Thanksgiving means lots of family, and lots of family means lots of pictures. If you are looking to create a do it yourself family portrait, then here are a few things to think about.
You are going to need a tri pod to ensure that everyone is in the portrait.
Family portrait sessions taken outdoors require more thought as to clothing choices. It is at times best to pick your location and background first so the sitters clothing will complement the scene. If you are doing a Color Study, keep your choices subtle and solid with everyone in the portrait wearing the same shade and “color family”. Avoid mixtures of light and dark tones together as this creates “visual confusion”. Work for balance, harmony and color coordination.
Chose your background first. Something not to busy. Something a bit far off as well. I don’t like to pose my groups right next to my background element. By placing the group a fair distance away from the background you create distance.
We recommend that adults wear long or three-quarter length sleeves. Youthful subjects can wear strapless or sun dresses, but these are best avoided in group portraits. Select clothing that will be flattering when seated, such as a long flared skirt instead of a mini-skirt.
Patterns in clothing for the most part should be avoided.
Your hands will appear in your portrait. Nail polish and French manicures are best.
Your usual make-up is fine. Bring all of your make-up with you for touch-ups as needed. Remember to keep jewelry simple and avoid wearing a watch during the session. Styling your hair at home is the most convenient, but feel free to bring what’s needed for touch-ups.
We know that great images take time and concentration. Our advice is to pick a style or a mood and focus on it. Too many clothing & background changes leave little time to focus on what truly matters. Getting done quickly so you can get to that turkey!
Parents of a newborn, who want their baby photographed without a diaper, will want to be prepared for accidents and bring extra slacks or a skirt, wipes and diapers. Bring food for your children in order to keep everyone in good moods.
The “window of opportunity” with children is short. Make sure that the parents of any children are positioned next to the child inorder to help things go a bit more smoothly.
Please resist the urge to tell your child to smile or insist they be on their best behavior as this often backfires. Simply say “we are having our portrait taken and it will be fun.” Try not to use negative words, such as “no, not like that” It will only cause apprehension which will show in the final portrait.
Remember, pre-planning is the best way to put your mind at ease that all will go well on the day of your sitting!
