The Holiday season is just around the corner. Yipeee…
It’s time again for Big Family meals, Grandparents meeting Grandchildren, Loved ones Sharing Gifts, Children going crazy all over, Hugs, Kisses and so much more. It is that time when our homes become even more Magical, thanks not just to the Festival Colors, Lights and Decor but also to the Love, Laughter and Joy is shared amongst the whole family. I believe there couldn’t be a more perfect time to make new memories and capture those beautiful Family Portraits for the annual Family Album.
It is also the perfect time for me to share my 5 handy tips to capture great Family Portraits this Holiday season.You don’t need a fancy camera to get all those beautiful smiles in one frame, just a bit of thought and planning and you’re good to go.
1. Prepare in Advance – If I were to share my top tip for Family portraiture anytime, it would be to be prepared – just some preplanning to avoid those blurry shots and missing some major family moments. Nothing as exhausting as those monthly work plans, weekly kids activities or daily menu charts but a bit of preparation for your Holiday Family Portrait. It sure pays back in the form of beautifully captured Child Portraits for your walls or those happy Family Photographs for the yearly collection.
All you need is to get creative and think of theme for your Holiday/Festival – Plan your Decor – Colors, Lightings etc accordingly and coordinate the outfits for the whole Family around it. Also don’t forget to inform your extended family about it.
2. Find that Light – As they say, Lighting is the key factor in creating a successful image! So you gotta look for good enough ambient light in your home. Find a few spots with Ample Light or Source of light next to it (Big lamp/ Window) or just shoot outdoors in your garden or a park. Using good available Light will help create those Pleasing Natural looking Family and Child Photographs.
3. Capture those Little Details – Every festival is celebrated differently in each household. Remember to capture those Rituals, Traditions & Details that tell the story of your home, details that make for those meaningful Family portraits that you will Cherish forever. Don’t shy away from capturing shots of individuals in the Family, special bonds that members share, special talents etc and definitely try different perspectives, new angles to have a a variety of photographs for your album.
4. Include Candid Moments – We all Love those perfectly posed Family Portrait -Grandparents in between, the Children placed either side and Grandkids in laps. Those are the kind of portraits that are surely to make it to our walls.
However the holidays/festivals are not just about those picture perfect moments. They are also about those real Family moments, those crazy kind of moments that make your family exactly what it is perfect.So to bring a dynamic element to your perfectly planned Family Portraits, document those unplanned candid moments too. Moments like children playing together, a big laugh in the group, members cooking together, siblings chatting, all qualify equally to be a part of your Holiday Family Portraits. These moments sometimes turn out be a better memory of our times together.
5. Click The Whole Gang First – Having been a Family and Child Photographer for almost a decade now, this had to be shared. “As time runs out so does the patience, in old or young, to get clicked.”
So once the whole family is together, clothes are as perfect as can be, no uncle has taken over the bar and no child has dropped food on their clothes, Its almost time. Before you get in the frame too and press the shutter, remember to let the whole bunch know, else there will always be one family member with her hair a bit out of place, that grandpa with a tilted bow tie or just distracted children looking at that bird who just few past the window. Give your family that extra minute to smile their widest smile, join them and go click click click.
Once that customary Family Portrait is off your head, you won’t be under pressure to capture it later. This will give you time to get creative with those candid photographs and also give you the freedom to keep the camera down & share those beautiful moments with you loved ones. Always remember that not even a million pictures captured with your family will ever replace that moment spent with them.
Here’s hoping these handy tips help you create some beautiful Family Portraits this Holiday season. Its never too early to wish everyone a Happy Festive season ahead!