Things You'll Need:
- A good digital camera (preferably an SLR) also a tripod and some willing subjects!
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Step 1
Besides getting the family together and in the proper attire you will need to look at the settings on your camera. If you are shooting with a digital SLR (recommended) you are going to want to put it in the "P" setting so you can control the camera. The "P" setting still allows the camera to shoot automatically but you can control whether or not the flash fires.
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Step 2
Gather the family together in a good location. Do not put them under a tree. If you have a favorite place in your yard put everyone there and have them pose in a way that you like. You will need a tripod. Place the camera on a tripod and frame the family in your view finder. Be sure to fill as much of the frame as possible with the family. Remember that portraits are about people and not their surroundings so fill the frame as much as you can with people. Assuming that you are going to be in the picture you need to set the timer on the camera. If you do not know how to do this then refer to your owners manual. Do make sure that there are no harsh shadows on the faces of your subjects. If there are then you need to re-position everyone. You can do this by facing the subjects towards the sun and having the sun at the photographers back. This is why it is better to do this on an overcast day. If you do not have a good place for them to stand with nothing too distracting in the background then I suggest taking the portraits at a local park. Remember the background is not too important, it is the subjects you want to focus on.
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Step 3
After you have the family framed in the viewfinder the way you like and you have decided where you will stand then set the timer and get yourself into the picture. Keep trying until you get the result you want. If you want everyone sitting then you need to lower the camera on the tripod so the lens is even with everyone's faces.
