As each year passes, I love to take time to capture the changes of our family. While I often take quick snapshots of our day-to-day activities, I enjoy organizing an annual formal or posed image of our family. I typically plan to take this official family photo around Thanksgiving, as this tends to be a time when our family is still healthy!
While I typically take my own family photo, (see below,) this year I enlisted the aid of a friend and family photographer to take our family’s photo. I have taken her family’s photos for the past several years and it seemed to work out easily to swap sessions this year! Taking your own photo or finding a friend to swap with are two of the ways you can make this yearly event budget friendly. Another way to get an affordable family photo is to find a new or hobby photographer–someone who has the gear and some knowledge but isn’t relying on photography as their primary source of income.
If you plan to take your own family photos, follow these tips to ensure you get a great final image!
- COLOR SCHEME: Pick an overall color scheme for your family’s outfits. This may be a same shade of blue on a variety of pieces (i.e. Mom wears a blue dress, Dad wears a blue tie, son has the same blue on his pants, and sister wears a blue sweater.) You may want to pick a few colors that complement one another, or one color in many different shades. You do want to take into account the overall color of your intended location, so no one blends into the background.
- LOCATION: Decide where you want to take the photo. Would you prefer indoors or outdoors? A natural or urban setting? Is there a nearby location that is meaningful to your family? You will want to consider the typical weather conditions if choosing an outdoor location.
- TOOLS: To successfully take a photo that you plan to be in, you will need a few tools. A tripod will hold the camera for you and a timer (or remote) will take the photo for you. All you will need to do is set up the shot, set the timer, press the shutter button, and run to your spot! It may take a few tries to get it right.
- PLANNED POSES: Prior to taking your family’s photo, you will want to have a few poses planned. Think of where you want each family member to stand in advance, to make it easier in the moment of the photo shoot. You may want both parents in the center with kids on the sides. Or the kids in the center with the parents on the sides. Remember to leave a gap for yourself as you plan to dash over after pushing the shutter button!
- YOU ONLY NEED ONE! This is phrase I tell my kids each year, and it really helps us all focus on getting that “one perfect shot.” Focus on quality over quantity!
To watch the full video version of this blog post: https://youtu.be/rIPK4Y4j7Wc?feature=shared
