In a future post I will go over this sitting step by step. I could spend a lot of time going over this (or any other) video but for now I want to use it to show how I work. These are the main points.
- I pose the children on a table, not the floor.
- I use a tripod.
- I use a remote release for the camera.
- I do not use an assistant to pose or get expressions.
- I avoid having other people behind the camera.
I can and have been known to change any or all of these points but changing any one changes the results. This is why each one is important.
The Tripod
By using a tripod I can interact with the subject much better. Can you imagine me working with Walter the way I do in this video with a camera in my hand or in front of my face? I can’t.
The Remote Release
Having a small remote in my hand allows me to move around and work with the subject. I currently use a wireless or radio remote. It is not nearly as fast or reliable as the wired remotes that came with long roll portrait cameras but in today’s world it’s the best available option.
No Assistant
I could use an assistant to do all of the posing and some of the interacting with the subject. I can assure you my relationship with Walter would be much different. The person doing the posing would need to be more skilled than the person operating the camera. This includes parents and staff of the preschool or child care center. They may know the child but they are not photographers. Remember, I define a portrait photographer as more than someone who manages lighting and runs a camera.
The Posing Table
The posing table has evolved over the years. It is now 22 inches high. It has a 24 inch by 32 inch surface that quickly folds into a 12 inch by 32 inch bench. The height and overall size could be modified. I am comfortable with this size and it works well for me.
Are the children uncomfortable getting on the table? Is there a risk of them falling off? Usually, not. It is only when someone such as a parent is helping with the child that these concerns are a problem. This should be obvious from the video. The relaxed child care director in the background agrees with this, too.
People Behind the Camera
This was covered in an earlier post. Having other people behind the camera makes it more difficult to work with the subject. I often move parents from behind the camera to a position next to the subject with a comment like, “Over here you’re company. Back there you are an audience. Company is good; an audience, not so much.”
Check out the “Crowd Control” post from March 2017 for more in depth coverage of this topic. This is one of the most important things I have learned about photographing people.
Images Accompanying this Post
The three images at the top of this post illustrate two things I usually do.
When I am photographing a sibling group and the children separately and together, I usually do the sibling group first. The children are more comfortable together. No one is singled out.
Then, I usually do the youngest next. In this case, I did not take both children off the table. The image of just the boy is framed wide to show that his sister is still next to him. She won’t be in the final images of him by himself. After finishing the arm pose of the two together I moved her far enough to the side that we could print the picture of him without including her. After finishing this pose I probably took her off the table and had her sit in a chair next to the table while I did the full length poses of her brother. There was no need to risk him objecting to being separated fro her.
I will do something similar when I have a child that is reluctant to get on the table. I will place one or two children on the outside end of the table and the subject in the middle and work with all three children. After a few close up shots of the subject child I will gradually move the other child or children further away until I can do full length poses of the subject.
The ultimate goal is to have the subject on the table alone and feeling good about the experience. This may be my most eager child next year, because they did something they had learned to dread and it was fun.