Family Photography. Simple and Effective Shooting Techniques.

Before taking a picture, check all the main settings of your camera: the value of iso (should be the smallest for maximum picture quality), the format for saving images (RAW or JPEG), white balance ,

Let's move on to the basic shooting rules.

Correct frame layout

When shooting family group portraits, one should emphasize the warmth of feelings and the closeness of family members. This is achieved by placing the shot as close as possible to each other in the frame. But try to avoid cases when people are facing the camera fronting their shoulders. Place them at a slight angle, so that their shoulders overlap each other. If there are grandmothers and grandfathers in the frame, put them on a chair, place in the foreground - the effect of the foundation, the foundation of the family.

Coordinate in the selection of clothes

Before the photo session with clients, be sure to discuss the issue of observing color uniformity in clothing. Of course, the final choice will depend on them, but it is not superfluous to recall the undesirability of using extreme colors in clothes. This will help create a harmonious color composition in the frame and make photo processing easier.

Watch your eyes

During the shooting of group portraits, be careful that everyone who is shot has eyes opened. Many photographers, at the beginning of their creative path, did not pay due attention to this, doing several takes, hoping to find among them one successful shot. But this, does not always happen, and hope for a chance - a sign of unprofessionalism.

It is necessary to concentrate the attention of those shot at the time of shooting as much as possible, and carefully study the received pictures on site. With experience, you will get into the habit of necessarily considering such shots.

Smile to get a smile back

Your shooting should take place in an easy and relaxed atmosphere.

A couple of jokes, will help you defuse the situation. Want to achieve maximum naturalness in the frame, then ask the shooters to play with each other, run, jump. At this moment people will radiate genuine positive emotions.

Blurred background

To achieve artistic background blur, use an open aperture. Maximize the opening of the aperture is not worth it, because in this case you will get a small depth-of-field (depth of field of the image), and you will not be able to focus not all the characters in the picture. Someone will definitely fall out of focus. To avoid possible "non-focus pictures", take several frames with different aperture values and on-site check whether all family members are in focus.

Photoshoot of pregnant women on the street

A suitable option for holding photo sessions if the window is warm and clear. In the midst of shooting, make compliments and various encouragements for a future mother. Remember, many women during pregnancy complex about the alleged appearance of extra kilograms and therefore are embarrassed and behave stiffly in front of the camera. Just your compliments, as a professional, will help her feel more confident.

In bad weather, it's better to take a photo session in a professional photo studio.

Be confident in yourself and your abilities

If you have already started work for which you will be paid, it is not the time to doubt your abilities.

During the shooting, radiate confidence, the model will feel it and will behave more confidently in the frame.

But do not forget to develop and improve in photography. Your confidence should be based on your knowledge and professional skills.

What if mom, dad start to offer their ideas to pose.

Agree and take photos even if you are sure of the futility of the frame ... A professional wedding and family photographer will never tell the customers "It will not work."

Say, "Great, let's try a few more options."

Good luck!