A picture of one child with all four of his grandparents (like the one of my family above) is practically the gold standard for grandparent photography—and not because I took the picture. It was literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, I’m sad to say, is not going to happen again. If you’re lucky enough to be with all of the grandparents in one spot (it happens at weddings and graduations), try to pose each individual grandchild with the four family leaders. They will love you forever for taking the time.
FORMAL PORTRAITS AND CANDID SHOTS ARE IMPORTANT
Yes, of course, shoot as many group shots as you can. Four generations of women are represented in this treasure by Cathy Rawl Edwards. But as with all group shots, when you tell the subjects you’re finished shooting, keep your eyes open. Those quiet, casual moments after the photo shoot, when people let their guard down, will often provide you with your favorite pictures as Cathy’s wide shot near the parking lot proves.
MAKE TIME FOR ONE-ON-ONE PHOTOS
Any child lucky enough to spend one on one time with a favorite grandparent will treasure those pictures for a lifetime, whether they are spontaneous or simple tight head shots. The bottom picture is Laurie Williams Rainey with her now-deceased grandmother. She was the last link to Laurie’s mother who was killed in a car accident when Laurie was six years old. (Top: Sarah White, Rochelle Hepworth, and Laurie Williams Rainey.)
SHOW THE FUN AND LAUGHTER
I can’t say that I associate lots of laughs with my grandparents so I’m jealous of anyone who experienced fun and laughter with their elders. It could be something as “modest” as a shot at the playground as a great great grandmother plays with the little ones, a grandmother demonstrating her spirit of adventure while ziplining with her grandchildren, or a grandfather exchanging clothes with his grandson for a comedy portrait. Laughter and fun add energy to any situation. (Top to bottom: Nikki Wagner, Kim McBee Foster, Vicki Lynn Black)
SHOW THE PASSING OF TRADITIONS AND WISDOM
It goes without saying that any situation showing a grandparent sharing a lifetime of knowledge with his grandchildren is a great photograph as in Tammy Thomas’s picture of a grandfather and his fifth-generation-farmer grandsons at a cattle brand in the corral built by their great great grandfather. There is not an app that will substitute for this.
CREATIVE COMPOSITION
When in doubt, pose the older generation at the top and work your way down. It totally works in this beautiful self-portrait by Dawn Bassford Jackson. She’s the proud grandmother in this simple, powerful group shot.
