It has been customary throughout history for nobility and other wealthy families to commission painters to capture their likeness through the brush and canvas. Today, having a family portrait taken by a professional photographer remains popular in preserving the family heritage.
The technology used in portrait photography has come a long way in just the past 20 years. The digital age of photography has given rise to techniques that make it easier for families to take their own photos negating the need to hire a professional if they do not wish to do so.
Following are some tips and best practices along with what should be avoided when recording your family memories.
Choose who will take your family photos.
If you have the luxury of time and money, then you may want to schedule your family photos with a professional who specializes in family portrait photography. Taking this route means you only need to decide on your attire for the portrait and the photographer will handle all other details.
If you have a decent digital camera and a friend who can take the shots, then you may opt to do the portraits yourself, taking the lead in providing instructions for the shoot. If you do not have someone who can operate the camera, then you can certainly try using the timer on your digital camera. Most cameras can hold the shot for up to approximately 20 seconds, which gives you more than enough time to prepare your pose and hold those smiles.
Don’t take your photos without first applying make-up.
Freshly washed faces with a little make-up will ensure you take the best close-up photos. For men, just a little light lip gloss and blush will do. For women, eyeliner, blush, and lipstick or colored lip gloss should be applied.
Unless you are looking for a more formal portrait, it is best to go for the natural look. If your attire is formal, then full or heavier makeup to match the attire would be appropriate. You can have your make-up done by a professional or just have a family member who knows how to apply it correctly take care of it for you.
Plan ahead for what you will wear.
One big mistake that families make is not planning ahead for how they will be dressed for their photo shoot. Trying to blend formal with casual is never a good idea. You do not want to look overly casual while Mom and Dad are well dressed and formal.
So, if you decide on formal attire, then everyone in the photo should be dressed formally. Coordinating the colors everyone is wearing is also a good idea. You can either have everyone where the same color, contrasting colors or dress in monochrome. Having a common and recognizable theme will show harmony in the final print.
If your portrait is less serious, then going a little crazy on color choices is okay. For example, if you are having your photo taken on the beach, then don’t worry about the color but just ensure that everyone is dressed in beachwear.
Don’t have photos taken when someone is in a foul mood.
If you have scheduled your photo shoot with a professional, make an effort to maintain a good mood before your photos are taken. If you are taking them yourself, then work on getting everyone in a good mood first. If the mood is happy, then this will come through naturally in the photos. If the mood is bad, then smiles may look forced. Even when instructed not to smile in a photo, you need not look miserable. Just remember, that the mood everyone is feeling will be reflected in the photos. Putting forth the effort to keep everyone in a good mood will be worth it in the final print.
Change poses and scenery.
Long gone are the days when family portraits were formal and stiff. So, experiment with poses and location of your photos. You can kneel, lie down or even jump if you want to. For original pictures that reflect your family’s personality, think out of the box and take them doing something out of the ordinary. You can take them while bungee jumping, on the beach clowning around or even jumping in the water.
Family portrait photography is both enjoyable and easy. It has become a tradition that doesn’t just capture the family lineage, but one that also is a moment for the family to bond and draw closer together. You likely will not remember what type of camera was used for the shoot or the car you drove that day, but you will remember the great time you had with your family the day you have your photos taken.
Baby Portrait Photography
If you are not a parent yourself, you may not understand why your friends who have babies seem almost obsessed with showing you photo after photo of their little darlings. You likely will also not get why they see the need to have so many baby portrait photos taken. Simply put, Baby Portrait Photography is extremely fun!
Proud parents have taken the art of baby photos to a new level and are always prepared to snap those adorable baby moments. If you are a new mom or dad, you most likely have a camera on you at all times so that you do not miss capturing those never-to-be-repeated first moments so that you can relive them again and again as the years pass.
Posing at Specific Ages
One big challenge to taking baby photos, however, presents itself when you try to pose your baby. Until they reach a certain age, babies are not aware of their surroundings and can be unpredictably active. At 0-3 months, babies can scarcely hold their heads up let alone maintain a particular pose, which is why they need to be held to pose.
Try experimenting on how best to hold the baby so that the focus remains on the baby and not on the person holding them. Perhaps you will be able to capture just the baby’s profile while someone is holding them. Even at 3-6 months, the poses you can capture are limited. They can, however, hold their heads up at that ago so you should be able to get their face into profile. You can also try using props and costumes to liven up the photo at this age.
At approximately 6-9 months, babies will sit on their own and begin to become very active. This can lead you to capture some rather odd poses, which is why mastering the shutter speed on your camera is very important. From around 10 months on, some babies are aware that their photos are being taken and may be able to hold their poses for short periods of time. During these ages, candid photos are a great option.
Ten things to remember about Baby Portrait Photography
1. Be ready. Ensure your camera has film (or room on your card) and fully charged batteries at all times.
2. If you have a digital camera, have extra batteries ready.
3. Get familiar with using the flash and shutter speeds on your camera.
4. Do not shy away from photos of your baby that are ultra closeup.
5. Experiment with shooting at a distance to capture the drama and other elements of the scene.
6. Hold your baby securely when posing them.
7. Clean baby faces are preferable in the photo with one exception – baby faces smeared with gooey chocolate are almost always completely adorable.
8. Give black and white photography a try for a more elegant and classy look.
9. Keep in mind how easily babies get distracted and how quickly they move on to the next moment. Be quick in taking the shot or you will miss it.
10. Coax those classic baby smiles and eye contact by having others get involved in making faces or cooing sounds.
Remember that babies are only babies for a short time and the window to capture those precious baby faces and moments in print is very short. So, be prepared and continue to learn and put into practice additional baby photo techniques as you go. There is nothing quite like capturing the personality and essence of a baby or child in a timeless photo.