Are you looking for the perfect place to take family photos? There are many factors to consider when scoping out a location for a portrait session. The right background is essential for the perfect photo. You want it to be beautiful, while still reserving the spotlight for your subject. You want it to be interesting, without becoming a distraction.
The first thing to consider is the color. Sometimes people have a tendency to pose in front of a flower garden because it’s beautiful, but if there are too many different colors, the background becomes too busy and draws attention away from the subject. One solution to this problem is focusing on one area of the garden or colorful location. For example, if there is an area that only has pink roses, you could frame your shot to only include those flowers so that your primary background colors would be pink and green.
The second thing to consider is texture. There are so many textures to choose from if you will only open your eyes to the many possibilities. A barn door, a prairie, a stone wall or a cloudy sky can all provide unique backdrops for your photos. On a walk this afternoon, I spotted a brick building that had teal painted barn doors. It would be a great background for an engagement portrait!
You might find a location with perfect color and texture, but if it’s too crowded, it will not provide an ideal background for your portraits. Strangers looming around in the background do not make for a good family photo or portrait. If you cannot avoid a crowd, use the lowest aperture possible to turn that crowd into a colorful blur.
Other things to watch out for: garbage (pick it up before you snap the photos), random trees or poles that might appear to stick out of someone’s head, and signs that might send the wrong message (such as an exit sign in a wedding photo). Look through the viewfinder at your location before posing your subjects to see if there is anything you don’t want to include. You might be able to get rid of it simply by changing your angle slightly, or by placing your subject directly in front of it in order to hide it from the camera’s view.