7 Tips for Creating a Great Family Portrait
Do you want to take some photos with your family? Read these seven tips for creating a great family portrait to learn how to do it right.
Right now, it feels like your kids will be kids forever. But in a blink of an eye, they'll be grown up and out of the house. How do you plan on holding on to the sweetest memories of their childhoods?
Family portraits are the best way to hold on to the days of your young family for generations. You can hang them on the wall, keep them in your wallet, and send them around to family members who live far away.
When you book a family portrait, you want to make sure that you're getting the best photos possible. Follow these family portrait tips to make it easy.
1. Stagger Heights and Heads
Your family portrait photographer will help you find arrangements that best flatter the group and make for an interesting photo, but don't be afraid to try out a couple of your own creations.
One of the best family portrait tips is to stagger heights and heads. One single line of heads across the portrait isn't very interesting to look at. Instead, place people together with height differences. You can also fake this by having some people sit, some kneel, and some stand.
2. Bend Body Parts
Any family portrait guide will tell you that straight limbs look stiff and unnatural in photos. As you pose, keep in mind that at least some of your limbs and joints should be bent at all times to keep things looking natural.
You can lean on your lap. Hug your legs. Put a hand on your hip. Hold one arm behind your back. You and your family can practice a couple of poses in mirrors before your session to find poses that look and feel natural for you.
3. Let the Kids Lead the Way
The above family portrait advice was all about posed photographs which are great, but candids are even more fun and allow your family to show its personality.
Of course, as an adult, it can be hard to tell yourself to move into candid territory. At this point in your life, you may have developed some inhibitions, insecurities, and self-consciousness that prevents you from making bold candid choices as soon as there's a camera on you. Do you know who has none of those inhibitions?
Kids!
Too many adults tell their kids to sit still and behave through the entirety of a photo session. But this leads to boring photos that don't show the truth about your family at all. Why would you want photos that don't reflect who you are?
Plan time in your portrait session to let the kids run around, play, make jokes, and even cuddle. They'll be making the most natural choices cause they'll forget that the camera is on them. Just follow their lead for the best candid photos ever!
4. Pose Away Your Insecurities
We all have insecurities that we'd rather not have highlighted on camera. A good photographer will help pose you to avoid them, but you can do some of your own preparation too to make sure that your poses naturally diminish the insecurities you're most worried about.
If you're insecure about your bottom half, don't do any poses where you walk away from the camera. If you're worried about having a double chin, lift it slightly and ask the photographer to take photos from a slightly higher angle.
Find your preferred side of your face in the mirror. Both sides are beautiful, but if you prefer one side that's the one you should have immortalized in a photo! You're paying a lot for these photos, so make sure you're getting a version of yourself you love.
If you have quite a bit of weight that you'd rather not show on camera, ask the photographer to do a pose where you lie down on the ground and your kids pile on top. They'll still be able to see your beautiful face, and it may even look like a fun candid pose.
5. Get Light in Your Eyes
Eyes look their best with a catch light, that sparkle you see reflected from a studio flash or bright light source. Your photographer will do their best to pose your photos so that the lighting is great, but there are a couple of things that you can do to help them.
Choose a shooting location that receives lots of natural light. That does not mean during high noon. While it looks nice to our eyes, it can be harsh when creating a photo. Morning or the one to two hours before sunset are ideal and the golden sun will bring out the best in your skin complexion and eyes.
Avoid overcast days. While the lighting may be less harsh it will be right overhead which can be a problem for anyone with deep eye sockets. It will make them look tired and deeper. Your family photographer can bring a studio flash to avoid this situation.
6. Find a Fun Location
While your family will be the main focal point of the picture, there's no use shooting somewhere that you don't find visually interesting.
Look for elements that will be fun to play with within your poses. Look for areas that kids can happily explore.
Your location should be able to serve double duty. If there's only one spot there that would be good for a photo, choose another location. Parks, ruins, beaches, backyards, historic buildings, and sculpture parks are great options to get you started.
7. Wear Comfortable Yet Attractive Clothes
I know you want your family to be dressed to the nines, but you have to take comfort into account too. You may be outside in the heat for a long time. You may be moving around and striking poses.
Don't wear anything that is too tight or itchy. And don't dress your kids in it either. You should look coordinated with each other but comfortable and like yourself.
A Family Portrait You'll Love
With these tips, it's easy to get a family portrait you'll love for ages. Lighting and location are important, but never underestimate the importance of good poses and your family's charming, individual personality.
Ready to book your family portrait session? Contact us to learn about our special!