Take fabulous family photos
Everyone's always so busy that it's not often the family is all home together, so when you have a chance to take a picture of the crew, you want to get it right. Here are six easy tips that will help you take great photos every time.
Tell your family what to do.
You'll get the best pictures when there's strong direction from the photographer. Avoid lining people up shoulder-to-shoulder. Instead, stagger them at different heights for a more interesting picture. Ask a few people to sit on chairs and have the rest stand behind them.
Make the photo shoot fun.
Talk and joke with the people you're taking pictures of. When people laugh, their smiles look natural, so the photo won't look as staged. This will especially help those who are camera-shy.
Encourage eye contact.
Ask your relatives to pretend they're trying to get into the camera with their eyes. You'll see the strong eye contact in the photo.
Get close and personal.
Fill the viewfinder or LCD display with your subjects' faces to capture details. If you take faraway shots, everyone will look tiny.
Shoot a clear, bright photo.
Turn on all the lights in the room--the overhead light, as well as lamps. Don't line people up against a window; the background will appear dark. Be sure the photographer's back is to the window and the subjects are facing the light.
Find the perfect angle.
Take group photos straight on or from slightly above; never crouch and take pictures from below (your subjects will appear to have double chins).
on how to take great kid photos.
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