Patronize a portrait studio one time and you will be flooded with money-saving coupons for future visits until your newborn gets married. Coupons and discounts are a couple of ways to save on professional sittings, but they’re not always the best. If you own a decent camera and have some photography skills, then you can save a ton of money by taking your own family photos.
While it may seem intimidating at first, snapping keepers of your kids or extended family members is completely feasible if you follow a few simple tips:
If you are trying to frame a large group of 10 or more people, I would suggest taking the shots outside. Smaller groups that contain no more than five subjects can easily be accommodated in a living room or along a staircase. However, lighting becomes an issue the more subjects you have. If Mother Nature makes it impossible for you to shoot outdoors remember to position your subjects to the side of an open window. Placing them directly in front of the window will wash out the shot.
If you can set up a shot outdoors, keep it simple. You don’t want the scenery to upstage your family members. In addition, keep an eye out for busy backgrounds and other distractions such as large rocks, tall trees and fountains that can wreck havoc on your photos.
While it’s not necessary for your entire family to don matchy-matchy outfits, it is a good idea to select a neutral color scheme that will complement the group as a whole. Generally, it’s wise to stay away from brightly colored shirts with logos or character designs and stick with solid colored attire in earth tones. Also, remind grandma and Aunt Ruth to leave their large, shiny jewelry at home on the day of the shoot as the bling can cause unwanted reflections.
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