Family portraits should be taken regularly.
People use pictures to record important events and commemorate milestones. From the time a couple establishes a family, there are usually pictures involved. If you are a photographer looking for work and love working with people, choose family photography as your specialty. You'll always have a market and if you can present your clients with heirloom-quality work, word will spread fast. Incorporate these tips into your shoots and you'll be a photographer known for taking superb family portraits.
Dress
Consult with your families ahead of time by phone or in person and encourage them to wear solid-colored, matching clothes. This is especially true for large groups because it eliminates distractions and causes the eye to focus on the people in the picture. Avoid white because it can make people appear washed-out and make subjects blend into the background. Earth tones are a safe option when shooting outdoors: brown, beige or gold. If you're shooting indoors, advise your clients about the backdrops in your inventory and have them dress accordingly.
Location
If you have a studio large enough to accommodate families, that's fine, but as a photographer you should be open to doing shoots on location. Natural light and outdoor elements make for a beautiful backdrop. Encourage your families to have their portrait taken at their favorite park or a place that is special to them. People are most comfortable where they feel at home, so consider the family home as an option as well. If you're shooting outdoors, the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset offer the softest lighting and you can avoid a harsh backlight or forcing your subjects to look into the bright sun. Don't despair if the weather is cloudy or overcast. The clouds act like a giant softbox and spread light evenly across the expanse, creating ideal soft light perfect for portraits.
Posing
Positioning everybody right is half the battle, and your portrait will only be as good as the composition. All faces should be clearly visible; if you are photographing a particularly large family, use a wide angle lens to avoid unwanted cropping. A pyramid formation is the typical arrangement for smaller groups, but a more interesting composition poses everybody slightly different. Don't be afraid to use props. If you're outdoors, a fallen log or a well-placed boulder can be used to elevate someone into the shot. Take several pictures from differing angles. Include props in some and eliminate them from others and decide which you like better during the editing process.
Tags: shooting outdoors, your clients, your families
