The reluctant child model

tkamiya · Jan 18, 2012

Sounds like my recent portrait session. I did a session with young parents, two kids. Baby was great - amazement to the parents. Their 4 year old did not want to participate. He decided he didn't want pictures taken.

Having no kids of my own, I'm clueless so my girlfriend who was acting as a helper and the parents tried their best. Nothing really worked. His mind was set! NO PICTURES! However, one of the best images was actually from this reluctant kid. The father decided he'll play a game of chase with this child. Within 30 seconds, he forgot all about the camera and started to play. I stood back and used telephoto to get some action shots. In the end, they have an image of their child paying with his dad and playing his favorite game, chase-the-dad.

I think, when child is involved, anything is possible and having an open mind about what photographs to take is an asset. Sure, they didn't get many everybody-sitting-and-smiling photo of him but they did get something they'd love and keep.

Strangely, last year, he was a happy kid who smiled on que.... I learned later, he didn't get his nap that day. Oh well.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 18, 2012

Katie said:
Parker - forget kids, your dog portraits are blowing me away!!! Care to mentor and share your wisdom?

Thanks! We have a great niche in the ATL doing the dog portraits. What would you like to know?

Vaughn · Jan 18, 2012

sly said:
...Everyone makes mistakes as a parent, and an awful lot of people are waiting to pass judgment. Especially complete strangers who've never had kids...

So true, which makes it nice to have people come up to me at restraunts, social gatherings, etc and tell me how nice my boys are. It is always a bit of a surprise since they are just behaving as I would expect them to. If one treats one's kids with respect, I think they will approach others the same way. If one talks down to one's kids, then they are likely to talk down to people whom they might consider "beneath" them. And they watch their parents react very closely. Disiplining one's kids does nothing if the parents also do not provide the example of proper behaviour...otherwise it just teaches the kids to be more sneaky.

My three boys (triplets) are very different from each other, too -- as you said, Sly, one "size" does not fit all!

My boys at about 5 yrs old or so.
8x10 Platinum/palladium print
probably about a 30 second exposure

Thomas Bertilsson · Jan 19, 2012

Vaughn,

I remember that photograph from when you last posted it. It's wonderful! Using the trees for scale is simply brilliant!

Respect is key, by the way. I brought up one boy who's now 18 years old, and just spending time with him, actually talking to him, letting him win at chess half the time, etc I think was key in having a meaningful relationship. All of it is still true, except now I have to try hard to win a game of chess.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 19, 2012

Vaughn said:
My boys at about 5 yrs old or so.

Vaughn, that is really beautiful. Like Meatyard meets Bullock. I'd love to see the original print. Scans just never do it justice.

Katie · Jan 19, 2012

Now THAT is a child portrait! WOW. I think you have something special there.

Vaughn said:
So true, which makes it nice to have people come up to me at restraunts, social gatherings, etc and tell me how nice my boys are. It is always a bit of a surprise since they are just behaving as I would expect them to. If one treats one's kids with respect, I think they will approach others the same way. If one talks down to one's kids, then they are likely to talk down to people whom they might consider "beneath" them. And they watch their parents react very closely. Disiplining one's kids does nothing if the parents also do not provide the example of proper behaviour...otherwise it just teaches the kids to be more sneaky.

My three boys (triplets) are very different from each other, too -- as you said, Sly, one "size" does not fit all!

My boys at about 5 yrs old or so.
8x10 Platinum/palladium print
probably about a 30 second exposure

Dinesh · Jan 19, 2012

David Lyga said:
If I had a child dart out into traffic you can bet your ass that his ass would be red, immediately and even swiftly.

It is patently obvious that you do not have any idea of what you are talking about.

Vaughn · Jan 19, 2012

Dinesh said:
It is patently obvious that you do not have any idea of what you are talking about.

It is sort of like a straight telling a gay how to best fit into society...

Here is another of the series of my boys. Once I determine the general composition, I tend to let them pick their spot and pose in the landscape. Any portrait is a bit of a collaberation between the photographer and the subject(s). I generally only do one set up per trip into the landscape. This is an on-going project (over-due for another image, though!) and I need their willing and (at least) semi-enthusiastic cooperation -- or else the project falls apart.

Here is another -- I have probably posted it before. This was a two-minute exposure.

Three Boys, Three Snags
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
New Years Day, 2008

8x10 Carbon Print

BrianShaw · Jan 19, 2012

... and another. This really was a "reluctant child" (not belligerent, but not liking the process) until he was told to relax and "be himself".

4x5 view camera with 250mm Fujinon soft focus lens. Ilford FP4, I think.

mgb74 · Jan 19, 2012

It's almost always better to involve kids in the process. Worked in Cub Scouts, worked in Boy Scouts. Worked with the parents of Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. And it works with me too.

Film photography is all about delayed gratification. Not a concept that develops early in life. So something tangible helps. Was easier when Polaroid film was cheap and plentiful - let the child take a few shots with the Polaroid to get in the mood. Just not the same with digital - it's not as tangible - but perhaps still helpful.

I haven't tried with large format, but I would guess the oddity of a view camera and seeing the reverse image on the GG might help pique interest and foster cooperation.

Also, I happen to believe (but no proof) that getting down on their level helps. IE sit on the floor so you aren't towering over them.

You can pretty much bet that any forced pose will not be worthwhile. But I've seen "studio" photos on the walls of friends and family that I thought were trite and formulaic. Yet they liked them. It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2012

zsas said:
As a parent (and a parent of a five year old boy no less) I would much rather candid shots of him in his element than the sterile "say cheese" shots! I assure you they will be outstanding and the parents will love the comfortable enviornment you created than a forced smile session.

+1

Sirius Glass · Jan 19, 2012

SuzanneR said:
Right, give the kid a good spanking before a photo shoot, that'll be a great way to get lots of smiles. (not)

Very true, but people would comment about my father's photographs of us that "the eyes are so bright!" Tears will do it every time.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 22, 2012

Vaughn said:
Here is another of the series of my boys. Once I determine the general composition, I tend to let them pick their spot and pose in the landscape. Any portrait is a bit of a collaberation between the photographer and the subject(s). I generally only do one set up per trip into the landscape. This is an on-going project (over-due for another image, though!) and I need their willing and (at least) semi-enthusiastic cooperation -- or else the project falls apart.

Another beauty, Vaughn. You've done something which is the essence of great portraiture, and that is to create an image that goes beyond the parent/child connection and is somehow representative of humanity as a whole.

What I mean is that it is quite easy to make a portrait of a child that the parents will love. It's their child, after all, so even an "advanced amateur snapshot" will have some significance to them. Going beyond that to create a portrait of a child (or adult) that is appealing, intriguing and significant to people who aren't members of their immediate family is quite difficult.

You've created something that concretizes what children really are: marvelous, complex, imaginative, mystical, playful and sometimes sullen or even dangerous. Maybe I'm seeing too far into this because I have three boys (11, 8 and 4) that I know can be so many beautiful and crazy things at the same time.

Happy Sunday!

Vaughn · Jan 22, 2012

Thank you, Parker. I was in a 4 person show at a local gallery -- the owner was at first a bit worried when I said I was going to put up images of my boys. She was quite relieved when she saw the prints.

So, now I have an excuse to post another one...

Well, two more

Both 8x10 platinum prints. One with a 210mm and the other with a 159mm.

sly · Jan 24, 2012

Vaughn, I remeber your prints vividly. What a treat it was to see your work in-the-hand. I hope to meet your wonderful sons some day.

I've posted 3 work prints from last weeks shoot in the gallery. Feedback appreciated.

ParkerSmithPhoto · Jan 24, 2012

Vaughn said:
Thank you, Parker. I was in a 4 person show at a local gallery -- the owner was at first a bit worried when I said I was going to put up images of my boys. She was quite relieved when she saw the prints.

So, now I have an excuse to post another one...

Well, if they all sing like that, you can just them straight to my email. It would be a welcome relief from all the garbage!

What a treasure for your boys to have. I hope you are making editions of three.

The reluctant child model

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Thomas Bertilsson

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