Have you ever wondered what made our ancestors so sad that they wouldn’t smile in family portraits? Rumor has it, people either had poor dental health, which prevented that from smiling, or the extra-long camera exposure duration that would get people tired.

However, in reality, it’s because toothy grins were a sign of drunkenness, madness, and immature behaviour. Before our introduction to photography, the mode known to man for preserving a family image was painting, which took long hours.

Fortunately, we discovered ‘cheese’ with Brownie cameras in 1900, along with the first camera that was affordable and accessible to the public.

Only then did wide-mouthed smiles creep into family portraits for amateur photos that captured candid, joyful expressions. Let’s take it up a notch further with creative ideas you can take inspiration from for your family portrait:

1.    Triangle Groupings

It’s easier to capture a picture when people are grouped into triangles instead of rows. You’ll want to accommodate family members based on their height to set up a pose by either kneeling, sitting, or standing. Think of making diagonal lines to create powerful connections and images.

2.    Foreground and Background Experiments

Ideally, you’ll want all the members to look equally sharp by using a wide aperture and distancing from the lens. Fiddling with the depth of field, you can get creative with the family portrait by experimenting with foregrounds and backgrounds. 

3.    The Family Pets or Props

We hope you love your four-legged friend or the feathery one to add them to the family photo. Including your pet will instantly lift the vibe of the photograph. You want to pack some treats to bribe your pet into sitting and not distracting the shoot. Or you could add a prop or two that speak to the family.

4.    Engage and play

Traditional photos are old school, so you wouldn’t want to invest too much in them. To reflect your family dynamics well, you need to get candid.

You’ll want to pick out an activity the whole family enjoys doing together — trust us, the possibilities are near endless. However, when you shoot a family in action, you want to utilize different gears and settings accordingly.

For example, a medium telephoto lens works for the typical portrait photo, but a wide-angle lens will allow you to capture a larger context of the scenario. In addition, you must opt for the lowest ISO settings with a shutter speed fast enough to capture movements.

Need the perfect family portrait photography? Reach out to Artin Photography in Vancouver. We specialize in family photography, pregnancy or maternity photoshoots, and newborn baby photography. Book your slot today for the exceptional cake smash photography in Port Coquitlam, BC.

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