Family Portraits

1

How To Take Family Portraits Outdoors

Why take family portraits outdoors? Besides having a beautiful and fun background, photographing outside provides the chance to use natural lighting. If you are a professional photographer or serious enthusiast then you know that the external flash, studio lights and reflectors work to mimic the beauty of natural light.

If you are a beginner or the designated family photographer with a digital compact and built in flash, then taking your family portraits outdoors is the easiest way to get professional quality portraits, the type you'll want to display in picture frames.

The Best Natural Lighting for Taking Family Portraits Outdoors

Not all outdoors lighting is ideal. The worst time of day to take family portraits outdoors is mid-day. The best times of day to take outdoor photographs is the hour before sunset and after dawn when the shadows are least harsh and the light is the softest. The closer to these times you can gather the family for their portrait, the better.

Another good option is to wait for an overcast day when there's a high overcast, also called bright overcast. This provides enough bright light and is the kind of softness professional photographers spend money on soft boxes to get. If the timing doesn't work for any of these time frames, find shade that isn't too dark.

Outdoor Portrait Settings

The obvious choice and perhaps the perfect choice is the family's backyard. Or you could take your family portraits outdoors at a place the family enjoys like a park. If you go away from home, look for times of the day that the location you choose is the least crowded.

You should also consider using a family hobby as a potential setting. If the family loves horses, a green pasture with horses in the background and the family posed in front could work well. If the family sails think about using the boat's deck as a setting.

Speaking of boats, a word of caution: if you decide to take any family portraits outdoors at places such as the sea, beach or snow, here are some things that can help: Select the beach mode on a digital compact, or if you use a DSLR or SLR, use a polarizing filter. This will help decrease the glare. Set the flash to "on" instead of "automatic" to help minimize shadows on the family. Don't face the family towards the sun or they'll be squinting.

As with any picture, be sure to hide or remove clutter in the background. Do you want to use the natural lighting of outdoors but want a plain background? Take a piece of material and tack it to something like a fence. Check the lawn for sprinklers and behind the family for things that might be distracting, like a lamp post.

If you want to diminish the overall background, use the Portrait mode or set your Aperture Priority for a smaller depth of field.

On the other hand, you may want to pose the family so that yard features such as a beautiful tree or garden cottage are part of the picture. Just be sure to compose the shot with the focus on the family.

Whether you are taking family portraits outdoors for others or your own family, use these portrait tips and you'll be sure to take a portrait that will be proudly framed on the family wall.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves taking pictures. Your Picture Frames makes it easy for you to find just the best picture frame for your photo or artwork. If you're looking for a magnetic picture frame or floating photo frame, visit our website and see our selection of quality frames.

Perfect Family Portraits

2family portraits5
3family portraits5
family portraits5