Search Results for: blog tips to consider when taking group shots

Family Reunion Shots

Summer reunions are a tradition for many families across the globe. In addition to allowing multiple generations the opportunity to get to know each other a little better, reunions are also a prime chance to snap keepers of each family member. We all know that family photos are invaluable, but only the best ones are passed down from generation to generation. So, what do you need to do to ensure your family reunion shots are frame worthy? For starters, a family portrait should reflect a cohesive structure, regardless of how many subjects appear in a single shot. Whether you are … Continue reading →

Easter Family Portrait Tips

Whether you have a family of five or 15, you want your clan to look its best when shooting Easter portraits. In order to snap frame worthy family shots during the holiday weekend, consider the following tips: Coordinate: You don’t want to set up a shot that features little Johnny in his Easter Sunday best while grandpa is sporting his work overalls and boots. Consistency and coordination is key when taking family portraits. When you are shooting a large group you want to direct the viewer’s attention to the subjects’ faces, not a slew of distracting garments. While you don’t … Continue reading →

Taking Pictures at Target

Did you know that Target has an in-house portrait studio? Apparently, I don’t get out much. Actually, I blame my location. Target portrait studios exist, but only in select stores. I stumbled upon one while visiting a friend who lives just outside of a major metropolitan area, and I was quite impressed with what I saw. For starters, if you forget your coupons at home, Target portrait studio has some available at the front counter. I suppose it helps lure walk-in traffic, but I have been to many in-store portrait studios that wouldn’t dream of offering you discounts on sessions … Continue reading →

Capturing Candid Holiday Shots

Most people prefer to feature posed family portraits on their annual holiday greeting cards, but I like to use candid shots to spice up my Christmas correspondences. With the holiday party season in full swing, now is the prefect time to capture candid shots of your kids and other family members. Candid shots are ideal to document camera shy subjects, as there is no need for them to look directly in the lens and say, “Cheese!” Rather, your goal is to snap shots of family members and friends acting naturally, whether they are cooking, playing games, sitting by a warm … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Group Shots

Turkey time is right around the corner and for most avid photographers the holiday means extra snapping. With friends and family members gathered in the same place at the same time, it stands to reason that you would want to give your camera a workout preserving cherished moments. If you are planning to get snap happy this Thanksgiving, then consider the following tips for taking frame worthy shots of large groups: Simple is best: Forget about contorting your family members into human pretzels to achieve a creative shot. Rather, stick with simple poses. You can design fresh shots by arranging … Continue reading →

Lighting Tips for Group Shots

Lighting is a key consideration when taking group shots. However, due to the challenges associated with having a large amount of people in one place at the same time, this all-important component of photography often gets overlooked. The idea of having a professional handle the lighting, backdrop and poses appeals to many people. However, while professional photo shoots have their advantages, they don’t come cheap. What’s more, getting young children to pose for a stranger can be a nightmarish proposition. Fortunately, it is possible to take frame worthy group shots on your own, provided you consider these lighting tips: Professional … Continue reading →

Simple Tips for Taking Group Shots

I’m finally getting around to editing the digital photos I took of my daughter’s birthday party. The birthday party that her entire kindergarten class attended. It was a wild and crazy day, but I scored a ton of great group shots of the kids and some of the parents. Whereas I would have loved to have been able to afford a professional photographer for the event, knowing how to take decent group shots of a big event can help you save valuable time and money. Here are some tips I always keep in mind when shooting group shots: Consider Color: … Continue reading →

More Tips to Consider Before Snapping Your Holiday Photo

Many families spend the long Thanksgiving weekend snapping photos for their annual Christmas card. The holiday weekend is an especially good time to take a family shot if you have children, who are home from college, or you have grandkids visiting from other parts of the country. Family gatherings are also ideal times to snap shots because you have more photographers at your disposal. If you can’t stand working with your camera’s self timer or you don’t own a tripod, it is virtually impossible to take a decent group shot of your entire clan when you are at home. If … Continue reading →

Tips to Remember When Shooting Indoors

One of the most important factors to keep in mind when shooting indoors is lighting. In your initial assessment of a room consider whether you will be using available natural light or your flash. Ideally you want to flood the room with as much natural light as possible. If the room has multiple windows open them to allow the natural light in. In the best-case scenario you will be able to fill the room with enough light so that you don’t have to use your flash. By eliminating the flash you’ll find your shots will not have those annoying orange … Continue reading →

Tips For Shooting at Night

I’m as diligent a photographer as they come… as far as taking pictures is concerned. It’s the printing, sorting, and cataloging of photos (all the incredibly time consuming tasks) that I struggle with. I am a horrible procrastinator when it comes to placing prints in photo albums and going through stacks of shots to find ones that are frameworthy. Which is why it is only now that I’m writing this blog on capturing night scenes. A few days ago I finally got around to printing the photos I took during our family’s trip to the Botanical Garden’s Holiday Festival of … Continue reading →