Family photos are a big deal. They are the only way to capture your family’s personalities and moments in time, hopefully for all of eternity. But what if you’re not sure how to pose? What if you don’t know where to stand? Or what about those posed smiles that look so fake? With these 11 tips, you’ll have no problem taking the best family photos ever! You can thank us later.
1. Use Your Smartphone For Great Photos
Everyone has a camera in their pockets these days with the advent of the smartphone. But it is not just for being able to contact people when you are on the go. Using your smartphone for family photos will let you completely tailor the images to your needs, and ensure that everyone looks their best in all of them.
When using your smartphone to take shots, use an app like Instagram or VSCOcam to edit them before they are posted online. These apps have preset filters that really make bright colors pop, bring out the blue sky and green grass, and give everything a warm glow that makes everyone look great. You can also adjust brightness levels if some members are looking washed out by making them darker while other members bright as can be.
When you are taking your shots, make sure to use the grid lines on your smartphone’s viewfinder. The grid lines will help you get everyone into perfect position by making sure everyone is lined up just right. They are also great for taking group photos that stay within the frame of your picture, rather than having to crop it later in an editing program. Make sure not to take too many pictures with the flash on or everyone will have red eyes, so take a few shots without it first. Once you’ve got everything looking just right, you can capture all kinds of fun memories and moments even when there isn’t a camera around!
2. Talk About The Photo Before You Take It
Holding that brand new baby for the first time is one of the most special moments in your life, so you should capture it! But if you don’t want to be sad when you look at pictures of your newborn 20 years later, maybe take a moment to talk about what makes this photo unique. If it’s important, don’t forget to mention why before snapping away!
#3. Shoot Lots Of Pictures
You’re probably used to taking just one or two photos at each shot, but with family photos there will inevitably be something funny that happens right after. Remember that no good picture ever goes un-snapped! So keep your camera ready and snap away!
4. Capture A Lot Of Natural Moments
Keeping in mind your last tip, make sure to take lots of shots and you’ll be sure to capture all the cute (and not-so-cute) moments. But if you want to capture some special memories, make sure there are no forced smiles or fake poses. Let everyone laugh, cry…whatever it is they feel like doing at that moment. You’ll thank us later when you have a treasure trove of personality filled photos!
#5. Swap Out Old/Tired Clothes
This especially holds true for bigger families who may have only gotten one photo taken per year over the years because getting four kids dressed up can become nearly impossible! Swap out the old for some new, and your family photos will come to life!
6. Get Everyone In The Frame
You may have a family of six, but you only have three eyes! Make sure everyone is in frame by zooming out or moving closer to one another. Don’t just snap away from over your head trying to get everyone’s face on camera – keep an eye on what’s going on outside the frame too.
#7 Why Just Stand When You Can Sit?
These days, people are complimenting pictures left and right with filters that can turn any picture into something amazing. Why not go back in time before the “enhancements” were made? Take it back old school props like sitting or lying down to make your family photos stand out.
8. Invest In Someone Else’s Talent
Not everyone can be an expert photographer or editor, but if you find someone who is don’t be bashful about it! Investing in someone else’s talent is a smart way to ensure that your best “you” comes across in your best family photos ever .
#9. Keep Away From Buildings/Objects That Make You Look Smaller Than You Are
If you live near Washington D.C., the mall is a goldmine for great family photos because of its epic architecture – so many different angles and cool building blocks to work with. But if you’re just taking normal shots around the neighborhood, try not to have trees right behind you! A lot of adults find themselves looking very small in photos with a tree behind them.
#10. Get Creative With Props
Times have changed, and there’s no need to shy away from a little creativity with some props around the house if your kids are interested! Props give family photos a personal touch that you can’t get from just standing there. Plus it offers an alternative to standing if everyone is feeling antsy/bored on picture day.
11. Add In Some Serious Fun – If You’re Up For It!
Let’s face it, some people love getting their picture taken while others despise it…we know because we’ve been both at one point or another! But you know who loves being in front of the camera? Kids! So if your kids are itching to do something fun, let it loose and let them take over! They’ll make sure everyone is having a blast with bubble machines, or face painting (if you can handle it) – anything they can think of. There’s really no limit to what you could do…well except for maybe noise complaints…
If you follow all these tips, we guarantee you’ll love the pictures taken on family photo day!
