Remember the “Family Tree” photo my pal took of her entire clan perched on various branches in an actual tree? I still can’t get it out of my mind.
Each time I pass the photo (which now adorns my refrigerator) I have to smile. While I marvel at the creative composition of the photo I also have to chuckle because I know there would be no way I could convince my own family members to pose for a similar shot. (I have visions of my 5’1” 98-pound mother being hoisted on to an upper branch by my 5’11” brother and I have to laugh.)
Still, for this particular family, who loves spending time in the great outdoors, the setting was perfect and the “Family Tree” connection was as clever as it gets.
Since receiving their picture I’ve been trying to come up with some equally clever settings or themes for family photos. Some of them require props and costumes. For example:
If your family loves spending time at the beach you could dress up as pirates and pose on the sand or in the surf. If you live in a rural area you could pose for a farm or barnyard theme photo.
If these options are too corny or over the top you could consider some other (more conservative) composition options. For example, look for patterns formed by natural shapes and lines, the balance of light and dark, and colors within the frame, each can help set a mood for the picture. They also give the eye something to focus on when looking at a shot for the first time.
You could also vary your focal point. While the focal point of your picture should be your subject, you don’t always need to place your subject in the center of the shot. Consider splitting the viewfinder into three equal areas horizontally or vertically and place your subject’s eyes in the middle of one of these lines and have something else (a branch, landscaping, a waterfall, a bookshelf, a rock wall) on one of the other lines to maximize symmetry.
Also, when you are shooting more than one subject in the same shot there’s no rule that mandates they have to be placed side by side. Mix it up a bit. Look for ways you can elevate one above the other or employ natural lines or patterns in the background to link them together.
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