Family Photography Ideas & Tips
Taking portraits can be a fun and meaningful way for a family to spend time together. Although family portrait sessions can be quite stressful to arrange and coordinate, the resulting photographs are almost always worth it. Several tips and ideas can help you get the most out of your family portraits.
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Simplicity
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For effective family photography, it can help to keep everything as simple as possible. Not only will a simple approach make coordinating your efforts easier, it will also give the photograph a cleaner and less cluttered appearance. Limit the image's focus to the individuals in the picture, whether the photograph is being taken at a wedding, family reunion, annual vacation or birthday party. Draw the eyes to the faces and expressions of the family members by keeping the background unfocused and abstract. You can use a wide aperture in order to accomplish this.
Emotion
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One poignant method of capturing emotion on film is to take candid family photographs in addition to posed shots. Consider taking relaxed pictures of pairs of family members at a time, and try to catch them in laid-back and comfortable moments.
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Proximity
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Although it can be difficult to execute, it is important to position groups of people as close together as possible when taking photographs of them. Close positioning can help convey a feeling of physical closeness, warmth and comfort between the family members. Conversely, too much distance between members in a picture can create a feeling of coldness, which is the direct opposite of the goal of family photography. Arrange members with overlapping shoulders and angled positions to attain the optimal effect in your photograph.
Consideration
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Families are full of people of all age groups; take various ages into consideration when deciding how to arrange the photograph. For example, if you have an elderly grandmother, think about perhaps placing her in a chair for the picture. If you are photographing a young toddler, perhaps allow him a spot in the grass. Taking good pictures isn't an instant thing, so it might be a good idea to take precautions beforehand in order to keep everyone comfortable.
Humor
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Much of what makes a family a family is based around humor. In order to capture an accurate portrait of a family, seek to extract their warmth and rapport by injecting a little bit of humor into the situation. Perhaps even make a few corny jokes in order to break the ice and ease the tension, as it is not uncommon for people to feel tense and anxious when taking pictures.
Themes
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Some families function best with themed photography rather than simplicity. This is especially effective for families without very young children or very elderly individuals. One fun-loving example of a themed family portrait revolves around fishing. Consider making a "big catch" the centerpiece of the picture with the rest of the family members looking on, impressed. However, it is crucial to remember that with family photography, the image is mostly about the subjects, not the setting.
Coordination
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For a successful family photograph, consider coordinated outfits. This doesn't necessarily involve everyone wearing all blue or all yellow, but instead encouraging people to stay away from extreme colors, patterns and designs; faddish fashion can make a photo appear dated and old. Also, plan ahead and inform people of the background or setting to ensure that they do not wear anything that will clash. Head-to-toe attire is important, as you want to be able to take full-length pictures if desired. Family portraits are about unity and solidarity, so members should not shy away from dressing in a similar manner, although their styles don't have to be identical.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
