Most of the time the portrait consists of the immediate family between two and six people. Here are a few Digital Photography Tips to use when you shoot your next family photography session.

Tip #1 Make them Comfortable

It is difficult to get great expressions on faces when people are straining to maintain a certain pose. It’s important to make every effort to pose the family in a way that will give you the best opportunity to capture their best ‘side.’

Tip # 2 Watch your Composition

Part of the challenge of family portraits is to compose your shot in a way that will draw the viewer into and around the photograph in a pleasing way. Pose family members in triangles. The natural flow of the portrait will then allow the viewer to see each family member in an easy and progressive manner.

Tip # 3 Using Props

Using a big wing-backed chair with mom or dad sitting in the chair and the rest of the family members posed around it always makes a great shot. Using park benches, trees, rocks, fireplaces, stools and even the ground or floor are all good ideas to help you capture that unique shot. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination and creativity!

Tip # 4 Dressing Similar

This should be discussed before the family shoot is to take place. It will save you a lot of headache if all the family members are dressed in complimenting styles and colors. Strips, polka dots, clashing colors and printed clothing can give you a disconcerting and uneasy feel to a photo. We want to produce a photo that will convey the harmony and love between family members and draw the viewer to the faces; not be distracted by clothing that is outlandish or clashing.

Tip # 5 Watch the Lighting

If you are shooting in a studio, make sure you have your lights set up to enable every person’s face to be clearly seen. Although shadows can add intensity and interest, make sure it is balanced properly. Taking family photos outside can present a whole new set of challenges.

Shooting at the golden hour of the day (one hour before the sun goes down) is an option that will give you wonderful lighting conditions. Once again, it is of prime importance that all family member’s faces can be clearly seen.

Taking family portraits can present some very interesting challenges. You, as the photographer, have the opportunity to capture the very character and intimacy of the family unit. It takes work and practice to create a stunning portrait that will become a family memory for years to come.

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Studio | Photography | Children

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

408-717-3670  — 415-763-7643

Scott Voelker is the creator of NewPortraitBiz. He has taught 1,000′s of students how to start a photography business. To receive his Free video lessons visithttp://newportraitbiz.com

Visit Scott’s Blog at http://newportraitbiz.com/blog for even more up to date Free lessons.

When Hiring a Photographer

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A family portrait is more than a photograph, it is a veritable heirloom that will be passed down from generation to generation, a rich artifact of family tradition that will speak to your kids and grand-kids of their past, and where they come from. Not any random photographer can fulfill the needs of a family portrait. To capture the essence of your family, you need to invest in a professional portrait photographer.

Although you might think of a professional portrait photographer as a frivolous expense, when you consider the fact that your family portrait is more like an investment that will last for generations, the expense seems quite justified. Not only will it give joy and comfort to your kids and grand-kids, when your own children have left your house for college or jobs, you will be able to look back at your family portrait and derive immense joy from it.

Before you set off on your search for a portrait photographer, you have to consider three things: your budget, the kind of photograph you want to get captured, and what you plan to do with it.

Your budget will dictate your choice of photo studio. Most photo studio charge their clients a low fee per session. A busy photographer might have several such sessions throughout the day. The photographs are captured in a studio setting, and you can request anything from formal portraits to high key photographs against a white background, to even ‘action’ shots. A good photographer should be able to work with you to achieve the exact kind of portrait you desire. A quality studio will also be able to supply you with the entire spectrum of after shoot services such as prints and frames.

Next, you must consult your family about the kind of family portrait photograph they want to get captured. You can choose a high key portrait with a white background, a more demure, sober low-key photograph with moody lighting and dull colors, or even an outdoor photograph that captures your family together in the midst of an activity. A quick look at his portfolio will give you an idea at the kind of work your photographer is good at.

Finally, you must decide what you plan to do with the portrait after they have been captured. Do you want a large framed print that you can hang on the wall, or a series of photographs that capture different moments in the family? Would you prefer a printed canvas, or perhaps you want to go a bit trendy with a printed coffee table book? The quality and style of the portrait will vary with its intended use. A quality portrait photographer will be able to recognize what you want, and capture photographs accordingly.

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If you want  your portrait taken, please call Michael at 408-717-3670 or 415-763-7643

San Jose Photographer - Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael  at michael@benipayo.com or call

408-717-3670

415-763-7643

***

About the Author: Shaun Edwards is a portrait and wedding photographer specializing in modern and informal photography. If you want to know more about choosing a family portrait photographer then visit http://www.shaunedwards.com.

If you have young children and they are happiest early morning, schedule the session at 7 am. Most on-location photographers will take photos as early as sunrise! Studios are less flexible, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

o Select the location(s) carefully.

When it comes to photography, location matters! Many families like to take the photos on a beach. If your child doesn’t like sand or is afraid of the water, let your photographer know. Take a blanket or mat to lay on the beach. Ask your photographer to suggest a beach that has a grassy area nearby in case the beach doesn’t work out.

Some children feel most comfortable in their home. On-location photographers will travel to your home. Ask the photographer to arrive a little early to find the best locations for the shoot. Tidy up and clear clutter from the rooms where the photo session will take place.

o Rested kids with full tummies equal great photos.

A surprisingly high number of parents drag hungry kids to a portrait session at sunset, meal times or nap time. Sunset photos are nice but if the kids are unhappy, it will show in the photos. If your children are fed and rested before the session, chances are you will be happy with the photos.

o Select the right photographer.

There are a lot of photographers out there with varying levels of experience and prices. Do your homework! Check the portfolios and blogs of local photographers and don’t go by price alone. If quality is important, be prepared to pay anywhere from $350 to $800 for a one to two-hour session. The price usually includes a print credit or your high-resolution digital files. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, email or call the photographers to see how responsive and accommodating they are.

o Ask the right questions.

Find out exactly what is included in the photo package. Does the price include taxes and travel fees? Is there a charge for rescheduling in case of bad weather or if baby is sick? Is there a charge for retouching photos? Email these questions so you have the response in writing. Most photographers reserve the right to use a few images for promotional purposes. If you’re uncomfortable with this, let your photographer know. Most professional photographers will honor such requests.

o Communication is key.

Once you have selected your photographer, communicate! Be clear about your style preference (candid, posed or a mixture) and communicate any special requests.

o Wear the right clothes.

Most photographers will tell you that simple, comfortable and coordinated clothing look best in photos. Avoid very bright and bold prints as they can be distracting. If it is a beach location, take a few extra outfits for the children as they tend to end up in the water.

o Take along meaningful props.

If you plan to take props, be sure to take ones that are meaningful and representative of the person being photographed. If it is a young child, take along his or her favorite teddy bear or story book.

o Snacks, hairbrush and hairspray

If you plan to take your photos on the beach, take a hairbrush, some hairspray or gel and something to tie back long hair. Remember, it’s breezy at the beach! Snacks for young children and a bottle water might also come in handy.

o The most important tip: Have fun!

If you relax and have a great time during the photo shoot, your kids will follow suit. The photos will show a happy family having a wonderful time – priceless images that will be treasured for generations.

Benipayo Photography

San Jose  | Wedding | Photographer | San Francisco

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

(408) 717-3670 ********** (415) 763-7643

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Shiyana Thenabadu

Oahu Portrait Photographer

http://www.oahuportraitphotographer.com/

Here are several points to consider when planning for your family portraits.

How Often? Generally, every three years, or after a major change such as birth or marriage. Any longer than that, and people will have changed enough that the old portrait on the wall looks like someone else.

What Time of Year? You can choose any time of year. If you are winter people, why not pick a ski or other outdoor setting? If you are boaters, late summer is a good time. Many family images are captured in early autumn. The weather is cooler, things may have calmed down a bit from summer, and you have the opportunity to capture fall colors in many areas of the country.

What’s the Occasion? Most family portraits are not centered around any specific occasion – they are scheduled and conducted independent of other life activities. However, if you have a special gathering of relatives for a family reunion, holiday get-together, wedding, baptism or graduation, it is a good opportunity to get extended family images taken.

What Location? Think about what kind of images you would like to have preserved. Are you interested in formal, indoor portraits, or more casual, outdoor images? Are you fond of beach or woods settings? Determining how you want your family represented is an important step in planning for your family portraits. Destination Images are one option you may not normally think to consider – if you hire a photographer to take your images while on a trip, or travel with the photographer to a special location, you can capture some truly special images.

Where Do You Want to Display? Your family portraits should command the center of attention in your house. Be certain to think about the locations where you would like to display the images. Your photographer will consult with you on the size and type of images that would work well in each setting, as well as some color scheme ideas for clothing and setting that would compliment the decor. Also think about your work and second home for possibilities to display wall portraits and desk images.

What/Who Do We Include? Well, the core family is a must. You may want to add extended family such as husbands and wives and their children for some images. You will have to consider whether boyfriends and girlfriends are in your main group shots – it may be best to have smaller images with them and a smaller group. If you have a property, setting or toy such as a boat, camp, farm or club to which you belong, you may want to have those featured as well.

What Should We Wear? It will depend on the setting of course, but the key is to be compatible in color and dress. For beach, it is common to have either khaki or denim bottoms and white or other solid-color tops, and often, bare feet are better in the sand than footwear. For fall photos, denim and solid colors are appropriate. For special setting or destinations, you just need to plan and communicate before the day of the event.

How Long to Plan for the Session? You’ll want to block off a couple of hours for an average family session. To make sure the session goes well, plan to have your clothing laid out before that day, and make sure any small children and pets are well rested and fed. Family sessions should be relaxed and pleasant. In fact, many customers comment that their family session was one of the more enjoyable events that their family has had.

What to Budget? Family portraits are not like school pictures. They are an investment and works of art, and they are not generally taken more than once every few years. So be prepared to invest in the legacy and memory. The actual cost of the images will depend upon your photographer and the products that you choose, and you should discuss the financial deatils during your planning sessions.

So, that’s not so bad! You now are prepared to search for and contact photographers who can guide you through your family portrait experience. As you screen your photographers, see if they ask you these questions. If they do not, then you need to question their ability to understand and meet your needs. And if it’s been more than three years for your family – start planning for your portraits today!

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael  at michael@benipayo.com or call

408-717-3670

415-763-7643

John Huegel is a photographer in the Erie, Pennsylvania area who specializes in Seniors, Dance Studio, Families and other groups. He is active in many charitable and volunteer activities in the Erie area.

Family portraits are a lot more than a picture or something to look at on the wall. It tells a story and share a sense of family history with future generations.

If you really want to capture the essence of your family for many years, hiring a professional portrait photographer is an investment that not only you will enjoy but your grandkids and future generation will enjoy. Because a family portrait is just not the same as any other kind of photograph, a professional photographer can put that special added touch on these kinds of family heirlooms an enable you and your family to reap the rewards for many years to come.

It is easy for many to think of professional portraits as a luxury or unnecessary expense, but consider how long a portrait lasts and the fact that it is the best way to preserve memories for many generations. The right portrait can be a source of happiness for many generations.

When choosing to hire a professional portrait photographer, there are three things that you should keep in mind. First, the amount of money that you are willing to spend on portraits is one of the most important factors guiding the choice of portrait studios and who you can hire. Second, you should also decide on what type of portrait you will want. Do you want an outdoor photo session, or one inside a studio? What kind of image or emotion so you want the portrait to display? Is there any kind of background that you would want to use? The last thing to consider about your portraits is what you want to do with them once you have them.

Of course, you will want to share some of your portraits with other friends and family, but also consider what you would like to do with them in your home. Do you want a large portrait on canvas to hang over the mantel, or would you like to place various portrait poses in a large album for the coffee table? These will all be things to consider ahead of time, prior to having your family portraits made. These will also be the kinds of things that you will want to communicate with your professional family portrait photographer.

The amount of money that you are willing to spend will determine the level of quality that you will get in a professional photography studio and also the quality of portraits that you will receive. Professional family portrait photographers will be able to provide you not only with the best family portrait sitting experience and the best advice for family portraits, but also with high-quality prints and after-portrait services like mattes, frames, and albums as well.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael  at michael@benipayo.com or call

408-717-3670

415-763-7643

Author: Shannon Fenning is a professional photographer. She loves to capture captivating moments such as family portrait photography in Phoenix Arizona area.

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FAMILY PORTRAITURE – AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE:

STYLE:

THE END PRODUCT:

DECOR:

WALL SPACE

QUALITY

OTHER OPTIONS

PRICING

SESSION FEES

San Jose Photographer - Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael  at michael@benipayo.com or call

408-717-3670

415-763-7643

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There are some very good reasons to learn how to take family portraits, and you don’t have to be embarking on a photography career to do so. Having portraits professionally done can be just too expensive for many families. And often it can be difficult to get everyone to the studio at the scheduled time.

Every family deserves to have at least one good family portrait together but it’s nice to have additional portraits as the family grows and ages. If you want to learn how to take portraits, learn by taking a portrait of your family or someone you know who would love to have a family portrait! If you are taking a portrait of your family, you have to be in it too! So be sure to use a camera with a timer or remote shutter button release.

If you new to photography, learning how to take good family portraits will come in handy when taking group pictures at family gatherings like Thanksgiving.

Without further ado, here are some tips to help you get started taking memorable family portraits, whether formal or informal.

1) Avoid the “Police Line Up” Portrait – Instead of lining everyone up shoulder to shoulder, try a more natural arrangement that also makes it easier to to fit a bunch of people into one picture.

Staggering is one technique that works well for group photos. For example, you might stagger the family members on the front steps of a porch or on and around boulders near a pond, with some family members standing and others sitting. If in a park, two siblings might sit on a low hanging branch of a tree or all could sit on the lawn clustered together. Show family closeness by spacing members close together.

2) Show Relationships – You can do this by the way in which you have people pose in the portrait. For example, Grandma and Grandpa might stand next to each, a toddler could be in Mother’s arms, two siblings might have arms slung over each others shoulders, etc.

3) Consider Including the Family Pets – assuming they hold still long enough. Even if the pet is sitting still, you probably should raise the Shutter Speed Priority to 1/125 because even the smallest movement can cause a blur. It is much easier to take a portrait of an individual with a pet or a pet separately, but if the family has a mellow dog or cat, try some family portrait poses with and without.

4) Get Creative with Props – depending upon the type of portrait you want. Does the family do any activities or sports like community baseball? Each family member could hold a mitt, ball or bat. This is a trend with individual portraiture that can be fun for families too.

5) Get Everyone Smiling – Instead of just saying “cheese,” put the family at ease (no rhyme intended) by talking to them: compliment, tell a story joke around, and soon they won’t be so nervous about the photographing and their smiles will become more relaxed and real. When you’ve got the smiles and pose, ask the family to hold them until you give the signal that your camera’s got the shot.

Finally, have fun taking lots of pictures so the family can choose their favorite. You’re sure to get some great shots where the family will be excited to frame them for all to see.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography

Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com

If you are interested having a portrait session with me -

408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames.com and loves taking pictures. Your Picture Frames makes it easy for you to find just the perfect frame for your favorite family portrait. Check out our beautiful selection of wall picture frames andwood frames. Visit our website or call us toll free at 1-800-780-0699.

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Why should you take family portraits outdoors? Besides the potential for beautiful or fun backgrounds, photographing outside provides the opportunity to use natural lighting. If you are a professional photographer or serious enthusiast then you know that the external flash, studio lights and reflectors work to mimic the beauty of natural light.

If you are new to photography and have a digital compact and built in flash, then taking your family portraits outdoors is the best way to get professional quality portraits that you’ll want to proudly frame in your home.

The Best Natural Lighting for Taking Family Portraits Outdoors

Not all outdoors lighting is ideal. The worst time of day to take family portraits outdoors is mid-day. The best times of day are what many photographers refer to as the “Golden Hours” the hour before sunset and after dawn when the light is softest and the shadows least harsh. The closer to these times you can gather the family for their portrait, the better.

Another good option is to wait for a cloudy day when there is bright overcast light. This provides enough bright light and is the kind of softness professional photographers spend money on soft boxes to get. If the timing doesn’t work out for any of the above, find shade that isn’t too dark.

Outdoor Portrait Settings

The obvious choice and perhaps the perfect choice is the family’s backyard. Or you could take a cue from high school senior photography and take your outdoors family portrait at a place the family enjoys such as a park. If you go away from home, look for locations and times of the day when the area is the least crowded.

You should also consider using a family activity or a hobby as a potential setting. If the entire family is into horses, a pretty pasture with horses nibbling on the grass with the family posed on and in front of a nice white fence could work quite well. If the family sails, consider the boat’s deck.

Speaking of boats, a word of caution: if you decide to take any family portraits outdoors at places such as the sea, beach or snow, here are some things that can help: Select the beach mode on a digital compact, or if you use a DSLR or SLR, use a polarizing filter. This will help with the glare. Set the flash to “on” instead of “automatic” to help minimize shadows on the family. Don’t position the family where they will be facing the sun otherwise they’ll be squinting.

As with any picture, be sure to hide or remove clutter in the background. Do you want to use the natural outdoor lighting but want a plain background? Tack a piece of fabric to a fence. Check the lawn for sprinklers and behind the family for things that might be distracting, like a lamp post.

If you want to diminish the overall background, use the Portrait mode or set your Aperture Priority for a smaller depth of field.

On the other hand, you may want to have outdoor features as part of the picture by posing the family in front of a beautiful tree. Just be sure to compose the shot with the focus on the family.

Whether you are taking family portraits outdoors for others or your own family, use these portrait tips and you’ll be sure to take a portrait that will be proudly framed on the family wall.

San Jose Photographer – Benipayo Photography
Contact: Michael at michael@benipayo.com
If you are interested having a portrait session with me -
408-717-3670     415-763-7643

Author:  Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames.com and loves taking pictures. Your Picture Frames makes it easy for you to find just the perfect frame for your photo or artwork. We offer a large selection of picture frames in all styles, colors and shapes from small to large frames. Shop online or call us at 1-800-780-0699.