your light equipment) and bring the subject into that light. Ha, you say. But they won't stop running around!

What I do is get my equipment set up where I need it to be and then I declare that we are ready and this is where I need your kids to sit. Then I sit behind my camera. Generally, one of two things will happen. Either the parent will continue to make excuses about how the darlings are just trying to work off the effects of all those twinkies that the ex-husband fed them, or, the kids will be brought to you.

It's a battle of wills. The parent hasn't a clue as to what you need. They are perfectly willing to watch you chase their kids around the house, it looks perfectly natural to them. This transfers the burden from them to you. What you end up with is a lot of pictures of kids mugging in bad light and a lot of futile editing of poor reference material.

I say hold your ground and stare back at them from behind your camera. If the burden remains on the parent they will more than likely take control. Then, after about 30 minutes or so of mutual stare downs, I usually cave and start chasing them around the house. What can I say.

I have to tell this story. When I was about 8-10 years old I would walk to and from school (up hill both ways). Most days, as I walked home, the ice cream truck (the one that puttered along playing "Oh Suzanna" on the loud speaker) would be cruising the neighborhood. On this particular day I decided that I would run behind the truck, jump on the back bumper, and wave to my friends as the ice cream man unknowingly drove me home.

As I was running about half speed, and just within reach of the truck, he slammed on the brakes and I slammed in to the back of the truck. I came to in the middle of the street and saw the truck about a block away still playing "oh don't you cry for me." I never told my mom thinking that I would get into real trouble for denting the back of that man's truck with my head.

[Mary Sparrow]

Lisa,
I agree with Michelle on this one. Since you did get some nice shots of them individually, I would explain to the mother that she would end up with a portrait less than perfect if you tried to merge the pictures, and that you think two individual ones would be much better. She was there, she saw what you went through. Explain that you either need to do two separate portraits based on what you have or have another shoot to try to capture a great reference of the two of them together then leave it up to her.

Good luck, I pretty much only paint children so I definitely know what you are dealing with.

[Marvin Mattelson]

If you reshoot, pick a time when the children are not tired or hungry or just returning from any physically invigorating activity. Ask the Mom what time of day or which day of the week would be the best in this regard. Make sure they haven't recently been fed anything containing sugar. Set up or choose your lighting in advance of calling in the children to pose. Use the mother or a stand-in for this purpose. Each time you return to photograph the children they'ill get more used to you and be less apt to be overstimulated. It make take several reshoots. Once you get a composition you like, you can return and shoot each child separately for refinement, assuming they're not intertwined physically. If you want to bag the big game you need to be patient. And definitely learn photoshop. All of the above worked for me in the portrait I did of Andrew and Dusty.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Lisa,

Yes, it is worth your time to reshoot! And yes, this happens to me often with 2 year olds. They're two! There are some days that young children just aren't in the mood, and you can't reason with them. (They're two!)

Here's a thought. Let the mother know that you are painting portraits that will be heirlooms. As such, each child will want to have his own painting to take to his home as an adult, and when painted together this just can't happen. You can paint separate portraits that are designed to hang well next to each other, together, yet are still separate. If these kids are fueling each other, you might set up two separate photo sessions, where only one child is present. Be sure you work around their nap,meal etc., schedules.

Good luck,

[Linda Nelson]

Hi Lisa,

If you can schedule a reshoot, then go for it. But at the next session, here's some things to do differently (in my opinion)

1.) Timing - personally, for these ages, I like to schedule the shoot for 9 am. At that point in the morning they are fed and fresh. Expect you'll get only about 45 to an hour of total usable time with them, as they will be wiped out and unruly or tired past that.

2.) Remember, they are only little bittty kids, who don't have the perspective or stamina that you do on the situation. This is very stressful for them, as they have been fussed over by their mom's before you got there, they are being photographed by a stranger, and all this is alot for them to handle, so be empathic to their situation. but don't give up. Use the fact that you are a stranger to them as a strength. For me , I think you have two cards to play :

often kids enjoy the attention, so take advantage of that. I find in looking back at my photo shoots for reference photos, Many of thee ones I selected in the first half of the session, so the novelty does wear off on them, and

As an adult,the children are more likely to repect your right to authority for the first half of the session, and again, their acceptance of that lags the last half. ( I must say however, that in those cases where children are still enthusiastic for the session extends into the last half hour, the expressions become more "them".)

So in order to take advantage of their attention as quickly as possible, I have "composed" the layout of the painting in my head, but I when I actually shoot the photos I will photograph each child separately, knowing I will "photoshop" them togeher later.

It becomes easier to make it a successful experience for you, the children, and the parents.

Here are three examples of paintings of mine by which I conceived through this method:

http://www.heirloomportraits.net/woa_gracia-madison.htm

http://www.heirloomportraits.net/woa_ian-elise.htm

http://www.heirloomportraits.net/woa_alison-charlie.htm


And I also find it easier if the parent isn't in the room. In fact, photgraphing them one at a time is a great reason to keep the mother occupied yet involved.

[Lisa Brazell Cook]

Thanks you guys. These are great pointers. There were actually a few "not-so-horrible" photos from the first shoot. One recurring problem (of the many) was the 5 year old's posture and her desire to "pose" with a great big fake smile. If I caught her not "posing", she is slouching.....
Of course, I am unable to attach the photos, but they are oudoors with the morning light a little harsher than I like.
I am meeting with the Mother on Monday. I will let you know how it goes.
Thank you again. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one with these issues.

Lisa

[Tom Edgerton]

To Linda's point about them being fussed over before I get there, I usually ask the parents not to dress them until I'm there, so the children won't be sick of waiting for me in their good clothes.

The parents comply about half the time.