Family photography
Family photography may at first glance appear to be one of the easiest genres to 'get right' but that very familiarity with your subjects can present problems for you as a photographer. In order to make good and impactful photographs you have to be distant from your subject matter yet be empathic.
With this in mind you will be identified by members of your own family as 'the official family photography' due to your obvious interest in family photography. family get together's will present themselves as perfect opportunities to capture family portraits whether individual or a large generational picture.
However, when you get out your camera, some of your family may groan and run for the door to escape. But don't give up! Getting a fantastic picture of your family doesn't have to be a painful experience for either you or your subjects, especially if you put a few simple photo tips to use.
We've gathered our top four favorite family photography tips:
-Don't be shy
Sarah suggests getting down low to your baby and kids' level by getting right down on the ground with them to capture their great smiles and expressive faces. Also get in as close as your camera will allow: you'll capture all those precious emotions better.
-Act normal
Don't resort to funny faces or waving stuffed animals to get your kids to "perform" on camera. Just take photos as usual and let them eventually grow used to having a camera around. You might not always get a smile, but you will always get genuine reactions from your kids!
-Find a rhythm
Sarah's brilliant idea of putting on some music for your kids for a casual photo shoot in your home is right on target, and she suggests bringing out costumes and just letting your kids having fun dancing and moving.
-Turn off the flash
Our personal favorite tip of Sarah's (and one we can't underscore enough) is to turn off the flash!
You'll see the photograph in natural light and get to experiment with the composition, producing beautiful, natural and flash-free photos! What are your favorite tips when photographing your family? What's the best photo you've ever taken of a loved one, and the story behind it? Share with us your own great family photography ideas!
Posing Techniques family photography
Firstly, try to position everyone so that their heads are close together. This usually helps to make everyone look extra friendly and happy. You should, if possible also try to plan what your family are wearing for their photograph.
Family photography may not always be possible for a big family gathering but if you could advise your family before the day to wear bright solid colours rather than vivid patterns which pull the viewers eyes away from the subject.
For a Great Family Picture and family photography , Keep Things Simple
Try to put all your creative effort into photographing the one main subject ie. the group. You can take lots of extra informal shots of your family as the mill around. Take plenty of additional photos, so don't worry about including everybody and everything in one picture. If you put too much stuff in your photo it will look messy.
The best option is to keep things as simple as possible. Try to crop as you frame, meaning don't have lots of extraneous information cluttering up the viewfinder. You will soon get the hang of this. You just need to be aware of your field of view and not be sloppy allowing trees and buildings etc to dominate the scene rather than the actual subject matter.
If you are photographing a number of different family members in a group they in essence become one subject. Therefore ensure you crop tightly and emphasise their relationship with each other rather than have lots of space between them which will detract from the impact of them as a subject. Don't be afraid to 'direct' your family. family photography may mean getting them to move in closer or put an arm around each other. Often people will happily take to direction, more so than you may think.
And Lastly... Think about the ambient light when photographing your family
Family photography, as photographers we know the best light is either early morning or late afternoon or evening. Family photography is when richness and depth of light is available so if possible try to get your family together for a group shot at these times of day.
Family photography is of course not always possible due to the event they are attending itself such as a christening or wedding. But, the principle still stands. If family photography is not possible then try to get them all into bright open shade or light just inside a doorway or a window. You may need to think about 'fill in flash' to avoid unsightly shadows.
With this in mind you will be identified by members of your own family as 'the official family photography' due to your obvious interest in family photography. family get together's will present themselves as perfect opportunities to capture family portraits whether individual or a large generational picture.
However, when you get out your camera, some of your family may groan and run for the door to escape. But don't give up! Getting a fantastic picture of your family doesn't have to be a painful experience for either you or your subjects, especially if you put a few simple photo tips to use.
We've gathered our top four favorite family photography tips:
-Don't be shy
Sarah suggests getting down low to your baby and kids' level by getting right down on the ground with them to capture their great smiles and expressive faces. Also get in as close as your camera will allow: you'll capture all those precious emotions better.
-Act normal
Don't resort to funny faces or waving stuffed animals to get your kids to "perform" on camera. Just take photos as usual and let them eventually grow used to having a camera around. You might not always get a smile, but you will always get genuine reactions from your kids!
-Find a rhythm
Sarah's brilliant idea of putting on some music for your kids for a casual photo shoot in your home is right on target, and she suggests bringing out costumes and just letting your kids having fun dancing and moving.
-Turn off the flash
Our personal favorite tip of Sarah's (and one we can't underscore enough) is to turn off the flash!
You'll see the photograph in natural light and get to experiment with the composition, producing beautiful, natural and flash-free photos! What are your favorite tips when photographing your family? What's the best photo you've ever taken of a loved one, and the story behind it? Share with us your own great family photography ideas!
Posing Techniques family photography
Firstly, try to position everyone so that their heads are close together. This usually helps to make everyone look extra friendly and happy. You should, if possible also try to plan what your family are wearing for their photograph.
Family photography may not always be possible for a big family gathering but if you could advise your family before the day to wear bright solid colours rather than vivid patterns which pull the viewers eyes away from the subject.
For a Great Family Picture and family photography , Keep Things Simple
Try to put all your creative effort into photographing the one main subject ie. the group. You can take lots of extra informal shots of your family as the mill around. Take plenty of additional photos, so don't worry about including everybody and everything in one picture. If you put too much stuff in your photo it will look messy.
The best option is to keep things as simple as possible. Try to crop as you frame, meaning don't have lots of extraneous information cluttering up the viewfinder. You will soon get the hang of this. You just need to be aware of your field of view and not be sloppy allowing trees and buildings etc to dominate the scene rather than the actual subject matter.
If you are photographing a number of different family members in a group they in essence become one subject. Therefore ensure you crop tightly and emphasise their relationship with each other rather than have lots of space between them which will detract from the impact of them as a subject. Don't be afraid to 'direct' your family. family photography may mean getting them to move in closer or put an arm around each other. Often people will happily take to direction, more so than you may think.
And Lastly... Think about the ambient light when photographing your family
Family photography, as photographers we know the best light is either early morning or late afternoon or evening. Family photography is when richness and depth of light is available so if possible try to get your family together for a group shot at these times of day.
Family photography is of course not always possible due to the event they are attending itself such as a christening or wedding. But, the principle still stands. If family photography is not possible then try to get them all into bright open shade or light just inside a doorway or a window. You may need to think about 'fill in flash' to avoid unsightly shadows.