Pedi - Classic family portraits: lighting, posing and composition for location and studio photography

About the Author

Ed Pedi, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, is an award-winning photographic portrait artist who creates beautiful storytelling-images. He works exclusively in photographing family and children because he believes that family heritage is at the foundation of our very being. He is the recipient of numerous national awards such as Professional Photographer of Americas Photographer of the Year award, four Kodak Gallery Awards; six FUJI Masterpiece Awards; three Court of Honor Awards, and many Judges Choice Awards. His images have been displayed at the Kodak Exhibit at Disneys Epcot Center and he has images published in Professional Photographer Magazine. His portraits can be viewed on his web-site: www.edpediphoto.com.

Copyright 2014 by Ed Pedi

All rights reserved.

All photographs by the author unless otherwise noted.

Published by:

Amherst Media, Inc.

P.O. Box 586

Buffalo, N.Y. 14226

Fax: 716-874-4508

www.AmherstMedia.com

Publisher: Craig Alesse

Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins

Associate Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt

Associate Publisher: Kate Neaverth

Associate Editor: Beth Alesse

Editor: Harvey Goldstein

Editorial Assistance from: Sally Jarzab, John S. Loder, Carey A. Miller

Business Manager: Adam Richards

Warehouse and Fulfillment Manager: Roger Singo

ISBN-13: 978-1-60895-702-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013952499

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.

Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the authors experience and opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.

Check out Amherst Medias blogs at: http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/

http://weddingphotographer-amherstmedia.blogspot.com/

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

It is my pleasure to introduce Ed Pedi, M.Photog. Cr., CPP, to photographers beyond New England where he is known and highly regarded by other professional photographers. When Amherst Media approached me to collaborate with photographers on a series of books, each with sixty world-class images by a single photographer, Ed Pedi and his family portraits was the first name and subject that came to my mind.

Eds passion for family portraits was evident in our six-hours of interviews. He excitedly spoke of his love and the importance of family portraits and explained many of the challenges he faced with portraits in this book, including weather for some of the outdoor sessions and tight working spaces at some of the indoor locations. He was always ready for whatever he faced; he always expected the unexpected and he was prepared for it. It is interesting to note that most of Eds clients call him for updated family portraits every few years; as their families continue to grow, their need for new portraits are important to them. A perfect example is the family we watch grow in Waiting for Child #3; On a Cold, Cold Day in the Snow; Another New Addition; and All Grown Up.

Eds book, Classic Family Portraits, holds nothing back as he describes his lighting, posing and composition for location and studio portraits. He has even created his own set of posing rocks to help in the composition of family portraits on location.

Classic Family Portraits is an important tool for those who wish to create beautiful portraits. The information Ed shares is just as important for portraits of individuals as it is with families; it is all about knowing how to pose and light a subject, as well as the composition of groups and incorporating the background to compliment, and not overpower, the subject.

Harv Goldstein, Cr.Photog.

Assignment

This session came about as a result of previous portrait assignments of the familys childrens First Communion portraits. The father, who was originally from Ireland, wanted the portrait to be made in back of his house.

Lighting and Exposure

Due to the very sunny conditions, I had to improvise and find shade. With the sun behind the house on the right, I placed the family in the shadow of the house. I use the Photogenic 750 mono flash, which was aimed into a 42-inch umbrella to the left of the camera, raised up on the light stand. I skimmed the light across the faces to illuminate their eyes.

Posing the Family

In posing the family, my premise was that because our culture reads left to right, I was going to have the lines in the portrait also read left to right. I began with the diagonal line from the boys right foot (extreme left as we view the portrait), to Mom, the big sister, and finally up to the Dads face.

TECH SPECS > I photographed with 400 speed film using a Mamiya RZ67 and 150mm lens. The exposure was f/8, second, and 400 ISO.