Tips for Great Family Portraits

F Tips for Great Family Portraits E

So you’re planning to finally get your Family Portraits this weekend. It may not be as easy as it sound when you have getting everyone in your clan to look happy and peaceful into the camera for a few minutes – especially if there are small children.

Even though it can be a pain, in the end, it really is worth it to document your family in each life stage. Here are some ways to make the entire family photo experience a positive one:

1. Schedule the photo shoot when kids are at their happiest. Usually, at least for little ones, this means 5 to 6 p.m. is not the best time.  You can’t always get the time you want, but if you have any control over this aspect at all, I highly recommend working your appointment around your kiddos’ routines.

2. That said – lighting is important, so you may have to be flexible.  Bright, high noon sunshine is not ideal, so oftentimes, photographers prefer to shoot outdoor photos either in the morning or just before dusk.  You might have to go with the flow and let your kids’ schedule be a bit different that day.

3. Coordinate, but you don’t have to match. This is just my opinion, as I know many families like to wear the same outfit for their portraits.  But in my experience, photos look better when everyone blends well, but not too much.  To be honest, when I see a photo with the entire family wearing denim shirts, all I see is a sea of denim shirts – not the people.

4. Avoid too many patterns. It’s okay if one family member has a simple stripe or a basic design, but too many intricate patterns detracts from faces.  If in doubt of what to wear, go with a simple, solid-colored shirt.

5. Go casual. Especially if you have little ones.  I love photos that look like the family is relaxed, having fun with each other, and basically like they do most any other day of the year.  Sure, go ahead and brush their hair and have them in clean clothes – but you’re probably fighting an uphill battle asking preschoolers to sit still more than a minute at a time.

6.  When it comes to the setting, think outside the box.  The background is not the most important subject of your photo, so keep your location simple. Many cities have beautiful parks and natural settings, but don’t forget about your backyard.  Other fun settings are front porches, old buildings, fences, and even on your master bed – let everyone play around and get goofy.

7.  Get closer than you think. If you’re going to take the photos (with a timer, or when it’s just the kids), I can’t emphasize this enough - get much, much closer to faces than you think you should.  Faces are what you really want to see – so get right up there.

The beauty of digital photography is that you can edit, retake, retouch, and experiment in all sorts of ways.  Have fun taking that family memento, and keep it relaxed and light-hearten.