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Posing Families: Mother & Children

These are my tips for posing mom and children. If it's just mom there's not that many differences but there are some differences between how I pose mom and dad. Let me give you tip number one. Like I said I pose mom first to flatter her 'cause people always forget. Pose mom so that she looks comfortable and it flatters her. Number two is a lot times people for poses they wrap arms around each other for kind of a tight hug and what happens? Everything kinda slouches up a little bit. Instead, what you wanna do is make sure it's arms around or leaning, no arms around shoulders, nothing that kinda compacts mom. Even if she wraps her arms then tell her to relax. Paying attention to mom. Also most physical contact, like the holding part or cradling, would be for the youngest child, which makes sense. As they get older they can have a little more independence, they can stand up, they can lean, something like that. It would be kinda my first three tips. Number four is definitely get... (laughi...

ng) I totally missed that one. That's pretty good. About the whole mom posture thing that might be slightly difficult. You guys can do whatever. You can play around there I don't mind. Make sure you get nice tight close up head shots. Those actually a lot times tend to be the ones people like more they don't need to see huge full body poses but they wanna see their heads nice and tight posed well. And then number five, avoid putting a lot of kids on her lap and on her knees 'cause this is what I was saying in the beginning. One kid on each knee gives you this. Or kid in arms, kid on the knee all of sudden it's just a big bunch. Remember that mom's important. Since we don't have dad we're going to actually just pose mom with these lovely ladies. Let me switch something over over here and grab something different. Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do a close up shot. Can I have that bench please, that little stool? Are you guys fighting? Will you put that right there for me? Mom I'm gonna have you actually sit on that for a second. And I'm gonna bring it this way. Perfect, little bit more. I'm posing mom first to flatter her. Mom, will you take a seat and face your body towards your right? Perfect. The first thing that I would do. Who wants to pose with mom first? You wait right there for one second. Come stand right behind mom. Just like that. I will even out heights versus trying to have mom hold. I see a lot of people doing the holding. This is where posing stools, and stands, and the little boxes actually make a difference so nobody's straining. And the last thing you wanna be worried about is trying to even out heights. That looks great, you're perfect. And then I can add you. Will you come sit right here? On her lap? Yeah. Perfect. Great. And mom I'm gonna make sure that you sit up really straight. Perfect. Everybody sit up straight and I'll grab that. And can you turn your body just a little bit to the right? Me? Yep. Now everybody squish together. Good. And you wanna look right here. Good. And relax. Do they watch Hannah Montana nowadays? What do kids watch? Who's her favorite character? She's a big fan of the Powerpuff Girls. Oh! Yeah! Powerpuff Girl poses. And would you bring your elbow down just a little? Good, right there! Here we go, ready? One, two, three. And can you relax your hand? Wiggle your fingers, wiggle your fingers. There you go! One, two, three. Good. And will both of you look at mom? And everybody kiss mom, huge kiss! (laughing) You don't look like you liked that. Give mom one more kiss, one more kiss! Good. She doesn't look like she liked that. It was pretty cute. (laughing) First pose looks cute. I'ma do one more 'cause my flash didn't fire when I wanted it to. I'm not sure why. Last one. Right here. Good, right there! And look right at me. Will you look at me Elli? Relax your shoulders. Shake your shoulders, shake, shake, shake, perfect! One, two. Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Right here, perfect. (laughing) She's looking at her photos. Perfect. And mom can you lean forward just a little bit? I gotta move my light. Good. Perfect. Are you ready now? Are you ready now? Perfect, perfect. Are you gonna do finger nose? She had her fingers all the way up. See! See! I was pretty impressed by that. I had never seen them that far up your nose. (laughing) I love it. I like those noises. You can hold her hand if that helps. Perfect. Ready guys? One. Sit up a little straighter. Good. And I know she's looking at that screen. Tess, will you come over here so we could try to get her to not look at the screen? Good. Flash didn't go. Good. Look. (laughing) Perfect. Great, that was perfect. Good job. You guys look adorable. We'll try one more and then I'll move on a different pose. Last one. Do you mind switching with Calliope? Yeah. Do you mind switching? Do you wanna stand? Do you wanna stand in front of me? Yeah. She's like, "Yeah, that's where I wanna be." Whoa, that's pretty impressive posing. Here we go. Ready, one. Wanna get her attention? Calliope! Calliope. Can you smile? Smile big. (laughing) Oh my goodness. Put your hands down in your lap. Put your hands down. That's a good face too. Let me see your guys' face. And don't hold mom so tight, move away just a little bit. Right there, right there, good! Good. One more. (children laughing) We'll try one more. And can you jumping jack legs, jumping jack legs? Right there! And now move back towards mom! Jumping jack leg, good. Calliope. Calliope. Calliope. And don't squish so much. Stand up nice and tall. Good. Good. Perfect. Yeah, okay cool. That was cute. They look cute. I have my triangles, I'll just show you guys. They don't have to pose but I have a triangle here and then I had a triangle here. I'm working on my triangles. Let's do a little bit more dramatic. I know right. Do I have those little white ones? It's okay. I'm actually going to have somebody sit in front of you, between your legs. Someone's gonna actually literally wrap around you. Go ahead, sit right there. Should I scoot over? Good. Perfect, just like that. Great. And will you come sit with mom right here? Wanna sit right there? Or does she wanna sit there? It doesn't really matter, either person's fine. Cute. Perfect. Will you stand right there? Right here? Perfect, that's perfect. Come here. Great. I'll do that when we get done. Perfect. Ready? Calliope. Calliope. Calliope. Smile. That looks pretty smiley. Pretty. (laughing) That's good. Right here. Can you look right here? Right here. Perfect. Dad will you take Calliope for a second? Sure. I'm gonna do a pose with the two of them. And I'd like to bring that out for me. Give her a little break. I'm gonna bring those out. I'ma have you stand up real quick. Lindsay, I love how this is going. It's great to be able to see how you're dealing with this. Especially since you've got the added distraction of the lights, and the monitor, and the cameras, and all that. Monitor is funny. Yeah, it's beautiful, you're doing great. I love this. And everyone is really excited to see the real event, the real family session. Can I have you sit right here? And this is what we're gonna do. Will you sit right in front of mom? And you're gonna wrap your legs right around her. You're gonna face her. You're gonna face me, okay? Just like that, perfect. And you're gonna tilt your head on her, like that. Actually, she's doing a pose for me so that's fine. What I was going to do is originally have her back here so they kinda did line up because kind of an age thing. But she's doing fine. Will you do me a favor? Will you put your hand right here? And then tilt in right close to mommy. Good. And tilt your head so I can see you. And don't smush your face so much. Good. And can you lean her this way just a little bit. Move forward. Couple things that I'm doing and I know you guys can't really see. Couple things that I was looking for is when I said hold mom she squished so then the face is a little squished. I said let go, just real soft. For her, same thing she was kinda standing back like this. I'm having her bring her arm up, kinda hug mom. Let me grab a nice photo. Can you just put your hand right there? Yeah, good! And tilt your head towards mommy. Yeah, good! Whoa! Don't know why the flash isn't working,let's try it again. And can you have her not squish quite as much. Good. Everybody close your eyes. Good. Ready? I'm gonna bring you over here. Can you sit right behind your sister? Just like she's sitting. Spread your legs. Actually put one leg around either side of her. (farts) (laughing) I was like, "I think she's bendy." I think she's bendy but I don't know if she's that bendy. There we go. Good. Now here's what I want everybody to do. And this foot here. Yes, perfect, perfect. And put this leg over here, perfect. Now squish, squish, squish, squish. You're going to tilt your head right onto her head. Everybody pretend you're sleeping. Sleepy time, perfect. Can you put your hand in here? Right under here. You okay? Yeah, good. I saw a big frown and then she looked at me and she's like. Lindsay, Petercy says, "She makes it look so easy." And Shawn W. Says, Oh, really? "She seems like she's in the zone now." They look super cute. Everybody close your eyes, sleepy. Sleep, sleep, sleep. Oh except for let me see your face. Put your cheek right there. And can you put your cheek right here? And move your cheek this way. Right there, right there! Perfect, perfect! And mom I want you tilt your head towards them. And let's see. Here we go. And mom can you not bear your head quite as much, just a little less? Yeah! Good, right there. Go back to sleep. Sleep time. One more. You guys look like you're having really really good dreams. Really good dreams. I'm gonna have you put your elbow right here. We're gonna try one more. And don't squeeze so tight. Don't squeeze so tight. Just real soft, real soft, real soft. And everybody sit up a little bit. Sit up straight. Sit up straight, sit up straight, sit up straight, sit up straight. This is good. Good. And everybody look at me! Whoa, terrified? And I'm gonna have everybody look up here, ready? Wanna look up here? Look up here at me. No, you're gonna look at the screen. Should I hide the screen? Can you put that in front of it? Is it okay? Cool. Good. Ready, right here. Let's try it again. See if the flash works this time. Everybody sleep again. Close your eyes. And tilt your head. Put your head back on your sister's head. Right there. Good. And can you put your hand right, right, right there! Good. And can you put your cheek right here? Good. And can you put your cheek right here? Yeah, that's what I like. That's good. And last one. And everybody sit up straight, sit up straight, sit up straight. Good. And now everybody look right at me. Look straight at me. Everybody sit up straight. Look right at me. Sit up really tall, really tall, really tall, really tall, really tall. Good. Right here. And put your arm back down. Good. Ready, one. Put your hand on your sister's arm, on right there. Yeah, one, two, three. And can you put your hand right here? Yeah, right there, right there! Good! Right there, right there! Perfect, don't move. Right there! Perfect. Ready? Ready? Everybody sit up. One, two, three. And really really tall! Good. Mom tilt your head towards them. Good, right there. Cute. Now you look grumpy. (children laughing) Good. Cute. Now we have kinda youngest to oldest, I would just kinda stack up that way so you guys look cute. You can stay. You can stay right here. Do you wanna stand up? I'll help untangle you. Perfect. Stop I'm falling. No, you're pretty good. Perfect. And I'm gonna have you come stand right here. Can you put her on your knee? Mhm. See you're a natural little poser, you already know what to do, you're like a little model. Perfect. Just like that. Perfect. Everybody look right here. Perfect. Except for the seaweed arms. Good, there you go. Where'd Tess go? Is Tess here? See if you can make her giggle. Let's see. Alright guys can you smile? Well that too. How about put your teeth together? Oh snarl, that's a good one. That's very model-y. That's good, that's a great smile. Can you put your head closer to mom? Little less, right there, right there. Good. That's good. And can you do... Big wide legs? Good. And nice and close to mom, right there, right there. Perfect, perfect! Good, right there's good. Good job. One, two, three. Where's your Mickey ears? Oh here! Ready? I love her Mickey ears. Yeah sing the gummy bears song, what is it? How's it go? ♪ Oh, I'm a gummy bear ♪ ♪ Yes, I'm a gummy bear ♪ Do you actually know the song? I don't, they taught it to me that's why. I'm like, this one might be a new one for me. Perfect. Do you wanna take a break? Yeah! Wanna go eat goldfish or something? Perfect. Will you just stand right behind mom? And give her a big hug. Perfect. Cool. Just like that. And mom already by instinct she was perfect. She put her hand up. Multiple points of contact, she already did that. But actually will you switch to the other side? Can I see your head over here? 'Cause her heads in shadow. I know that's more of a lighting thing. And can you flip your hair like a model? Good. Good, good, good! Good. Perfect. And can I see a giggle smile? I wanna hear you giggle. Yeah! There you go. Good. Perfect. Perfect. Let's do another pose here. What I'm gonna have you do is I'm gonna have you sit right here and kiss mom's forehead. You're gonna kiss her right there. You can sit on your knees. You can sit on your knees. Ready? Close your eyes! Now mom, I'm gonna have you tickle her. Okay. Okay. You here what I said? Yes. What? You did?! (laughing) What'd I say? How 'bout you tickle her? I didn't say that. Yeah you did! I didn't say that. Yeah you did. No, no, no! Will you put her on your knee there? Yeah. But when I have her put her on her knee I'm not gonna have her face straight towards camera. I'm actually going to have you turn to your left and I'm gonna have you put her on the other knee. Now she's not faced straight towards camera. I can try to find a way so that she's not always facing straight at camera. Perfect. Can you put your arm around mum? Perfect. And heads together, tilt. Great. Now you can do it. (laughing) And now give mom a big kiss. And now look at me! Good. Is she doin' a little better? Calliope? We can check. I asked how the youngest was doing and he said, "We can check." Is what I got from him. Well I think when I was describing the personalities of the kids I did say Calliope will be something. Ya never really know. Yeah, but she's young it's okay, she's little. No problem. She's two. Yeah, absolutely. Let me go over see what I have for two little girls again. That's perfect. And just a reminder for everybody out there who are asking a lot of questions about kind of how to interact with kids, whether you do head swaps and all that kinda stuff. For this workshop we are focusing specifically on the posing and how we are arranging the families and all that. If you want to know more about how to put things on your camera to distract kids and how to kind of wrangle them. We do have a lot of other workshops on children's photography that Lindsay would encourage you to check out. This one we wanna focus on specifically on the posing. That's where we're gonna keep our questions focused just so you know. And my favorite tool or toy that I used to have was a little puppet that was a dog that would sing Old McDonald. It was the best. Well you can take a seat right here. I'm gonna pose mom first. I'm gonna have her put her arm up on the chair. So be really really comfortable. And I'm gonna have you stand over here. Here's what I would see. Where she can stand based on her height. I would try to figure out what's natural. I say, "okay, she could stand right here." Will you stand right next to mom? And put your left hand on mom. Right there! Looks cute. That's one pose. I could have her sit on mom's lap, but as I said when you sit someone on mom's lap it always kinda bunches everything up. Maybe, I'll have you come over here. And give mom a hug. And come this way just a little bit. Good. And can you put this hand right here? Good. I'm trying to look for ways that she's not straining. Before she had her arms up, everything's tense. Basically what I'm looking for is everybody to look nice and relaxed. Stand up as tall as you possibly can. Real tall, perfect. Perfect, that's perfect. Just like that. I'm gonna have you tilt your head just a little bit. I'm gonna get a picture there. And then I'm gonna add somebody 'cause I see that we have somebody ready. Good. Does she look ready? She's okay? Do you wanna come pose again? She doesn't wanna pose? You were pro model. I'm looking for triangle. She can go ahead and sit right there but I would want her a little bit lower. Can you scoot back on that chair and sit her on the front of it? If she sits up on her knee she's a little bit too tall but if she's right there then she's not obscuring mom's face. Then I can move to right here. Just like that's great. What are you eating? Cheerios! Cheerios? Looks good. And you can put your hand on her shoulder. Oh sorry. And sit up really, really, really straight, really straight. Good just like that. Good. Well less like that. Good. And relax. Good she's great. Cute. Now sit up tall again. You look really unhappy. (laughing) Do you wanna stand up? Do you wanna stand up? Yeah! Will you scoot back forward towards the front of the chair, mom? Perfect. And I'm gonna have you make sure when she's in front of you that she's not in front of your face. I'm just gonna move her just a little bit this way. Good. Can you take that arm and put it on mom's hand? Actually the other one. Can you put that on her shoulder? This hand? Yep, and I'm gonna take this hand. And can you put this right here on mommy? Just like that, just like that, just like that. Hold hands with mom. Good, perfect. That'll be perfect. You're pro model. Your sister is showing you up. Your sister's doing really good. Do perfect just like her. That looks awesome. Awesome, awesome. But now we have to be happy. Here's the thing. I might have to make mom tickle you, might have to. No. No? Will you put your hand back up there again? Other one. There you go, good, perfect. Right here! Grumpy face. There you go, good. Where's your giggle? I wanna see giggle teeth, good. And relax your shoulders mom, good. And one more right here. And ready, I wanna hear you giggle. I wanna actually hear a giggle Ha, ha, ha, ha. (laughing) Good! Good. Good. And perfect. I'm going to grab dad for a minute. I'm gonna kinda give mom a break.