Fun Family photo tips:
Do your family photos often look a bit boring and posed? Here are some quick family photography tips for taking candid shots of your loved ones on location.
Head for cover
On very sunny days, look for safe, flat light to get some simple portraits. For instance, at the beach, a pier provides the perfect cover for a photo shoot.
Find your level
You shouldn’t be at a severe angle to your subjects’ eye-line at any point, as this is a recipe for unflattering images. If the family is sat on the floor, get down with them and shoot from their level
Be familiar
The best shots of children are often those which happen after they’ve forgotten you’re there. You will need to be available at a moment’s notice to take a shot. Establish your settings with a few practice shots, then rely on a limited zone AF.
Keep it light
When you’re working with kids, treat photography like a game. Make it fun for them, otherwise they’ll lose interest quickly and their expressions will look forced.
Zoom in
To blur the background, stand back from the children and zoom in. It’s effective when the background has unattractive details in it, but the colour complements their clothes.
Stay sharp
For posed shots, focus on the eyes using single-servo AF (AF-S) and an off-centre AF point. If you’re shooting the family being active, switch to continuous-servo AF (AF-C).
Lens choice
Versatile zoom lenses are useful, but portraiture requires some specialist optics to get the sharpest shots. A 50mm is a must-have, and a 24-70mm f/2.8 is an excellent addition to any kit list .
Ditch the tripod
Although locking your camera on a tripod can enable you to step away from the viewfinder and direct the shoot, working handheld frees you up to grab opportunities.
Clipping-free shots
Use your histogram display as the default playback setting to enable you to see if any exposure compensation is required.
Flash back
When using flash, you’ll need to ensure the shutter speed doesn’t exceed your camera’s ‘maximum flash sync speed’ – typically around 1/250 sec…
In control
In bright light, you may have to use smaller apertures and low ISOs to keep within the flash sync speed, or set high-speed sync mode.
Eye for detail
Keep your eyes peeled for beach huts, beachside snack bars and other buildings that offer a splash of colour or texture in the background, as well as providing shade for softer light.
Use your knees
It’s especially important to get down to a child’s eye level when taking their portrait, as you can engage them when you’re shooting, but keep an eye out for distractions in the background.
Don’t force it
Plan to take more pictures at the start of a session, when everyone’s fresh. Children can lose interest and get grizzly as the day wears on.
