Every family deserves to have at least one nice portrait together displayed in a picture frame. And, as a family grows and ages, it’s nice to have additional portraits done too. If you are a photography hobbyist you probably know others who would love to have you take their family portraits, but don’t forget your own family! If you are taking a portrait of your own family, make sure to be in it too! So be sure to use a camera with a timer or remote shutter button release.

If you are new to photography, learning how to take good family portraits will come in handy when taking group pictures at family gatherings like Thanksgiving.

Without further ado, here are some tips to help you get started taking memorable family portraits, whether formal or informal.

1) Avoid the “Police Line Up” Portrait – Instead of having them all line up shoulder to shoulder, try something more natural looking and that also makes it easier to get a big family into the picture.

Staggering is one technique that works well for group photos. For example, you may want to stagger family members on the front steps of a porch or around a group of boulders so some family members are standing and others sitting. If in a park, two siblings might sit on a low hanging branch of a tree or all could sit on the lawn clustered together. Show family closeness by spacing members close together. And by staggering the group, it will make it easier to display the picture in a 8×10 picture frame or even something larger like a 11×14 picture frame.

2) Show Relationships – You can do this with placement in the family portrait poses. For example, Grandma and Grandpa might stand next by each other, a toddler in their parent’s arms, or siblings with their arms slung around each other.

3) Consider Including the Family Pets – if they will hold still long enough. Even if the pet is sitting still, you probably should raise the Shutter Speed Priority to 1/125 because even the smallest movement can cause a blur. It is always easier to take an individual portrait of a someone with their pet (or even a pet separately), but if the family has a mellow dog or cat, try to take some poses with and without the family pet.

4) Get Creative with Props – depending on the type of portrait you want. Does the family do any activities or sports like community baseball? Each family member could hold a mitt, ball or bat. This is popular for individual portraiture that works well for family portraits too.

5) Get Everyone Smiling – Instead of just having them say “cheese,” put them at ease by talking to them so they’ll become more relaxed and real. When you’ve got everyone posed and smiling, ask the family to hold them until you give them the signal that you got the shot.

Finally, make it fun and take lots of shots, so the family can choose the best. You’re sure to get some keepers where the family will feel proud to frame them for all to see.

The best way to get to know your camera is by learning about its capabilities. Most compact cameras come with a preset of automatic settings used in specific situations. They are sufficient in most conditions, however, being able to manually adjust your photos will generally yield better results . In this case, manual controls should be used instead if your camera allows it. The give you the ability to fine tune your photos as you wish.

If printing photographs is desired, the camera should be set to maximum quality and the photographs should be stored at the maximum resolution. This is important to insure that the prints will not look pixelated. This will lead to an increased usage of the storage space, which means that you will have to take care of the storage and backup issues.

Nearly every compact camera sports an autofocus feature these days. Conventionally, autofocus is set by pressing and holding the shutter button half way down. The camera will perform the analysis and try to automatically set focus on the subject. Holding down the button half way down allows maintaining the focus as well as the exposure even when the camera is moving. After choosing the desired composition, the button should be completely pressed so as to capture the photo.

Even if your camera has an anti-shaking feature, it is usually better to use a tripod (or anything equivalent) to hold the camera still while photographing in low light situations. The reason is that the camera will try to compensate for the low light with long exposure. Most compact digital cameras will not produce very clear images in low lighting even when a tripod is used, so it is always advisable to improve the lighting if possible.

Not all features are valuable though. Most compact cameras produce bad photos at high ISOs (>400) and they should only be used for capturing fast moving objects. The built-in flash should be avoided except for open areas or very dark places. The small distance between the lens and the flash source will produce very harsh shadows behind the subjects making them look like cardboard. It is usually better to consider external light which will give your photos a better professional look. The only feature that you should never use is digital zooming.

Getting to know your camera well requires experimenting . No matter how difficult it may sounds, you should know that this is the shortest path towards improving your photographing skills.

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When you take your photographs, good lighting should be a priority. This is because bad lighting will obscure the photo’s subjects and composition, leaving little to be appreciated. It has this power to ruin a good image and make it useless, but it also has the power to make an ordinary photo, a great work of art. That’s why the camera should be set to collect the correct amount of light.

Exposure is the amount of light that is collected by the photographic medium, whether it is a film or a digital sensor, while shooting a single photograph. There is no fixed value of a correct amount of light, because it depends on the available lights, the objects, and the photographer’s judgment. But there is a range of accepted exposures that, while produce different results, cannot be seen as mistakes. Unaccepted exposures are, in general, due to a mistake rather than a photographer’s intention.

Low lighting conditions require high exposures to allow more light into the sensor, brightening up the final photograph. Otherwise, the photograph will be underexposed, having too many dark areas, the dark objects loosing their details, and the bright objects becoming dull. Alternatively, a bright scene will need short exposures, limiting the amount of light collected by the sensor, yielding a well exposed photograph. If more exposure is used, the photograph will become too bright with many blown highlights.

The camera controls the exposure through shutter speed and aperture. Shutter speed controls the time for which the shutter will stay open. Slow shutter speed means more exposure, while fast speed will allow less exposure. As for aperture, it determines how wide the lens is opened. Narrow aperture will let less light pass through it than a wide aperture. ISO speeds also affect the degree of exposure. Higher ISO speeds will make the sensor more sensitive to light, reducing exposure, but it will add undesired noise to the photos.

In manual exposure mode, aperture and shutter speed are usually set independently. As for automatic exposure settings, the camera will determine the degree of exposure needed according to the light metering technique used. Exposure compensation is a method of adjusting the exposure by adding fixed exposure values, which is also very useful for camera owners who don’t have manual exposure settings.

In case of extreme lighting conditions, it will be difficult to all cameras (including DSLRs) to get acceptable exposure for all shadows and highlights. High Dynamic Range (HDR?) photography, which employs capturing the same photograph at different exposures, is used in this case to solve this problem.

A good approach to learn more about exposure is to look at the exposure settings of your previous photographs, and compare them Look especially at photographs that you feel are not well exposed, and try to figure out what went wrong. This is the best way to understand these things practically.

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As an initial step, think about the camera you will buy, how you will use it and what do you want your pictures to look like. This will allow you to limit your search in a specific range and which will eventually save you a lot of time and money.

If you are looking for an ordinary camera to take your photos without caring much about advancing in photography, then a basic camera should be enough. In this case, you may sacrifice the features for the price. It is still possible to find some good set of basic functions in this range such as autofocusing and white balancing. These features were almost unheard of in the same range a few years ago.

If you take your photographic artistic expression more seriously, or if you still want ordinary photos but with better quality, try to look for a camera that will give you better control over the photographing process. Cameras in this range usually have a decent overall quality of the pictures they produce, and they provide the photographer with higher light sensitivity, better zoom options, and more manual settings.

Aspiring photographers with somewhat limited budgets may still be able to produce professional quality photographs using high-end compact cameras . These cameras usually sport optical viewfinders, provide more manual controls for the photographer (manual focus, aperture and shutter speed), they are expected to shoot a wider angle and usually better optical zoom range than the cheaper compact cameras. Also, the capability to capture photos in RAW format means more freedom to the photographer.

The camera with the best value is the one that you will make use of all its functionality. Features such as video and audio recording may not be needed by some. In this case, you may choose a compact camera with the same price but with no audio or video features as this will usually mean better photographing capabilities. In the case of specifications, emphasis is usually put on the number of megapixels in one photo allowed by the camera. A large number of megapixels is needed for very large prints and it allows more details in the photographs. But bear in mind that this number is in no way an indication of the quality of the image this camera can produce.

To have a good idea about what to expect, it is usually recommended to read online reviews and comparisons regarding the cameras you are considering. Search for photographs taken with different cameras in photo sharing website, or look for test photos taken by reviewers. Thus, you may know what to expect from the one you are going to buy.

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The capability of the camera obscura to copy images, is the basis of all photography technology and camera lenses. Photography technology is still evolving and growing at a very fast pace today.

As you can see, there is a lot more to taking pictures than just aim and snap. People who are serious about photography should learn what influence different aspects have on the pictures they take.

Pictures taken in excessive light result in an overexposed film that produces pictures that are too bright. Moderate or no light results in an underexposed film and the pictures will be too dark.

The right level of exposure will be created if you learn how to control the available lighting and the film speed. The soft lighting of cloudy days is best for people pictures. Early mornings or late afternoons will be best to take beautiful landscape pictures.

A flash can even be used outdoors to improve the quality of your pictures. The flash will help to eliminate the darker shadows under the nose and the eyes. It will also help to illuminate faces and make them stand out from the background on cloudy days. Be sure to know the range of your flash otherwise your pictures will come out too dark.

Getting the right composition is a matter of adding some props, rearranging your subjects, and trying different angles. You can improve the composition and angle of your photos by getting down on the level of your subject. This works well if your subjects are children and pets. They do not even have to look directly into the camera; the eye level angle alone will create a more personal feeling.

By ensuring that you have a natural background, the pictures would be even more capturing. A plain background will draw more attention to your subject, while a busy background will be distracting.

Move in close and fill your picture with your subject.This will reduce any background distractions and highlight the details in your subject. Use your camera’s macro or “flower” option to get good pictures of small objects.

Change the angle of your camera, some pictures look better if taken in a vertical picture.

The enhancement and development of cameras and photography is an ongoing process. Whether you are a serious photographer, an amateur or a professional, it is important to  stay well informed and up to date with the latest technology and photography techniques as new innovations appear daily such as affordable underwater cameras and digital cameras.

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A plain photo with no focal points will probably not grab the attention of the observer for a long time even if the composition is great. This is because naturally the eyes will search for the unique and different things in the composition. Whether it is a flower, a barrel, or a human, any interesting object will do.

There are many ways to enhance a focal point and all are related to the conventional rules of photography. Next time you are taking a photograph, think where the focal point should be. A good place to start is at the four hot-spots or along the lines of thirds. Another possibility is to place it at the convergence point of leading lines which naturally grab attention into the photograph. Studying your surroundings is essential to know which is the best approach to use.

Making an object more significant can be done by having a strong contrast between it and patterns around it. This contrast will add more definition to the shape of your object yielding an excellent focal point. A strong colorful contrast can only improve the effect further. Always remember that the brighter and bigger your object is, the more attention it will grab.

Another form of contrast that can be used is that of details. It is a sort of distinction between the out of focus environment and the in focus object. With the whole picture blurred out except for a detailed object, it will naturally grab the attention of the observer. Thus, selective focusing becomes very handy tool to underscore your focal point. The shallower the DOF is, the blurrier the out of focus objects will be. If you are photographing in a dynamic surroundings, you can make use of the movements around you to achieve a similar effect without messing with DOF. A still object will stand out in a photograph with many moving objects when utilizing a slow shutter speed.

Although you may contain more than one focal point in your composition, too many will just render your photograph confusing. Therefore, when capturing your next photo, try to think about it from an observer’s point of view.

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Understanding the effect lines can have on a photo will allow you to turn an ordinary composition into something extraordinary. Using them correctly can totally transform the mood of your photo as well as add a more depth to it.

While you may not notice, lines are abundant in our surroundings. Horizons are the most common of all horizontal lines that if placed on the top third will emphasize the landscape, while when place on the bottom third, more emphasis will be on the sky. To have the maximum impact, try not to cut your image into halves by placing the horizon on the center, and make all horizontal lines as horizontal as possible. It is worth noting that horizontal lines usually look better in landscape orientation .

If you look around, you’ll probably notice that vertical lines are even more abundant. It is a natural fact that nearly everything tends to grow vertically which is why vertical lines usually reflect growth and power. To avoid misusing the vertical lines, make sure that they are perpendicular to the top and bottom edges of the photo. Also remember that this type of lines is usually more convenient to vertical photos.

Another type of lines is the diagonal lines. Just look ahead of you along road or railway lines and you will sense a feeling of depth while your eyes will be set to their point of convergence of the diagonal lines. They also give a feeling of dynamic action. It is usually better to have the diagonal lines away from the photo’s diagonals so as to make it more interesting.

The lines’ types and orientations are related to the viewpoint used in the photograph. By utilizing a different angle, a pair of parallel lines can easily become converging lines and lead the eyes into the photograph. This can produce a totally different composition with more depth and more points of interest at the meeting point of the diagonal lines.

While lines may add a certain mood to your photograph, shapes usually provide the meaning. The shape is the first thing that identifies an object and it is usually considered as its 2D outlines.In order to let shapes have a strong impact in your photograph, try to make your object as different as possible from its surroundings in terms of colors or details . A good example for this is silhouette photography where the subjects are dark while the environment is colorful.

Objects may look the same from some angles and that may result ambiguity. To avoid this, choose an angle that will portray your object in a unique way.

Lines and shapes are abundant around us; we just have to remember how to utilize them efficiently.

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As you are interested in photography, then you must have heard about the Rule of Thirds. It is based upon the common belief that the eyes first look at the sides of a photograph, not at its center . That’s why, according to the rule, the subject should be placed along imaginary lines indicating the best spots within the photograph.

The reason why this rule is very well known is that it is pretty easy to apply. All you need is just to know how you should frame your subject.

A photograph is divided into a 3×3 grid similar to that of thee famous Tic-tac-toe game. This is done by putting four lines (two horizontal and two vertical) each at one third of the photograph, hence the name of the rule. Four intersection points will be formed at the meeting points between each nonparallel pair of lines . In general, the lines together with the intersection points should be used to align the main subjects of your photos so as to have one that complies with the Rule of Thirds.

In case of closeups, the subject itself will probably be bigger than the whole frame. Instead of aligning the subject itself, interesting parts within it are the ones that should be aligned. In case of facial portraits, for example, the face usually covers most, if not all, of the viewfinder leaving the facial features to be aligned. Eyes are usually placed along the top horizontal line. This will put emphasis on the eye, frame the whole face, and leave no details out of the picture.

The Rule of Thirds is commonly used in landscape photography as well. If the foreground contains any subjects, they should be placed in compliance with the rule (usually along vertical lines). As for the background, horizons are usually aligned to one of the horizontal lines. Some landscape photos may contain other elements in the background like clouds or mountains. These can also be aligned to the lines of thirds and, if possible, separated in different thirds, producing a well composed photograph.

Despite being important to the composition, some flexibility should exist when applying this rule. There are some instances where the perfect alignment should be sacrificed for a better overall composition, such as when some important details are missing just outside the frame. In other situations the rule is usually neglected, like when trying to balance reflection with the real subjects inside the frame. Here, the mirror line (the line separating the reflection from the real) is usually aligned at the middle.

In general, this rule is a main element of good composition. When used correctly, it will take your photographs to a whole new level.

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