There are some very good reasons to learn how to take family portraits, and you don't have to be embarking on a photography career to do so. Having portraits taken professionally can sometimes be too expensive for many families. And sometimes, it can be impossible to get everyone to the studio at the appointed time.
Every family deserves to have at least one good family portrait together but it's nice to have additional portraits as the family grows and ages. If you want to learn how to take portraits, learn by taking a portrait of your family or someone you know who would love to have a family portrait! If you are taking a portrait of your family, you have to be in it too! So be sure to use a camera with a timer or remote shutter button release.
If you new to photography, learning how to take good family portraits will come in handy when taking group pictures at family gatherings like Thanksgiving.
Without further ado, here are some tips to help you get started taking memorable family portraits, whether formal or informal.
1) Avoid the "Police Line Up" Portrait – Instead of lining everyone up shoulder to shoulder, try a more natural arrangement that also makes it easier to to fit a bunch of people into one picture.
Staggering is one technique that works well for group photos. For example, you might stagger the family members on the front steps of a porch or on and around boulders near a pond, with some family members standing and others sitting. If in a park, you could sit everyone on the lawn clustered together or have them sit on a bench. Show family closeness by spacing members close together.
2) Show Relationships – You can do this with placement in the family portrait poses. For example, Grandma and Grandpa might stand next by each other, a toddler in their parent's arms, or siblings with their arms slung around each other.
3) Consider Including the Family Pets – if they will hold still long enough. Even if the pet is sitting still, you may want to raise the Shutter Speed Priority to 1/125 because the flick of a tail or other tiny movement can cause blur. It is much easier to take a portrait of an individual with a pet or a pet separately, but if the family has a mellow dog or cat, try some family portrait poses with and without.
4) Get Creative with Props – depending on the type of portrait you want. Does the family do any activities or sports like community baseball? Each family member could hold a ball, bat or mitt. This is a trend with individual portraiture that can be fun for families too.
5) Get Everyone Smiling – Instead of just having them say "cheese," put them at ease by talking to them so they'll become more relaxed and real. When you've got everyone posed and smiling, ask the family to hold them until you give them the signal that you got the shot.
Finally, have fun taking lots of pictures so the family can choose their favorite. You're sure to get some keepers where the family will feel proud to frame them for all to see.
