I teach photography and my students often want to know how to take great pictures of their families. In particular they want to avoid the “police line-up” style of picture but aren’t sure how to get fun, original shots. Anyone can bundle up the kids and take them to a professional studio for a posed shot, but some of the best photos of your family can be spur-of-the-moment candid shots that will look great framed and on the wall or transformed into photo canvas prints.
I’d like to offer a few suggestions for interesting photographs of people. Shooting your kids while they are playing their favorite sport, musical instrument or simply lost in thought as they play can make a wonderful picture that would look great as an enlargement for your wall. Does your husband like to climb mountains? Try getting an action shot while he rappels down a rock face! Your wife likes to ride horses? Take a close-up shot of her and her favorite horse. The possibilities are as endless as your family’s interests, and you’ll love their honest expressions. A grouping of your “family activity” canvases will make a great conversation piece!
Also, keep proportion in mind. The mood of your shot can dramatically change according to the amount of the subject’s body and face in the picture. A good example of this is a close-up shot, otherwise known as a “head shot.” These pictures make the viewer feel closer and more emotionally involved with the subject and are a great way to shoot a portrait. You may have noticed this technique on television; when a character is having a dramatic moment, the camera will zoom in close to their face and eyes so you feel “closer” to the action. A medium shot, from the hips up, gives a nice, neutral, more relaxed distance. A long shot, or a shot that shows the entire body, puts some mental distance between the viewer and the subject and puts the subject in context with the immediate surroundings.
Digital cameras have given us a great way to experiment with photography and different ways to get unique photographs. Since you don’t have to print every picture you take anymore, take the opportunity to play with your camera’s different settings. For instance, some cameras take black and white photographs, a neat, artsy style that is not often used in modern photography. If you don’t have this setting but love the look, keep in mind that the graphic artists at www.PhotoArtPeople.com can take the color photograph of your family and make it into a black and white photo on canvas! Playing with color and tint can make your photos unique and perfect for mounting to canvas.
Always look at the viewfinder after each shot to make sure you’re getting the type of shots you’re, well, shooting for! When you’ve found the perfect photo or photos, upload to www.PhotoArtPeople.com and they’ll send you back a fantastic photo to canvas print. They’re so sure you’ll love it, they offer a 110% money-back guarantee! So get out there and start shooting… you’ll be glad you did!
