Family photo tips

Taking family photos is the basic skill of a photographer. Especially for up-and-coming photographers, this is often the technology they feed on. In the history of photography, the most extensive use of the camera is not for abstract art, nor for pets, but for people and their families. Due to the difficulty and the high cost of taking a photo, the photographers developed the ability to make a shot and put as many people as possible into a picture.

1. Be close to the subject

Although it was a family, most of the time they didn't get close enough. Maybe it's the American idea of personal space, but it's always a problem for me, and getting people close to it can really improve the overall taste of the picture. When the family members are physically close, they give off a warm feeling, visually making us feel that the family members should be so close to each other. Even if you're shooting a bunch of monsters, they look like a model family when they're side-by-side, and the overall effect is much better than a random snapshot. At the beginning, let them stand a little side, shoulder and shoulder overlap. Also consider the age of family members. If the old grandmother is still there, remember to prepare a chair for her; If both of you are old, prepare two.

2. Dress in harmony

You can give them a dress code before you shoot them. Dress of ultimately depends on their own preferences and family style, but you can remind them in tonal on overlap as far as possible, avoid too exaggerated color, design, or symbol. Such advice can be useful to make your post-processing easier, and there is room for choice in black and white or color. As I said, although the client's photos are determined by the customer, it is always good to have a professional guide.

3. Notice who's eyes closed in the picture

If the subject is only one or two people, you can always clap and clap. But if it's a big group, then you'd better take a few pictures and check them back. Otherwise, you'll probably end up with a picture of everyone with their eyes open. I used to think that a digital camera, with a high-speed connection, could always get the right one. It turned out that I didn't think about it a few times after I had to get a Photoshop transplant. If is someone smile less, also is ok, but if the customer's decade of someone actually look like inside the head of a family photo asleep or just taking the medicine, the customer may not too happy. You have to learn to scan everyone's eyes in an instant.

4. Make them laugh

Sometimes a grin can break the tension. Some typical photographers' jokes, like "well, I hope you all get into the spotlight." Or ask everyone to try their best to pose for their most seductive pose. One way to smile is to let them do things they normally don't do. Let them try to jump, run, or stack mountains, whatever they can think of. If you have any useful methods, please share them with us on the bench below.

5. Try to use the background as much as possible

Use as many aperture values as possible to ensure that everyone is clear. The aperture of 2.8 will make the trees of the background as smooth as milk, but it may also blur the old man standing on the edge. This is especially true when people are in different focal planes. The general solution is to use a smaller aperture than the lens of the lens, then preview with a screen to zoom in to make sure everyone looks good. Then adjust and continue. If you really care about this, I've heard that photographers estimate the depth of the field by arranging glasses vertically on the picnic table. It's a little extreme for me, but remember not to forget the person on the edge.

6. Don't forget to check all the basic settings of the camera

Iso sensitivity (lower, better), image size (raw, fine), exposure compensation, photometry, etc. The saddest thing is that when a successful shoot goes on to the end, you find that your camera is set to stay on the "low-quality" setting of the last time ebay sold it.

7. Don't let the subject's head tilt at one side

There's nothing wrong with a family barbecue, but not for a paid photographer. The subjects tended to think that it would be better to tilt the head or lower the head. This is interesting. I find that sometimes even myself, when I'm being photographed, I do the same thing. This should be avoided. Of course, some of the more impressionable poses will need to be done, and this is the exception.