YOU COULD BE MISSING THE GREATEST PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: of a lifetime - Are you missing out on taking the family portraits.
I MEAN: Your children are there every day, wrecking your relaxing hours, but you will find they are the greatest models you will ever have around you and with your new found skills in photography, every now and then you will capture a great moment that will live forever.
WITH THE ADVANCE: Of auto-focus digital cameras, it has never been easier, not to mention that your wife or husband will love you all the more, to produce a great set of photos of the kids.
ProTip GET DOWN TO THEIR HIGHT: Get yourself down to the child’s level – even if you need to crouch down. This will give your shots a 'kids eye view' and won't distort their image (as taking the shot from above does). Capture natural expressions, while posed shots are great, often better results can be gained by capturing an image when their thoughts are preoccupied with something else, as in the second image here. Move In Closer, almost any shot will look much better if you move closer, or zoom in on your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make all the difference to your photos and give them a professional look.
DON’T JUST CONFINE: Your photo skills to your kids only! How about a portrait of Mum, Dad or Grandad.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: And regrettably our elderly loved ones, wont live forever, except in our hearts. But what if you took the time to create a great portrait of them now.
ProTip KEEP IT SIMPLE: When you phototograph Mom and Dad. Sit them comfortably in their home surroundings, they will feel more relaxed in front of your camera. If you are shooting a single portrait of Mum or Dad give them something to hold as a 'prop'. For example, If your Dad or Grandad likes to read give them an open book to hold.
ProTip LIGHTING: Don’t overdo it. If your flash has a swivel head, use 'bounce flash' off the ceiling for a more flattering effect. If there is a lot of daylight from a window, this may help to light the background or give highlights to your subject. Choose your camera angles carefully and cover a few different camera positions.
REMEMBER WHAT I SAY: Don’t miss out on a portrait session with your elderly loved ones like I did. More than 30 years ago and before I lost my Mother, I was 'far too busy' with my advertising photographic career to take photos of my family very often. Of course I have snapshots of Mum, but that’s not a portrait sitting. Nearly twenty five years on, when the "penny had finally dropped" I realized what a mistake I had made. So when I asked my Father, just a few short years ago, to sit for a portrait session he was more than happy for me to shoot a portrait of him.
LET ME SAY IT ONE MORE TIME: Don’t miss out on this opportunity, after all, President’s, Prime Minister’s and all well known people of the world have portrait’s taken of them, now you have the skills, why not extend the curtsy to your family.
