Family photography: What you need to know before
The idea behind good family photos is to capture family members together as naturally as possible, but with an artistic approach to the family photo shoot. Don’t neglect unique yet comfortable family poses for photography (this and other family photo tips will be discussed later in the article). Most often, such photos are for personal use, but sometimes family photo sessions are booked by brands to use their images in advertising campaigns. On stock photography platforms like Depositphotos, photos of family, couple, and children are also extremely popular.
The peculiarity of family portraits is that the photographer usually works with non-professional models. This means that they must make an effort to explain to the subjects of the photo shoot how to position themselves in the frame, as well as help them get rid of stress.
There are several types of family photography:
- family newborn photography,
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lifestyle family photography,
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family outdoor photography,
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family studio photography,
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family candid photography,
- family documentary photography, etc.
Family photo tips
Tip #1 for preparing for a family photo session
The location for family photo sessions is usually chosen by the family themselves, but this does not mean that you cannot influence their choice and suggest the best options. Keep in mind that the family members you’ll be photographing most likely have poor photography experience and may not always be able to visualize the result or judge the lighting conditions in their chosen location.
We advise you, first of all, to learn in detail about the task and expectations of customers, and only then look for a shooting location. Traditional places for family photography are:
- Photo studio with the interior imitates some living space;
- Photo studio with a solid background (used for shooting couples or small families);
- The house where the family lives;
- City landscapes;
- Natural locations (for example, forest, park, field, or garden);
- Symbolic or important family locations (restaurant, playground, sports ground, or summer cottage), etc.
Tip #2 for shooting families with children
Consider the biorhythms and comfort of the child. Children do not know how to fake emotions, so the photos will show fatigue, fear or irritation on their faces. The comfort of the child can be ensured by a comfortable temperature, sweets, toys, constant friendly communication with him, as well as the right time.Tip #3 for outdoor family photography
We also have some important tips for outdoor family photos. The best time for photo shoots in terms of natural light is morning and sunset. An overcast day will soften your shots, while bright sunlight will help you shoot dynamic and even dramatic scenes using contrasts.- Find out more about when is the best time to shoot outdoors to capture your clients’ dream shots.
Top 7 family poses for photography
If you decide to become a family photographer after your experience in staged advertising shooting with professional models, your main challenge will be that you need to teach families to pose in front of your camera. We offer you a list of the classic family photography poses for three or more people:#1 Everyone is in a line, but not everyone has their shoulders turned to the camera
If the whole family is standing in a row facing the camera, family pictures look static, lifeless, and unnatural. Create a dynamic by asking children to hug their parents and turning some of the participants to face each other.
#2 Family members stand in two or three rows
This is a classic composition for which you need an armchair or chair. In the center of the composition (that is, sitting on a chair) should be a member of the family you want to focus on. For example, the head of the family or a woman with a newborn child. The rest of the family stands behind the back of the chair or, if there are more than four participants or there are small children, several more people stand or sit in front of the chair. To make the composition come out balanced, make sure that you can draw an imaginary triangle on top of it.
#3 Family hugs
A large family photo shooting is usually more relaxed than a couple one since a large number of relatives gathered in one place already creates a special atmosphere. Thus, all participants feel relaxed and natural. To convey the atmosphere of the shoot, ask family members to hug each other. After taking a few shots, ask everyone to swap places, and hug each other in a new way.
#4 The photographer pretends they are not there
Most of the tips for family pictures are about the right attitude to the camera. First, your models have to get used to and stop noticing photography equipment. Second, you, as a photographer, should not leave your camera, since the most interesting and natural shots are taken when models forget about lenses. Let participants take breaks during photo shooting, but don’t stop taking photos. Get ready to capture moments of conversation between children and adults, running around toddlers and laughing grandparents. To get better shots, keep your models near flash and reflectors.
#5 ‘All together now!’ poses
Ask your models to do something particular at the same time. They can jump, sing their favorite song, wave their hands, clap them, turn their heads to one side, or dance. The repetitive elements and poses make the photo more rhythmic and dynamic.
#6 Let a family look like one item
Avoid empty spaces between family members who pose for you. Since your task is to shoot a family, not individuals, and to illustrate family ties, you need to literally ‘blind’ family members into a single compositional block. Ask them to come closer to each other, hug, and tilt their heads to each other.
#7 Tell a family story or fill family pictures with symbols
Each family has its secrets, stories, rituals and hierarchy. To figure out how to position your clients in the frame without using standard poses, you need to study them. Who is the head of this family? How do these people live? How do they spend their free time? What do they like to eat? Let family members tell you about themselves, then try to frame them so that part of the story comes to life.
Tips for family pictures for photographers
In addition to family photo sessions often meaning work with unprofessional models, there are other important features of family photography that you should be prepared for. First, not all family members might be friendly to you. Second, children can act in an unexpected way. Third, getting a shot that every family member likes is tricky. To make it easier for you to work with families, we’ve compiled a list of guidelines for fun and stressless family photography from Depositphotos contributors:1. Plan actions, not poses
Some families do take photos a lot and know how to pose. But the chances that you will come across such heroes all the time are very low. If you ask an inexperienced person to take one or another pose, they may feel uncomfortable, which will be reflected in the photo. Instead of using poses, speak with clients in the language of actions, everyday situations, and emotions. For example, you can build a family photo session around the usual activities that the family does while walking.2. Use the bokeh effect
Family photography is primarily a portrait. You can shoot people in full height or close-up, but you should always remember that the main thing for you at the moment is the person’s face and emotions, not the background. To emphasize the facial expressions and gestures of your models, apply the blurred background effect that is possible when shooting with a telephoto lens.
3. Talk to your heroes as much as possible
Talk to customers before the photo session, get to know all the participants during the shooting, and ask senior people about the origin of their family. This communication will not only relax your clients but also help you understand how to better shoot them.4. Visual instructions are better than words
When preparing for a family portrait shoot, put together a folder with visual references. These can be not only references regarding the concept of the photo shooting but also examples of posing. It will be much easier for you to explain to your heroes what you want from them by showing their images on a tablet.5. But don’t forget about the potential of the environment!
Trees in a park, an arch between houses, and a cafe window can help you shape your composition. You can use other objects as natural frames for your shots.6. Never underestimate family outfit
The clothes chosen by family members who come to your photo session are a full-fledged semantic and artistic element of family pictures. Moreover, the clothes of these people should be in harmony with the interior or an outdoor location where the photo session takes place. Otherwise, your image will lack balance. Agree in advance about the style of clothing and, if possible, its color scheme.
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