7 Quick tips to improve your family photos this summer
As a family photographer, I love going on holiday to capture my own family photographs! Following on from my FaceBook ‘top tips to taking better photos of your family this holiday’, I’ve complied them all into one blog so you can easily refer to them all at a glance.
1. Time of Day
Light plays the most important role in photography and therefore the time of day that you take your photos has a huge impact on colour and shadows. Ideally you want to move away from the harsh middle of the day sun to the softer hours which are first thing in the morning or late in the evening. Here are 2 photos taken on the same beach, one is mid morning and the other is late evening. Notice how the colours and skies are totally different and both beautiful!
2. The Horizon
Quite simply try to remember when you’re taking your photos to keep an eye on the horizon and make sure it is straight, as it really does make a big difference to your final image! Thankfully this is a problem that is super easy to rectify with one of your smart phone edit apps! Here are 2 images, one you can see has a wonky donkey horizon and the other is perfectly straight, as it should be!
3. Change your angle!
Yes, quite simply you and/or your subjects are either going to standing up or sit down. The first image here the children are standing on top of a large stone and I am crouching down right in front of them. Capturing that immense sky they look like they are on the top of a mountain. In the second photo they are sitting down and I am standing up - just so you can see the trees in the background allowing your eye to work out that they are just sitting on a wall. A small quick change for a different result!
4. Composition and straight lines
The next 2 images show how horizontal and vertical lines can really add a new dimension to your photos!
5. Candid action photos
These are a favourite of mine. Basically get the kids involved in an activity and they’ll be so engrossed doing it they won’t even notice that you are taking photos of them. Definately the best way to get some natural smiles. Remember if there is a group of them to try and get all their faces in the viewfinder when you take the photo!
6. Four different looks in 2 minutes
The scene is very simple image of my family walking along the beach in Co. Kerry, Ireland. I starting by getting them to walk towards me and I continued to take their photo as they walked right past me and off into the distance.
You will notice how the light is different in the first image to the last one, this is because the light is behind me (taking the photo) in the first one and in the last one the light is in front of me. With 4 different images to choose from, you can decide which one you like best!
7. Finally, don’t forget the bigger picture!
Take a step back and take in the whole scene. This will help put your images into context and add to your holiday story.
Of course all these tips are great for holidays as this is generally a time when we will take lots of photos, however the principals apply all year round! Hope you have fun putting them into practice!
Best wishes,
Celine x
P.S. To take a look at my earlier blog for some more photos and examples, just click here.