With the holidays fast approaching, many are thinking about events, family gatherings, and preparing dinner menus. How many of you are thinking about how to get better family photos with your phone?
Better Family Photos: A Few Simple Tips for Using Your Phone Camera
With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are thinking about family gatherings, special traditions, dinner menus, and all the little details that make this time of year meaningful.
But here's another thing worth thinking about: how to take better photographs of the people you love.
Today's smartphones have remarkably capable cameras. Whether you carry the latest iPhone or an Android, you already have a wonderful little camera right in your pocket. And while photographers can certainly debate the differences between a phone camera and a professional DSLR, that's not what we're here to do.
Instead, let's talk about a few simple ways to make the most of the camera you already have.
The good news? The basic principles of photography apply no matter what kind of camera you're using. With just a little attention to light and a few thoughtful adjustments to how you arrange your family, you can create photographs you'll be happy to look back on for years to come.
There are two things I'd like you to keep in mind: lighting and posing.
Let's Talk About Light
Photography is often described as painting with light, and for good reason. Light is one of the most important elements in creating a beautiful photograph. Understanding just a little about how it works can make a tremendous difference in your pictures.
There are three characteristics of light worth paying attention to: brightness, color, and direction.
1. Pay Attention to the Color of Your Light
Have you ever taken a family picture indoors, only to discover that everyone looks a little yellow or orange? Or perhaps your photographs have an unusual greenish tint?
That's usually the result of the type of light illuminating the room.
Different light sources have different color temperatures. Traditional incandescent bulbs, for example, produce a warm, yellow-orange light. Fluorescent lighting can introduce an unflattering greenish cast. Natural daylight, on the other hand, generally provides a much more neutral starting point.
In photography, we measure color temperature using a scale called Kelvin (K). Although the word temperature might make you think about how hot or cold something is, we're actually describing the color of the light.
For example:
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Candlelight is around 2,000 Kelvin and produces a warm, orange glow.
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Daylight is approximately 5,600 Kelvin and is a good neutral reference point.
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An overcast sky can be around 6,500–7,500 Kelvin, producing cooler, bluer light.
The higher the Kelvin number, the cooler and bluer the light generally appears. The lower the number, the warmer and more yellow or orange it appears.
So, what does all of this mean when you're taking family pictures?
Before everyone gathers in front of the camera, take a look around the room. Are you relying on a few lamps with warm-colored bulbs? Is the room particularly dark? If possible, turn on additional lights or choose a space with plenty of natural window light.
If you have the option, LED bulbs with a neutral or daylight color temperature can also help create more consistent lighting.
And whenever possible, remember that natural window light is your friend!
2. Pay Attention to the Direction of Your Light
The direction of your light is just as important as its color.
Take a moment to notice where the light is coming from. Is it above your subjects? Behind them? To one side?
Each direction creates a different effect.
Light coming from behind: If a bright window or another light source is behind your family, their faces may appear dark. Try turning everyone toward the light source or changing your position so the light falls on their faces.
Light coming from above: Overhead lighting can create dark shadows beneath the eyes, sometimes referred to as "raccoon eyes." If possible, move your family closer to a window or another light source that illuminates their faces more evenly. You can also have them gently lift their faces toward the light.
Light coming from the side: Side lighting can create beautiful dimension, but it can also leave one side of someone's face much darker than the other. Try repositioning your subjects so they face the light a little more directly. You can also use a nearby light source to soften the shadows.
The key is to notice the light before you start taking pictures. A small adjustment in where everyone stands can make a surprisingly big difference.
A Little Thought About Posing
Now that we've talked about light, let's talk about how to arrange everyone.
When it's time for a family photograph, the usual routine is pretty predictable. Everyone gathers in a straight line, puts their arms around one another, smiles, and looks at the camera.
And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that picture!
But there are so many other ways to bring a little more interest and personality into your family photographs.
Look at the space around you. Maybe some family members can sit on the couch while others stand behind them. Perhaps someone can sit on an armrest, a few children can sit on the floor, or everyone can gather together in a more relaxed arrangement.
Here are a few simple posing tips to try:
1. Avoid having everyone face the camera straight on.
Standing completely square to the camera can make people appear wider and create a rather flat-looking photograph. Instead, have everyone turn their bodies slightly to the left or right while gently turning their faces toward the camera.
2. Create a little variety.
Not everyone needs to stand in the same position. Have some people sit while others stand. Angle shoulders slightly, bring people closer together, and encourage everyone to lean toward one another. Small changes can make a photograph feel much more natural and connected.
3. Look for triangles.
This is a favorite compositional technique among photographers. When you arrange people at different heights, their heads can form the points of an imaginary triangle. This creates visual balance and makes a group photograph much more pleasing to the eye.
4. Change your camera angle.
Don't be afraid to move around! Try taking a photograph from slightly above, from the side, or even from a lower perspective. The best angle will depend on who's in the photograph and the look you're trying to create.
5. Think about shape and dimension.
People have shape, and the way you position them can make a big difference in how that shape appears in a photograph. Rather than having everyone stand shoulder to shoulder in a straight line, try arranging people at different angles and distances. Give the photograph some depth and dimension.
Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment. Sometimes the most beautiful arrangement happens when everyone simply settles into a comfortable position and enjoys being together.
And Most Importantly... Capture the Moments That Matter
I want to leave you with one final thought.
While lighting, composition, and posing are all important parts of creating a beautiful photograph, they should never become more important than the people in front of your camera.
As a photographer, I try very hard not to miss the little moments that happen in between the perfectly posed photographs. Sometimes those are the moments that mean the most.
It's the brother who reaches over to kiss his sister without being asked. The mother who gently touches her daughter's face and tells her she loves her. The spontaneous laughter, the familiar hugs, the little expressions and gestures that happen when people are simply enjoying one another.
Those moments don't always happen in perfect light. They aren't always beautifully posed. And they certainly don't wait for everyone to be ready.
But they are worth remembering.
So, when you're gathered with your family this holiday season, take the time to arrange everyone for that traditional family photograph. Pay attention to the light, try a few different poses, and use some of the tips we've talked about.
But don't spend so much time getting everything just right that you miss what is happening around you.
Take the posed photograph. Take the silly photograph. Capture the hugs, the laughter, and all those little in-between moments.
Because years from now, those photographs will be about so much more than how everyone looked. They'll remind you of who was there, how it felt to be together, and the love that filled the room.
And that's what photographs are really for.
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