Family photography plays a vital role in influencing our life. The family photo captured in the camera is not just a memory, but also a feeling and a story. Therefore, if you are jumping into photography, you need to capture moments that your client cherishes the most.
Photography is not easy, and you need to choose the right gear, create the perfect pose, select the timing, and much more. Perhaps you need to have complete and comprehensive knowledge of everything related to family photography. In this article, we will briefly explain all you need to know about family photography.
But capturing such images is not easy at all. It requires a lot of patience and knowledge about the technicalities of photography. And if you are looking for information online, it's difficult to get accurate and reliable information. This is why we have created this ultimate guide to help you learn about the process and techniques involved in shooting family portraits.
o, let us explore the world of family photography.
Meaning of family photography
Family photography is a complex job. If it was not, anybody could pick up a camera and say “smile.” Is it done? No! There are tons of complexities in it.
Most of the individuals don’t know how to respond in front of the camera. Natural photographs are considered best, and you as a photographer need to make everyone comfortable in front of the camera to pose naturally.
Family photography, also known as family portraiture is a form of portrait photography designed to capture the "essence" or "spirit" of a typical traditional family unit. The portraits are normally shot in either outdoor or indoor settings.
Now that you know what family photography is all about, let's discuss the nitty-gritty of this genre.
The most common techniques involved in capturing perfect family portraits:
Posing
There are various types of poses for different occasions. You need to be creative and innovative when taking family portraits to ensure that the photos are not monotonous.
Choosing backgrounds
The choice of background is very important as it plays a big role in setting up the mood for your shot. Whether you are shooting outdoors or indoors, the background should be selected carefully after assessing several options.
Right equipment
To get perfect results, you need to use the right equipment at all times. Even if you have top-notch gears, they won't do any good without a proper understanding of how to use them.
Timing
Time plays an important role in capturing family portraits as different moments have different effects on photography. For example, early morning light is considered excellent for family portraits.
Clothing
The choice of clothing and accessories is another important factor in determining the potential success of a portrait shoot. You need to choose bright colors and lively styles to bring out the energy in your shot.
Understanding your clients
It's also vital for you to understand your client's requirements before starting with the photoshoot. This sharing of information lays the foundation for achieving perfection, which leads you closer to getting perfect results.
Selection of equipment
There is a wide range of cameras available in the market with different specifications according to the prices. However, the camera equipment selection is tricky because if you are planning for kids' photography, you need to go for the cameras with ISO and good shutter speed. After all, while you are taking pictures, kids move a lot.
If you are planning to capture good family portraits, you need to consider the choice of your lens. To have a blurring background is always a good idea, and to get that, you need a wide range lens. It will allow you to capture the picture from a reasonable distance, and in this way, shy family members can pose more naturally, too.
Camera settings for a perfect family photograph
If you are not a professional, you should always use automatic settings. However, if you want to capture the perfect shot, you should always use the settings according to conditions.
If you are in a place where lighting is low, you should always go for the Higher ISO’s, and if the lighting is perfect, low ISO will capture an ideal shot.
Note: to keep photographs in their original format, never compress or convert them.
Some creative family portrait ideas
One of the most creative ways to capture family pictures is to take candid images without letting them know if you are charging or not.
Another way is to use the foreground and the background ideally and capture the pictures from different angles.
Before clicking the picture, note every member of the family so you can tell them what is wrong. However, do not point out too many things, since this will disturb the originality of the picture.
Family members at the front can show a different mood and expression compared to those in the background. This can also be a creative way to capture the best family photograph.
Creating black and white portraits
The black and white effect is very useful if you aim for a perfect shot. Not all pictures will give a good vibe in black and white, and you need to plan the photograph if you want good results specifically.
Things that matter while capturing pics in black and white are the family's attire, especially if they are wearing old-fashioned clothes, lighting, and expressions.
How to take fun family shots
It can be challenging to click some natural and fun shots with a family that is uncomfortable with you. They can be stiff and pose that seems fake in front of the camera. Therefore, it is always recommended to spend some time with the family to quickly take some fun and natural portraits of the family.
What are the different types of family portraits?
There are several types of family portraits including baby portraits, child portraits, engagement/wedding photos, individual photographs, maternity photos, couple photographs. All these have a unique setting and style. The choice of what type to use depends on your personal preference or requirement. Here is a detailed look at each type:
Baby Portraits
The first step towards successful family photography is capturing the baby's first photoshoot. The first few months after birth provide you with an excellent opportunity to capture the cutest moments. Professional photographers often take advantage of this time and help parents create beautiful memories that they can cherish for life. Young babies don't understand the concept of posing in front of the camera, so they are generally very cooperative. However, it's important for you to know that photographing a baby is not easy. To get good results, you need to spend considerable time interacting with them before starting with actual photography work. You should also understand that babies can get fussy at times and have short attention spans. So, try to capture only those moments when they are happy by playing some music in the background.
Child Portraits
This type of family portrait includes photo shoots of young kids between the ages of 2-5 years old. These types of portraits are especially popular among parents who want to preserve their children's innocence for life or grandparents who want to be part of their growing up.
Engagement/Wedding Photo
As the name suggests, this type of family photoshoot includes capturing photos of an individual couple. Usually, these are romantic photographs that include some landmark or setting to make them even more special. However, if you are looking for a more traditional approach, you can also opt for some standard poses with your partner. This is one of the best ways to express your love and affection towards each other while creating beautiful memories at the same time.
Couple Portraits
These are modern family portraits that typically feature two people in one frame. The focus of such photos is usually on fashion or lifestyle rather than daily events in their lives.
Individual Photographs
Also known as the solo portrait, the individual photograph is a great way to present yourself in your best light. This type of family photoshoot allows you to give shape and structure to your personality and pick an ideal style that complements your overall appearance.
Maternity Photos
These types of family shots provide one of the most precious opportunities for parents to capture unforgettable memories with their little ones while they are still in their mother's womb. If done right, such photos can create magical moments that last forever.
Kids Portraits
When it comes to photographing kids, there's no better way to capture their true personalities than through fun and goofy images. However, if you are planning on featuring them with parents or other siblings in the frame as well, then some standard shots would work better instead. For example, a nice smiling picture of the family is much more suitable for such portrait sessions compared to funny faces and funny scenarios.
Family Photographs
Of all the family portrait categories, this one is the most popular. It includes group shots of individuals who are related to each other by blood or marriage. This type of photo shoot doesn't require you to pose together as a group since children often feel scared in front of the camera. Instead, it's better for parents to stand aside and let their kids interact freely with each other. If you want an even funnier experience then you can ask them to act out different scenes that they can relate to like playing hide-and-seek or acting like superheroes.
Aging Photos
Nowadays many parents want their children to take care of them when they get older and frailer. Hence, this type of family shot allows people to capture different stages in life so that children can appreciate how their parents go through changes over time. Such shots are especially popular among aging couples who are usually photographed at various landmarks or settings to make them more unique and memorable.
What are the different poses & positions in family photography?
There are hundreds of poses and positions in family photography, but choosing the right ones can be much more challenging than you think. Even professional photographers often take a lot of time to experiment with different combinations before taking their final pick. Some of the most common options include:
- Sitting Poses: This is one of the simplest and easiest ways to pose for family portraits. You can go traditional by sitting on a chair or couch or do something creative like posing on stairs, swings, hammocks and so on.
- Standing Poses: There's no better way to flaunt your individual personality than through standing poses. These types of pictures work really well if you are looking for some modern styles.
- Outdoor Poses: If you want to give your family portraits a touch of nature, outdoor poses are the best choice. These types of shoots can easily be done at parks, beaches or on top of mountains.
- Couple Poses: Since most family portraits feature a couple, this type of shot is especially popular among loved ones. There are many options to choose from including sitting or standing positions that can easily be replicated in different locations.
In what positions would you pose the children?
When it comes to photographing kids, they can often become unpredictable which means parents need a lot of patience and time to get a single satisfactory image. Some of the best poses for them include:
Relaxed Vignettes
This style works really well if your child wants to play around and have fun while being photographed without posing too much. It's better if their clothes match with their surroundings so that you don't have to spend time finding the right outfits.
Action Shots
This is another great pose that works well if your child likes to run around or sit cross-legged with their toys. The only thing you have to be careful about is making sure they are facing the camera so it's easier for you to snap pictures at the right time.
Individual Shots
These are the best types of photographs if you want your child to showcase their unique personality. You can make them sit or stand anywhere they feel comfortable and pose however they like as long as it looks natural.
Family Poses
If you have a little one, then it's better to include them in family portraits since these shots show how much your children grow up over time. For even better results, try getting shots that feature just mom & dad together with their kids so that everyone will look happier and more relaxed in front of the camera.
What are some tips for taking family photos outdoors?
It's not easy to take quality pictures outdoors during winter, spring, summer, or autumn since there are many elements that can ruin your image. Here are some of the most important tips to keep in mind before planning a photo shoot at any location or season:
- Get rid of Dullness
When it comes to photographing people, dullness is one of the worst enemies you have to fight against. So avoid using bright backgrounds because they will make your subject look pale and washed out instead of glowing naturally under natural light.
- Reduce Glare
Even if you take all the necessary precautions, there's still a good chance that your picture might come out with unwanted glare, especially during winter time when snow tends to reflect too much light onto subjects' faces. If possible, turn on all available lights so that you can adjust them as needed for the best results.
- Watch Your Angles
The best way to make your pictures more unique is by experimenting with different angles until you find the one that works really well under any given conditions. So try taking shots from low angles, high ones and all sides in between just so you can see what each of them looks like before making up your mind about which one is perfect for a specific situation.
- Capture More Than One Shot
If possible, take two or three images of every pose so that you can later pick the perfect shot with everyone looking their very best. This strategy helps avoid awkward moments during photo shoots where people are forced to stay too still without blinking or smiling naturally due to having to look fixedly into the camera lens.
Conclusion
We are sure now you have a good idea of what family photography is and why can’t you master it without the proper guidance. Very few successful photographers will share their secrets with you, and maybe that’s why you should get the appropriate training at the right time so you can choose the right direction for your career.