Family Photography 101

July/August 2009 Issue | Posted by Tracey Clark in Features

Today, with the convenience of digital photography, it’s easier than ever to create lasting images that will help tell your family’s story. There has never been a better time for family photographers to learn a few things that will not only improve your end results, but allow you to have fun in the process.

My 17 years as a professional photographer have taught me a few basic tips and tricks that could improve the picture-taking skills of any amateur photographer.

Read on … and say cheese!

THE SPECIAL EVENT

From birthday parties and holidays, to first Communions and weddings, special events are one of the most obvious of photo opportunities. How to make the most of them?

The Early Bird

When the pressure is on, running late seems inevitable. Taking as many photographs as you can early in the day on special occasions is one way to ensure your photographs will be their best.

Loosely pose some of the key players for photos while everyone is excitedly anticipating the big day. There will be smiles and lots of bubbling emotion, not to mention clean, spiffy clothing and perfect hair-dos. By the end of any big event or holiday gathering, things can start to unravel.

Strike a Pose (or not)

At a special event, besides the honoree, be sure to include family and friends in your photos, both posed and unposed, so you’ll remember those who celebrated with you. Try to capture some candid mo­ ments to convey the emotion of the day. A happy grandmother or a giddy and gussied up group of 6-year-old girls can be cherished images to look back on for years to come.

And don’t forget the details — the decorations, the setting, and other event-defining details like the birthday cake or Thanksgiving feast will add to the visual story you’re creating.

A day at the beach ... fun in the surf!

Zoom in!

Be creative!

THE Outing

Any time you leave your home, whether for a few hours, the whole day, or a week, is a situation rife with photo opportunities. Amusement parks, beach excursions, local playgrounds, weekend getaways, and even big vacations are all activity-centered events that offer unique landscapes and props.

Location, Location, Location

When shooting anywhere new, you’ll want to include a context in the shots. For instance, you’ll want to see the Matterhorn in the background at Disneyland (or on your Alpine adventure in Europe, whatever the case may be!).

Little Things Count

Once you’re sure you’ve gotten the sweeping landscape of your gorgeous day at the seaside, don’t forget to zoom in as your children are discovering crustaceans or collecting treasures. Besides the obvious big picture there are also more subtle and intimate ways to show the context of your photos. Sandy toes or a child’s profile in a sunhat can speak volumes about your day at the beach. Shots like these, when coupled with the vast horizon of blue skies and ocean, will make a stunning slideshow of your outing.

Background

Although background is important, one mistake people often make is letting it dictate every shot. Although it’s worth a shot or two, chances are that in the shot of everyone standing by the rim of the Grand Canyon, the sun will be too bright, casting harsh shadows on everyone’s faces and causing everyone to squint. As a rule of thumb for me, lighting almost always takes precedence over background.

Taken with flash.

Taken with available light

Beyond the Usual

Like special events, milestones usually warrant numerous photographs. They can include almost anything in our children’s lives that symbolizes growing, changing, or transitioning; first steps, first day of school, first baseball game, or first dates are all fair game for mom and her camera.

Milestones

Some of the moments we cherish as mothers may seem less noteworthy to others, but any milestone that pulls the ol’ heartstrings should send you running for your camera — your daughter’s first pair of jeans or your son’s first homerun.

Although you might not be able to capture every first on film (the homerun might be tough), you can still document his achievement by having him pose with the baseball and bat on the ball field. And throw the coach in there, too, for posterity!

See the Light

The use of natural light when at all possible will boost your chances for more attractive photos. For example, if you are planning to feed your baby solids for the first time, try to feed her at breakfast or lunch to maximize the beautiful light that glows from your dining room window. Shots like these will be far better than those taken at dinnertime with a flash.

Also, consider shooting the traditional first day of school photos outside, in the soft morning light in front of the blooming tree, instead of inside the house with a counter full of the dirty dishes from breakfast. Putting a little thought and some planning into some of these shots can make all the difference.

Everyday Memories

Perhaps the most overlooked of all life’s occasions are, ironically enough, the very center of our daily existence; the day-to-day routines. But these are just as significant in telling the story of our family as the big events are. Your child’s favorite cowboy boots, a curl that sweeps the back of a small neck, or a stuffed bunny that is treated like a member of the family — these are the little things you will look back on fondly, but are in danger of forgetting.

Mommy and Me

Learn how to use your camera’s self-timer! This can be a great tool to use to in­ clude yourself in some of the everyday snapshots. After all, we moms are with our kids every single day, so our family al­ ­ bums should reflect that. Don’t worry about your hair or makeup. Years from now, your kids will want to remember loveable you, exactly as you are today.E

Photographer Tracey Clark (TraceyClark.com) is a mother of two and author of

Baby of Mine: A Mother’s Memory Album (Chronicle Books 2005).

Photo Quick Tips

1. Know your camera.

Buying a brand-new camera the night before your niece’s wedding is not recommended. Give yourself a little time to become acquainted with your equipment before you need to use it for any important events.

2. Be prepared.

Charge your batteries, bring a backup, and free up plenty of space on your compact flash card. Your special day is no time to run out of batteries or card space!

3. Know your flash.

Learn to turn it on and off manually. Just because the camera pops the flash up, doesn’t mean you have to use it. Shoot with it both on and off to see what works for the situation and which result appeals to you.

4. Get close.

Zoom in to your subject if the moment allows. Don’t always depend on your camera’s zoom capabilities as they are not always that effective — get in the habit of moving closer to your subject.

5. Shoot now, delete later.

It’s better to shoot more, when in doubt, than to go through your shots and delete them while you’re working. While you’re taking the time to delete, you could be missing the perfect shot.

6. Learn to edit.

Most software that comes with digital cameras offers some kind of basic editing tools. Learning the basics (how to crop, lighten and brighten the image, remove red-eye, etc.) will help fine-tune your shots. A little fix-up can make a big difference in the final print. (Even clicking “auto-correct” can make a big difference.)

— Tracey Clark

How to Cheat at Scrapbooking

­ Do you have old shoe boxes filled with piles and piles of precious photos? Do you wonder how you will ever find the time to glue tiny ribbons and decorative stickers alongside labeled, organized photos that are perfectly preserved in acid-free paper albums?

Me too.

And this, my fellow scrapbook slackers, is why God gave us the Internet. Most families these days have access to a digital camera, and organizing, sharing, and preserving photos online is fast, cheap, and easy.

Picasa

If you haven’t yet checked out Picasa (free download at Picasa.Google.com), do your photos a favor and install it on your computer today. This user-friendly software makes it easy to edit, organize, enhance, and share all of your digital photos in one place. 

Scrapblog

Scrapblog.com is a free online service that allows users to design, store, and share scrapbook pages entirely online. Choose from hundreds of templates or design your own, and then it’s “drag and drop” easy. Get as creative as you like with text, backgrounds, stickers, and frames. When your scrapbook is ready, you can share the link or save the pages to your computer and print them yourself.

One True Media

At OneTrueMedia.com you can use digital images to create a video montage to share with family and friends. Just upload, edit, and add music if you like. Share your videos via email or create a TiVo channel code that friends and family can use to view your home-made video on their televisions at home.

My Photo Album

MyPhotoAlbum.com is a free service that allows readers to organize and enhance pages of family photos online. Choose from a variety of themes, sizes, and options. You get free unlimited storage of family photos and an online spot where family and friends can view your photos and leave comments.

Shutterfly

Besides standard photo printing services,  Shutterfly.com offers users an option to create personalized memory books that make lovely gifts and keepsakes. Create a book using photos and text of your choosing. There are a variety of cover and design options that produce professional results (20-page, 8-inch-by-11-inch book beginning at $24.99).

Ancestry

At Ancestry.com users can publish professionally printed family history books and family recipe books. There is an annual fee to use their database containing more than 5 million family records, but with a free registration you can upload family photos and record family stories online.  

— Danielle Bean