I have a shoot on Friday for an overweight couple and their baby. The Dad is HUGE and the Mom is kind of heavy too. I just really want these photos to be flattering, you know? I think there will be more photos of the baby but any suggestions on family positions etc?
Wide lens and shoot from far away.
Actually, you probably don’t need to flatter them. I bet they already know what they look like, so just take natural pictures of them just as you would of anyone else and I bet they will be happy if you’re a decent photographer.
faces only.
put the big people behind …something…
put the parents faces and the baby in the picture…
them looking adoringly
or have them kneel behind the thing you set the baby on.
Maybe a close up with them slightly turned so only the tops of their bodies show. Also, you could try a bit of fill in flash to hide any shadows.
check some of Botero paintings and find some inspiration.
he makes overweight ppl looks gorgeous and charming.
Photograph them from above. Sit them close to each other on the floor with the baby held between them, and shoot down on them looking up, getting mostly their faces. This will let gravity help you reduce their chins.
Try shooting from above. Have the husband sit in a chair with the mom next to him and the baby between them. Grab another chair and put it about 10 feet in front and stand on that. You will want to be 2-4 feet above their heads, don’t be too extreme, just from a higher vantage point.
Here’s the key. When they look up, the skin and muscles in the neck are stretched. This will help define a chin.
To make it better, have the lighting come from above your head, this will also help create a shadow under their chin. Black clothing is also slimming.
For more information, look up broad-lighting and butterfly lighting.
Soft, loose material drapped around them helps. Try to keep the lower body out of the picture such as the man sitting behind the woman looking over her shoulder at the baby (that she is holding) the baby blanket will cover her. For the family picks, use special effects such as shadowing and ovals.
David W on May 12th, 2009
In the dark with no flash?
A lot of it will come down to how they dress, and they have to come to terms with the fact that cameras dont lie.