Posted by QuickReadAbout.com Staff in Family portraits are often a rich part of any family’s legacy, being passed down from generation to generation. Chances are that there are very few families that don’t have portraits of grandma and grandpa, or ancestors even further back, sitting and posing for some family photography of one type of another. If you’re looking to leave a legacy of your own family for the next generations to come, how can you go about dressing up your own family photography so that it’s not just the same old boring poses and expressions? You don’t need to be a professional photographer to do this, as there are some simple tips and tricks to accomplish this.
Get a Variety of Poses and Shots
If you look at family photography from generations ago, you may notice that they are all posed with a couple either seated or standing, starting straight at the camera. Sometimes they’re smiling, but usually they look very serious and somber. In generations past, it may have seemed rude to be smiling or playful in front of the camera, but we know that today things have changed. Try to incorporate a variety of poses, settings, and shots into your own family photography. For instance, instead of a couple just staring at the camera, try getting a profile shot as they look lovingly at each other. If there is a baby in the family, a fun shot is to have the baby between them, each kissing the baby as he or she is looking at the camera. Or, have the husband or the wife kissing the other’s cheek as he or she laughs at the camera. All of these playful shots are perfectly appropriate for family photography as they convey the fun that families should be having with each other. As they say, the family that plays together stays together.
Get Out of the Studio
Taking some posed shots in a professional studio is fine for family photography, but you may want to consider getting your family out of the studio and into a new setting or environment. Try getting a shot of everyone walking along the beach or running in a field. Get a picnic basket and checkered tablecloth and get a nice shot of everyone having a picnic together. Other places and poses for good family photography might include everyone in a convertible (rent one for the day and make a day trip out of it), or at a local zoo or museum. By getting some candid shots like this, you make your own family photography fun and spontaneous.
And don’t forget to get some photos of everyone dressed up as well as casual. The next time you’re heading off to your place of worship, or are going to a wedding or other formal event, make this an opportunity for a few shots you can include in your family photography. While fun and relaxed poses are great, getting pictures of everyone wearing their finest and looking their best is also a good idea.