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Question from Kim:”I have a family photo shoot this weekend with a lovely family that lost their oldest son in a tragic accident. I know it will be an emotional session for them. I am trying to find ways to honor their son while treasuring new family photos and make it a positive experience. We are bringing a large picture of their son and I have his initials in large wooden letters. But still struggling to come up with ideas. Any advice at all would be great!”
Mary: Favorite color in balloons, releasing balloons to him, initial of his name, maybe his favorite toy or blanket incorporated.
Corina: Could you hang the photo in the background,or maybe have something belonging to the child in the photo.car,stuffed toy etc.good luck
Kendra: Maybe they could do a balloon release in his favorite color?
Ashley: Is he a sports fan? Or what are his hobbies? We lost a dear friend when he was only 26. Wrong place wrong time! But he was a huge giants fan so at his funeral we all wore giants gear. Maybe for a few pics the family could do something like that. Idk just an idea
Julie: I did a family photoshoot with a family who lost the father, the family all lined up and also placed the empty shoes of the missing father, I took a photo of all of their shoes , the family loved it
Ashley: Like that idea Kendra!
Melissa: I have no suggestions on ways to honor their son. I would only maybe suggest that you do a few that honor their son and then do some that don’t include that so that they can have some new photos to cherish that don’t revolve around this tragic accident. Maybe something fun that the family does together that maybe they haven’t done since the loss of the son. A football pose if they played as a family, ideas like that that are fun. Good luck!
Victoria: were they into football/rugby etc… maybe t-shirt in the background… everyone wearing his favourite colour…
Simone: I’ve got a similar one. I am doing a mum and 8 year old son. Their 17 year old daughter/sister committed suicide a few months ago. Very sad. I love the balloon idea! I’m not sure what else to do but I want to keep it happy.
Melissa: Oh definitely the balloon idea!
Heather: I think also telling them its ok if they need to take breaks between pictures, etc. I cant imagine that pain.
Karen: I agree with doing something that includes the son and others that don’t, so they don’t feel torn between having a family portrait session without him and having one that doesn’t include him anymore. This way there’s no torn emotions of the shoot for the family. I think doing both may even help them to move on a little as well.
Bernadette: I lost my eldest son when he was a baby and we have a teddy bear tat we include in family photos as his “representative”. I don’t think there is much else you can do from your end really. The other idea I have seen when dealing with generations and a framed picture is for each generation to hold it so it layers (but might take a couple f shoots)…. Eg a photo of his siblings holding the framed photo, frame that then a photo of his parents holding that framed pic (of siblings holding pic), then framed, then even a pic of his grandparents holding that pic, if tat makes sense….
Good luck, um sure you will do a lovely job
Krista: I would be a blubbering mess the entire shoot. Good luck to you and the family.
Cheryl: I like the shoes idea
Griselda: maybe take photos at a favourite location of him?
Carla: wearing a shirt of his? favorite shirt or hat?
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