How To Take a Family Portrait

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Take a family portrait both as a keepsake and as an excuse to get everyone together.

To complete this How-To you will need:

A large group of family members
A camera
A tripod
A large space
Props of varying heights such as a couch, fireplace, or a stairwell
Extra fill lighting
Lighting system (optional) (optional) (optional)

Step 1: Analyze the group

Quickly analyze the group. Do a mental lineup according to family ties, height, age, and affiliations.

Step 2: Choose location

Choose your location and backdrop, either in a cozy area or outside.

Tip: If you don't have a professional lighting system, try to select a location that maximizes natural, even light.

Step 3: Arrange the family

Arrange the family. Place immediate family members together, with children near their parents. Place the oldest toward the center. Place pets last.

Tip: If the children are older and married, place the children between their natural parents and their own spouse.

Step 4: Set up lights

If you're using lights, set them up and align them to your liking.

Tip: If you can, bounce the flash off the ceiling to get the softest, most diffused light possible.

Step 5: Place camera on tripod

Place your camera on the tripod.

Step 6: Set up camera

Select the appropriate film, aperture, and shutter speed that's appropriate for your shooting conditions.

Step 7: Compose your shot

Compose your shot, fitting the entire family within the frame edges.

Tip: A wider angle lens will allow you to squeeze in more family members, but be prepared for a little distortion at the edges of the frame.

Step 8: Meter on the subjects

Using either your in-camera light meter or handheld light meter, meter on the subjects.

Tip: Set your camera on its self-timer or use a shutter release trigger to help avoid camera shake.

Step 9: Take as many shots are you can

Take as many shots as you possibly can before everyone loses their patience and gets fidgety.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HomeFamily
• arts
• photography
• photo
• photos
• shoot
• shooting
• picture
• pictures
• take
• taking
• technique
• family

[SWEBoy77]

please dont do 1st comments

no one likes them becus people take them as useless spam

[ivy221]

they should make a vid on how to find gifts for someone whos hard to shop for or w/e. :P

[rockywspd]

Our family tried to do this, but the door fell off in the middle of my uncles flight, so we had to do the individual families like me and my parents, my grandparents, my uncle and his three kids and wife,etc... and then had to photoshop them together:/

[TheSnowyGurlz]

I thought this said "How to fake a family portrait". XD

[MrReminisce]

@MechaBuu you can borrow mine.

[MechaBuu]

But what if you don't have a family?

[MrReminisce]

With the camera set a 500th of a second shutter speed I don't think you will have to worry about camera shake, heck, you'll freeze a race car at that shutter speed!

[leonidmilman]

will i need a life?

[kalu164]

umm, you just take the picture with every family member in the photo........

[TehFizzMan]

first

[23giancarlo]

take the pictture man!!!!