Photography Career Information
5 Photography Portrait Tips
There are lots of great reasons why you should learn how to take family portraits and you don’t even have to embark on a photography career to do so. Having portraits professionally done can be just too expensive for many families. And sometimes, it can be impossible to get everyone to the studio at the appointed time.
Every family deserves to have at least one good family portrait together but it’s nice to have additional portraits as the family grows and ages. If you want to learn how to take portraits, learn by taking a portrait of your family or someone you know who would love to have a family portrait! If you are taking a portrait of your own family, make sure to be in it too! So be sure to use a camera with a timer or remote shutter button release.
If you are new to photography learning how to take family portraits will also give you the opportunity to learn and practice other skills, such as taking that group picture at Thanksgiving or a team picture after the game.
So, here are some tips to help you get started taking great (formal or informal) family portraits.
1) Avoid the “Police Line Up” Portrait
Instead of lining everyone up shoulder to shoulder, try a more natural arrangement that also makes it easier to to fit a bunch of people into one picture.
Staggering is one technique that works well for group photos. For example, you might stagger the family members on the front steps of a porch or on and around boulders near a pond, with some family members standing and others sitting. If in a park, you could sit everyone on the lawn clustered together or have them sit on a bench. Show family closeness by spacing members close together.
2) Show Relationships
You can do this by the way in which you have people pose in the portrait. For example, Grandma and Grandpa might stand next by each other, a toddler in their parent’s arms, or siblings with their arms slung around each other.
3) Consider Including the Family Pets
Even if the pet is sitting still, you may want to raise the Shutter Speed Priority to 1/125 because the flick of a tail or other tiny movement can cause blur. It is always easier to take an individual portrait of a someone with their pet (or even a pet separately), but if the family has a mellow dog or cat, try to take some poses with and without the family pet.
4) Get Creative with Props
Get creative with the props depending on the type of portrait you want. Does the family play community baseball? Each family member could hold a mitt, ball or bat. This is a trend with individual portraiture that can be fun for families too.
5) Get Everyone Smiling
Instead of just saying “cheese,” put the family at ease (no rhyme intended) by talking to them: compliment, tell a story joke around, and soon they won’t be so nervous about the photographing and their smiles will become more relaxed and real. When you’ve got everyone posed and smiling, ask the family to hold them until you give them the signal that you got the shot.
Finally, have fun taking lots of pictures so the family can choose their favorite. You’re sure to get some keepers where the family will feel proud to frame them for all to see.
About the Author
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves photography. Your Picture Frames makes it easy for you to find just the perfect frame for your photo or artwork. Shop online and see our selection of stylish square picture frames and our old fashioned oval picture frames.
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