How to Set Up a Family Portrait With a Professional Look
Hiring a professional to take a family portrait can be costly. But with a digital camera, tripod and simple backdrop, you can set up your own family photo with a professional look, and most people won't be able to tell that you took it yourself.
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Instructions
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Plan outfits for the family. The outfits should match in look and color-not an exact match, but complementary colors or designs.
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Choose a backdrop that is plain rather than decorative or distracting. You can use a colored sheet, for instance.
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If you want to do a theme, set up the area where you want to take the picture. For example, Christmas photos can be done in front of a tree with presents, and outdoor photos can be taken in a pleasant area near you with a scenic backdrop.
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Set up your digital camera on a tripod, pointing at the backdrop. Take a few test pictures of people on the background to see how it looks.
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Get everyone into position for the photo, leaving a space for you near the front.
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Set the camera's timer, then get into your position quickly. Remind everyone to smile.
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Take multiple photos to accommodate for closed eyes, blurriness or movement. That way you'll have plenty to choose from.
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Tips & Warnings
Try taking several photos from a few different angles.
Move people around and take a few photos with the people in different positions.
Once you've taken the photos, you can alter them digitally with your computer (see Resources below).
