How to Light and Pose Family Portraits with Michele Celentano

[@raimclaren1663]

When working with young kids I spend the first 10 minutes talking to them, playing with them or singing nursery rhymes, taking an interest in their toys and I don’t touch and camera equipment whatsoever in this time. I build rapport and this worked amazingly well for me

[@GianniVeroni]

I do the same with adults-first minutes of the session building rapport then I start shooting

[@glengray8037]

Always great advice. It was great seeing you in the video - it’s been a “few” years. Glen Gray

[@rpurdum]

Great video and advice! Watched the video a couple times to absorb all the great techniques. I also use a wireless trigger. If the child can understand how to push the wireless trigger button, I let them shoot some photos. They always love a new toy! I also spend time with the parent(s) and child a few days before the session just to get acquainted with the children and work with the parents on some ground rules so everyone is comfortable. Great safety practices during your session! Can't wait to pick up several FJ400's - excellent, user-friendly features.

[@WestcottLighting]

Great tips! Building rapport with your clients, young and old, always helps a photo session run much smoother. Thanks for watching!

[@nicracine]

One of the best videos I've seen on that subject. Thanks!

[@WestcottLighting]

Thanks for watching, we're glad you enjoyed it!

[@a-muse6567]

Thanks Michele! I have what I call a "bag of tricks" and inside the bag are some toys, treats, and my special hat. Everything is kept out of sight so when I pull it out, it's a big surprise. My first trick is my silly unicorn hat with dangling braids. I shake my head from side to side, and the kids go nuts for it! The toys include an assortment of colorful toys, some that make noise and some that do not. I bought some dog toys with squeakers, stuffed animals, Thomas the Tank Engine, a car set that has bells inside of it, a Princess microphone that sings a clip from a Disney movie, a magic wand that makes an "abracadabra" noise, a cat toy that is basically a bright yellow feather boa on the end of a stick, etc. I am always adding to my collection. I feel it's important to have a variety because the same thing won't work every child and sometimes you have to experiment to find what will catch their attention. And sometimes it's just being able to constantly change it up every time they lose interest. The treats include goldfish crackers and gerber puffs, as well as M&Ms and Skittles for older kids. I always ask the parents first if it's okay to give them a treat. I choose very small treats that are easy to edit out. :) Hope those ideas help someone!

[@Mattrossphoto]

What a boss photographer! We all just got schooled💯💯🙌

[@hom296]

I've always been an admirer of Michele's talent! She's one of the very best family photographer!!

[@kuyamarkstv95]

Thank u so much for sharing your tips..i really need this because i want to be a photographer i am a beginner.. Now i am trying to study about this photography and i am so thankful because of your KZbin channel..please do more videos about photography.. God bless

[@melissalandres]

Wow, amazing video! So fun to watch. Thank you so much Michelle for letting us in 'behind the scenes'!

[@WestcottLighting]

Thanks for watching Melissa! Glad you found this video useful.

[@Mattrossphoto]

‘Feels weird, looks good’ I’m totally stealing that

[@edgaralonso232]

You are awesome!!!! You are a great photographer, thank you for the tips, I have a family photo shoot in 2 days, and you just game me good ideas, thank you!!! Please, you keep shooting!! 📸

[@think1564]

Truly a very useful information video. Vital to get the setup correct before you start clicking away, when that's correct you can make all the corrections for your subjects to get the right pose and fabulous images.

[@zuluwarmachine2011]

Loved this video - really informative and love your energy Michele :)

[@p.burley4533]

I’ve got a family portrait coming up! Going to use THESE tips, incl. the black backdrop and white reflectors.

[@ericjames4721]

I really appreciate this video. I’m new to photography and your explanations were extremely helpful. I want to start taking family photos but not sure how to get started. This video has given me a starting point with understanding the patience needed to work with families, the role a photographer plays in getting the right composition(s) and a camera setup that’s flexible so the focus is on the family and not the equipment or checking focus with every click.

[@WestcottLighting]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!

[@liljohn20002000]

Same here

[@akshayd211]

Good technique, great photography personality.

[@trishna_21]

I really enjoy to watching this video ☺ It's really so amazing 💕 and your communication with the baby... uff, seriously that was very nice😁✌🏻❤

[@mirandavandenberk786]

This is so great, I have tommorow my first family shoot at home,I go today practice this

[@robin5355]

beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

[@JTroker]

What for that music is? I don't want music if I'm listening when someone is talking. It is distracting.

[@cyberp0et]

This reminds me of my ship photographer days. Some kids were hardwork.

[@e-mastercorporation6995]

Excellent explanation. on point 100%.

[@MauriceChilds]

Why not use a remote for the shutter release?

[@MotifBeatz]

Absolutely phenomenal!!! I have my first family portrait shoot coming up and I thought I was ready...this has helped me SO MUCH! Thanks for sharing!

[@xxxxxxxxxx9188]

Curious how your shoot went.

[@m16chintu]

Really! That's fantastic work...

[@rattanstudio4376]

Which reflector you suggest for to buy and long life and worth for money.

[@manonruitenbergfotografie7524]

I'm very curious how many meters there is between the models and the background. ?

[@m.legato3698]

Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you

[@johnpenrod8386]

Do you ever use a remote shutter release?

[@mdmurray17]

That was lovely and very useful. I sometimes used a fart machine or a whoopee cushion. Made me laugh if no one else...

[@manoharmgr8235]

Very useful video , I learned lot from it, looking forward more videos like this keep it up good work, R.manohar , india,chennai

[@WestcottLighting]

Thanks for watching!

[@drewonaiyekan]

Excellent and engaging

[@russellwright9961]

This is a great video, thanks for sharing this! What tripod plate was used to allow the fast orientation change? Thanks!

[@WestcottLighting]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Russel! Michele attached a Manfrotto tripod plate directly to her Canon 70-200 lens, which has a rotating tripod collar.

[@russellwright9961]

@@WestcottLighting Got it, thanks. The FJ400 has me rethinking which portable strobe I want to invest in, it has some features that others don't, I mean it seems to be revolutionary. Are there any videos available of it's use or video reviews that you know of?

[@WestcottLighting]

@@russellwright9961 Absolutely, we have a playlist with different tutorials here: kzbin.info/aero/PLHM25BE9qJgq1almd3bKsSLa5FOyGvHOO Here are some reviews from different photographers as well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmLbimN8oKuml7c kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnuQf5yVnLOUiLc kzbin.info/www/bejne/j17CgWtpaseYoK8

[@myprovideo7852]

main reason I signed in here was to say ( for this situation, camera on tripod ) to use a wired or wireless trigger to snap the photo while on the side of the camera, she is often checking it before she snaps but the tripod and camera should not be moving, there for the frame is always the same, so no need to check again once the first image was correct, maybe frame a bit larger so that you can corp if needed. but if the photographer, ( Michele or any one reading this ) in the same situation, camera on tripod, and the photog acting crazy for the baby, then a wired or wireless camera trigger would help a lot. as well as using a safe and sufficiently wide table for the baby to be on when taking a shot of baby alone, having one parent or adult standing near baby but off camera, in silence so as not to turn baby's head that direction, but be there to catch the baby in case...... but other parent below and in line with camera, speaking to the baby for baby's attention.... I do this every day ( for work ).

[@taykiamyong5563]

👍👍👍 This is a great video, thanks for sharing this!

[@akandekehinde2036]

Great video.What lens did you use

[@marcomark8]

Good video.

[@carsonlee7554]

What kind of tripod is that

[@riolope3274]

What kind of cámara is that?

[@portraitsbydouglas9861]

This is great! But what amount of flash power are you using??

[@eduardocortes6650]

Good afternoon, very nice video, thanks for share your experience, it helps a lot! I have a question, on this kind of photo shoot should be handy to use a wireless trigger for the camera? to capture the image while making movement to catch the attention of child

[@pagpapaitim]

what kind of seats/stools are those

[@lisabarreca]

I use Nikon cameras and I've never used a strobe will I be able to program the strobe to my camera?

[@joanneluciani5742]

I love the black seating props! Where are they from?

[@dibyasrisahu7832]

How you edit photos..

[@famvoyage]

Thank you

[@qwazar9318]

Great tutorials! thank you! what camera is your favourite? :)

[@FrostedTides]

I am curious, you said the setup are only two lights, yet in the video behind the main light you have a third light which I guess it is a bigger lamp. Why do you have it?

[@WestcottLighting]

Thanks for watching! The light behind the main light was just used for video purposes of recording the tutorial. Michele had her FJ400s bright enough to overpower the video lights.

[@percymoore279]

I love watching your KZbin. What size backdrop is that?

[@WestcottLighting]

this was the 9x20 backdrop! www.fjwestcott.com/products/wrinkle-resistant-backdrop-rich-black-9-x-20

[@percymoore279]

Thank you.

[@iancacho8877]

This Channel deserves more subs... keep it up Ma'am...I'm just starting and I've learned a lot from you already...

[@krishnastudio1856]

Love from India

[@mikel5094]

High great shoot. How much a shoot like this will cost? And how many shots?

[@tracephoto1823]

Very nice. Did you purchase those stools as is, or are they simply stools with a black skrim stretched over them? I’d like to grab them somewhere for my studio.

[@er3117]

love it

[@RonaldAllanMartinez]

Thanks. 👍👍

[@greatday2224]

You did a good job.

[@HURPSYYEMRAY1]

TNX

[@clarencenewby716]

Do you always use zooms as opposed to primes?

[@kensleylewis]

Is it safe to assume that if we are taking photos with this setup on our smart phones, we probably don't need to invest in a reflector?

[@WestcottLighting]

Reflectors still help! Smartphones definitely have the ability to take incredible photos nowadays, but good lighting and lighting patterns still make for better photos.

[@DiviPhotos]

Very nice

[@RawGreySun]

Ever use remote or wireless trigger?

[@WestcottLighting]

Thanks for watching!! Michele was using the FJ-X2m wireless trigger and 2 FJ-400 strobes together for this session.

[@RawGreySun]

@@WestcottLighting i mean wireless trigger for camera!!

[@RawGreySun]

???

[@ddcork82]

I thought that as well.

[@myprovideo7852]

@@WestcottLighting main reason I signed in here was to say ( for this situation, camera on tripod ) to use a wired or wireless trigger to snap the photo while on the side of the camera, she is often checking it before she snaps but the tripod and camera should not be moving, there for the frame is always the same, so no need to check again once the first image was correct, maybe frame a bit larger so that you can corp if needed. but if the photographer, ( Michele or any one reading this ) in the same situation, camera on tripod, and the photog acting crazy for the baby, then a wired or wireless camera trigger would help a lot. as well as using a safe and sufficiently wide table for the baby to be on when taking a shot of baby alone, having one parent or adult standing near baby but off camera, in silence so as not to turn baby's head that direction, but be there to catch the baby in case...... but other parent below and in line with camera, speaking to the baby for baby's attention.... I do this every day ( for work ).

[@manoharmgr8235]

Super ,Congratulations,*** நன்றாக இருக்கிறது வாழ்த்துக்கள் R.MANOHAR-CHENNAI

[@MrV2u]

Awesome video thanks for this. That was a work out I’m sure...

[@WestcottLighting]

Luckily Michele has a lot of energy to keep up with them! Thanks for watching!

[@picasary]

I'm subscribing 🥰

[@syahmirga]

thanks a lot for this :)

[@최일하-j6f]

무선 릴리즈를 사용해보세요.

[@amandahickok4380]

I use funny looking hats to help the children and family laugh.

[@VijiyBaskar]

😂cute teacher

[@CherishHappiness]

朋友你的视频对我有帮助🙏🙏🙏

[@kaliehall-to8im]

How cutest toddler I ever seen ohoh he sunset tequila my name is Heather hall

[@richardsanches11]

You ar biury ❤

[@killernoob6526]

Pensé que el de la miniatura era wos xdxdxd

[@benitacristino6771]

B

[@benitacristino6771]

Jjjj