Great Family Portraits : Photography Tips

If you’re looking to gain credibility and business as a professional photographer, it’s pertinent that you know how to shoot a great family portrait. Here are some simple “do’s” and “don’ts” to remember on your next family portrait shoot :

Photo : Southern Light Photography

DO’S

Move Groups Together -
Get families close together. Not only does this help you fit them into your photographic backdrop easier, but the photos emit a sense of warmth and togetherness.

Plan Your Subject’s Clothing -
Obviously, it’s up to the particular family as to what they want to wear, but you might consider advising them to stay away from extreme colors,  clothing with large logos on them, or clothing that may clash with your seamless background.

Check  Camera Screen -
When you’re shooting groups of people, you’re bound to get shots where people are blinking or not looking at the camera or doing something else. Check out the camera to make sure you’ve got the shots that you want before you move on.

Provoke A Reaction -
Tell a joke. Playfully rib one of your subjects. Just do something to get a reaction of them. The more natural the family feels, the better the photos will look.

Blur The Photographic Background -
Photographic backgrounds are important. But do you know what’s more important? Your subjects. You want to focus the lens on your subjects, not the background.

DONT’S

Don’t Pick The Wrong Backdrop – Keep in mind the subjects you will be photographing and pick your photographic backdrop accordingly (i.e. if your are going to be shooting older teenagers or adults perhaps use a muslin background or darker, more sophisticated colors).

Don’t Forget To Check Your Camera Settings -
It’s a photographer’s worst nightmare to complete a photo shoot only to realize that you weren’t using the right lens, or didn’t have the camera on the correct setting for outdoor shots. Don’t put yourself in that position, double-, triple- and quadruple-check your settings.

Beware Of The Head Tilt -
Oh, the dreaded head tilt. It’s fine for shooting star-crossed lovers, but not so fine for shooting families. Be aware of this and correct it, if necessary.

Don’t Sound Like An Amateur -
Is there anything more frustrating to a client than a photographer that doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing? Remember, you’re hired because you’re a professional. Come prepared.

Don’t Let Someone Else Run The Show -
You’re shooting this family portrait for a reason – because you’re the professional photographer. So no matter how much of an expert Mom, Uncle Joe or the kid who used a point-and-shoot once claim to be, remember, it’s you who should have say.

Don’t Be Afraid To Listen To Other Ideas -
We just got done telling you not to let anyone else run your photo shoot. And while we stand by this important “don’t,” we don’t think you should completely tune out the opinions or ideas of others. For example, if little Jimmy wants to take a picture out back in front of his playhouse, go for it.