Tips for your family photos
There are many common mistakes people make when taking family photos while they are traveling that just make there images look a little off. Here is one quick and simple tip that will help you improve your family photos instantly.
Composition: Where are your friends and family standing?
It is a common mistake, especially when traveling and excited, to have your family go stand right next to a point of interest and take a photo of them. How many times have you said, "Oh, look at that! Go stand next to that and let me take your photo." Seems like a good idea right?
When we ask our subjects to go stand next to something, especially if that something is large like a statue or sculpture or even a panoramic view, our subjects tend look incredibly miniature in comparison and we can't see any detail like their great smile or their "dad, please stop taking pictures" face.
Instead of asking your family to go stand next to the object or view, try this:
Look at the object you want to photograph them with and compose it in your viewfinder. Get the right distance away so you can see all of the detail you want to see of the object and compose it where you would like to. Then, instead of asking your friends or family to go stand next to it, ask them to stand in front of you, maybe 4-7 ft in front of you depending on the lens and zoom you are using. Position them in the scene so you are capturing them from their waste up, and 1/3, of the photo still has empty space above their head(s), allowing you to see the object your are capturing them with with. Remember, there may be 30, 40, even, 50 or 60 feet between your subjects and the feature you are photographing them with.
Composing your family like this will allow you to see more detail in your subjects and will just give the photo an overall more "natural" feeling. Give this a try and see what a difference it will make in your family photos!