If your family pictures are all forced smiles and stiff poses, try these tips to improve them.
Avoid poses. Everyone is uncomfortable in front of a camera. To make sure your subjects look relaxed, photograph them while they're active. At a family gathering or Sunday lunch, sneak up on someone cooking sausages or setting the table. If he stiffens, ask him to describe what he's doing. Take his mind off the camera.
Use a zoom lens. A camera at close range can be intimidating. A zoom lens lets you stand back while focusing in for a tight portrait.
Watch the details. It takes only a second to check for cluttered or distracting backgrounds.
Beware of light. Bright sunlight is harsh and causes squinting and ugly shadows. Shade is softer and more flattering to skin tones.
Take two or three quick shots of the same person. Professionals know that it's rare to get a perfect picture on the first try. Shooting several pictures increases your odds of capturing the peak of action or the perfect smile. So always have plenty of film handy.
To keep full-length shots from looking amateurish, include the whole figure; be careful not to cut off the subject's feet.
Don't forget that your camera has two framing positions - horizontal, or landscape, and vertical, or portrait. Try to vary the framing of your pictures. A family group would probably need horizontal framing, a full-length figure or a head and shoulder shot would fit best into a vertical frame. Experiment and look for the most pleasing arrangement.
Turn your snapshots into postcards by gluing them to index cards with latex glue; trim with scissors, a razor blade or a craft knife. Your friends and family will love finding pictures of themselves in the post.
Have your family portrait taken at a professional photography studio.
