When we photograph families, we create what we call an “anchor” or “establishing” image. This is a well-done portrait of the entire family, sometimes looking at the camera—something you would expect in a fine portrait. “Abbreviations,” like the images seen here, are created when we break into smaller groupings and create imagery with stronger emotions, either playful or serious.
Parents as Props
In our abbreviations images, we usually employ one parent as a “prop” for the child or children. As you’ll see throughout this book, we use very little as far as traditional props in our portraits; in that way, our work is very simple. To me, an inanimate prop has no emotion to it. The kind of intimacy we’re seeking to capture comes when we add someone significant to the photograph.
“Perfect” Posing
In the facing-page image, adding Mom’s playfulness helped to bring out her son’s personality and enhance the story.
Posing Mom with her hand on the back of her son’s head might bring down my competition score, but this image was a winner in her eyes. Her hand placement (and his hand on her neck) pairs perfectly with their expressions to give this portrait some dynamic body language and a pleasing depth of realness. We are constantly striving to find a balance between capturing our subjects’ true personalities and providing a refined, flattering pose. This photograph might not be “perfectly” posed, but it has a depth of story, love, and connection that makes it extra special.
Portraits like these have such a realness that the parents relate to them and love them. They may sometimes not be worthy of entering in competition, but they certainly have the warm relationship factor that we always strive to achieve.
Additional images from the same session.
Staying Connected
We stay connected with our families through social media. We do not want to barrage our clients with advertising, but connecting with them casually brings them back to us for new portrait sessions. Following our clients on Facebook helps us to understand what they are really like. Then, when they do return for another portrait, we are able to design the session with their lifestyle in mind.