Thanksgiving is a prime opportunity to snap keepers of your family, especially the members who live far away. The downside to taking photos of your loved ones on a busy holiday is that often it’s hard to track people down. Aunt Sue may be helping mom in the kitchen while Uncle Harry is busy watching football with dad and Cousin Nate is running around with the kids while you are trying to set-up a family portrait.
If you are dead set on getting a formal family portrait while everyone is under the same roof, it’s a good idea to announce your plans at the onset of the gathering; that way people won’t be caught off guard and won’t try to weasel out of posing for the shot. In addition, you might consider setting up a mock studio in your home, especially for picture-taking.
Select a spot that features a ton of natural light, such as near a picture window. Then, set-up a backdrop for the photos using a sheet on a wall near the window; just make sure the sheet is not on the same wall as the window. Next, arrange a few chairs or stools about ten feet in front of the backdrop (or closer if the room is small) and supplement with a few interior lights, such as a standing lamp.
Once the area is complete invite family members to get their photo taken. For example, if there is a newborn in the family have grandma hold the baby and pose in front of your backdrop. Also, look for fun combinations of people, such as a few younger kids with a couple of older uncles fooling around with props, like balls or toys.
Depending on the time of day and your lighting situation, you might consider using a large white dry erase board as a reflector. If you are shooting in a low-light situation, raise your ISO to 400 or 800 and employ your camera’s external flash, but aim the bulb at the ceiling to bounce the light down rather than shooting it straight at your subjects.
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