Melanie & Abel

[Manfred M]

I did a maternity shoot this evening with Melanie. Her son Abel wanted to see his mother and got into the shot.

[Digital]

Manfred, nice portraiture.



Bruce

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[Donald]

The inclusion of the child makes the portrait, in my view. I do like your set up and the composition. Her pants/knickers are a distraction I suggest, particularly given that her hand is resting in such a way that it points at them. Given that she was wearing them, then removing them in post processing is the only option .... if you agree with me.

[DanK]

I like the image. I wouldn't have thought to do it this way. I take Donald's point about the knickers, but I see it as less of an issue; my first reaction was that her hand was directing attention to her belly.

[Manfred M]

Thanks for all the comments. The background to how I ended up doing this shoot is what was the interesting part for me.

I was contacted by the photographer that started me down the road of doing more portraiture. He's a well known local photographer who does a lot work as a hobby, rather than as someone out to make a living in this type of work. He shoots with a lot of models who are trying to build portfolios and get into the modelling business on a part-time basis, which is how he met Melanie.

He broke his wrist about 2 weeks ago, slipping on some ice, as he took the trash out. He cancelled / postponed all of his planned shoots for the next couple of months, but for obvious reasons was unable to delay this shoot until after his hand had healed. Unable to handle a camera, he asked if I could do the shoot, so I did.

I'm hardly an expert in maternity shoots; I had done one previously and had never done one with other family members involved, especially an 18 month old. Getting a baby into the scene adds a whole new dynamic to the shoot; rather than being a typical model shoot, it is much more like an event shoot. Young children unpredictable and not easy to manage, so this was much more like an event shoot; watch for movements of interest and hope that there is some material to work with.

Dan - you are right about the hand; it is pointing toward the belly. In this genre, framing and pointing at the "baby bump" is really the key feature of posing and lighting. I'm probably going to have another go at this shot to see if burning down the area Donald mentioned and might have another look at Abel's nappies / mom's fingers on them as well.

[Donald]

Based on the story of how you came to do the shoot, I think this is a marvellous shot.

I do notice that in the Society of Photographers (of which I am a member) there is a lot of attention given to maternity shots. It is a real money spinner for professionals, so it seems. The sort of money they talk about that clients will pay for a shoot really took my breath away.

So, keep practicing and doling them, Manfred!

[mugge]

Maybe it is my monitor (terrible) or the room I'm in but it appears that there are shadows left and right just above the sheet. It really must be my monitor. I have a medium range HP laptop. Have tried several rooms but still the same result.
Cheers Ole

[Manfred M]

Maybe it is my monitor (terrible) or the room I'm in but it appears that there are shadows left and right just above the sheet. It really must be my monitor. I have a medium range HP laptop. Have tried several rooms but still the same result.
Cheers Ole

I certainly do not see any shadows above the sheet. The background is white seamless paper that was lit to just before it clipped, so it was just about pure white and there is nothing there to form shadows.

[mugge]

I asked another person in the household and she cannot see anything either. I am two or three years away from a cataract operation. Maybe that is a factor.

Cheers Ole

[John 2]

This is some nice work Manfred. Technically it is spot on for me and I don't see her underwear as an issue. The beauty for me is that the first point of attention is her stomach but as you look around the comp you inevitably come to the startled look on the little boys face, which is quite delightful.

[Tom Barry]

I asked another person in the household and she cannot see anything either. I am two or three years away from a cataract operation. Maybe that is a factor.

Cheers Ole

Well, I've had the cataract operation on both eyes, have 20/20 vision in both, and can't see any shadows, either. Well done shot.

[mugge]

Well, I've had the cataract operation on both eyes, have 20/20 vision in both, and can't see any shadows, either. Well done shot.

I meant to say that in two or three years time I will have a cataract operation

[zen]

This is some nice work Manfred. Technically it is spot on for me and I don't see her underwear as an issue. The beauty for me is that the first point of attention is her stomach but as you look around the comp you inevitably come to the startled look on the little boys face, which is quite delightful.

I agree. It's breath-taking with the young lad in there . . .

Zen

[William W]

Fantastic concept!

***

. . . I'm probably going to have another go at this shot to see if burning down the area Donald mentioned and might have another look at Abel's nappies / mom's fingers on them as well.

Yes. I concur. Those two were the first 'glitches in the pose' that I spied.

It appears that both would have been avoided by her legs being positioned just slightly differently: it is easy to say that after the event and it is mentioned in the spirit of professional critique, and mainly to emphasize that "the pose" can make less or more work, later.

Little kids move quickly, don't they!

WW

[William W]

. . . I do notice that in the Society of Photographers (of which I am a member) there is a lot of attention given to maternity shots. It is a real money spinner for professionals, so it seems. . .

It is certainly an "in fashion" genre: arguably started by Anne Geddes and her Baby Portraits and it being a spin off from it.

WW

[Manfred M]

It appears that both would have been avoided by her legs being positioned just slightly differently: it is easy to say that after the event and it is mentioned in the spirit of professional critique, and mainly to emphasize that "the pose" can make less or more work, later.

Little kids move quickly, don't they!

WW

Thanks Bill - this is the "final" version I delivered to Melanie.



When I started to shoot this set, there was no plan to include the boy, who was quietly sitting with his grandmother down near my shooting position. He decided he wanted his mother and crawled in quite quickly, so I took advantage of the situation, rather than posing the shot. Frankly, I'm quite convinced that shooting lots and hoping to get a few great shots is the only way to go in this type of situation.

[William W]

I think Melanie will be very happy with that Final Image.

I think that you could (should) make yourself available for a Portrait sitting once the new Babe is born; it is obvious that rapport has been created.

It should go without saying that I understand you'd talk to your Photographer friend beforehand.

As see it, doing another shoot for this Family would benefit your journey and skills, across many facets.

WW