The Right Pose
This abbreviation portrait (facing page) was part of their family portrait session and we decided that a classic look would be the most appropriate.
Many clients think that we have a standard set of poses we run through with every session. The truth is that the poses are dictated by the subjects’ ages, clothing, and personalities. With this portrait, I have Mom posing with her two older daughters. Not only were all three women very pretty, but they were also meticulous about their hair and their outfits. Therefore, I thought a classic look would suit them well.
Diffusion
I love softening images. Many years ago, when I was training with my father, he taught me how to use an Imagon lens and various filters for diffusion when I photographed women. He also taught me how to burn a piece of nylon with a cigarette to create a very inexpensive diffusion filter. My love for a soft image was challenged when we began photographing with digital cameras. I developed a number of postproduction methods for softening an image. The skin in this portrait is very soft and that was accomplished by simulating what I had learned when I photographed with film.
Additional images from the same session.
Camera and Settings
I photographed this group with the Hasselblad H4D, using a 150mm lens.