Take Better Pictures at Family Occasions
If it hasn’t happened already, be prepared!
When friends and relations begin to see what a great photographer you are, you will soon be asked to take pictures for special occasions. Of course you will be flattered to be asked. But…..
“With great power comes great responsibility”.
All superheroes are told this sooner or later. YOU are the picture taking superhero! When someone asks you to take pictures for a special occasion, you have to take the opportunity seriously and prepare yourself for the things you will have to do to properly shoot the special occasion.
Planning
Planning for a family special occasion such as a birthday party or holiday party is very much like planning a landscape shoot except there are people to consider. Just as in landscape photography, you will want to visualize what your ideal final pictures should look like. But to do so, take some additional steps:
Meet with the the family member organizing the special occasion to get an idea of the kind of pictures they want you to take. Learn the overall agenda for the special occasion:
- What is going to happen?
- When will key activities take place? This is important for surprise parties! You also want to know if there will be a cake presented, presents, and so on.
- Who needs to be in the photographs? If it is a party for an elderly member of the family, people may want their own picture with the guest of honor.
- What are the must have pictures? Be sure to make a list of must have pictures so you are sure to take them. If need be, be bossy and make sure those who need to be in the pictures
- And any other key moments in the event.
If you are not familiar with the location of the special occasion, Visit it prior to the shoot. There are several things you want to know:
- What are the physical limitations of the site?
- Are there mirrors on the wall that could present a flash reflection?
- Where are the entrances and exits?
- Where are the best places in the location that will help you get your ideal images?
- What lighting is available in the location?
- Take test shots to be certain you are not getting a flash back from a mirror or reflective surfaces.
- Test various locations for shooting candid photographs of the attendees as they arrive or as they socialize.
Do and Don’t
When the event begins, work your plan and always be ready for another creative spark that may enhance your original plan.
Do
- You are the photographer so feel free to take charge and work your shot list.
- Take charge when taking group shots and put the group together in the pose that is most flattering.
- Take individual portraits of the people attending the special occasion. This will be a wonderful remembrance for them of their attendance at the party.
- Find a natural light source that you can use to take the portraits. Try pose the subject so that light is stronger on one side of their face. This will add dimension to the picture. Here is an example:
The picture on the left shows using natural side lighting. You can see how much more dimension it gives versus the front flash picture on the right.
Don’t
Back Lighting
Watch out for back lighting situations. You will end up with a silhouette of the subject or subjects. Their faces will be in darkness. You will need to add light to balance the lighting. Here is an example of what I mean:
You can see the picture on the left is full back lighting. We lose the detail of the face. You can correct the situation by using your flash.
Windows and Mirrors
Watch out for mirrors or windows that will give you a flash back. It will ruin your pictures. Here is an example of the flash back:
Shadow Elimination
When you take a picture of someone with a flash, make sure they are not right up against a wall. If they are, you will get a terrible shadow of them in the picture. Have them move away from the wall so their shadow is not visible. This can make the difference between a great shot and a terrible shot. Here is an example of the shadow that can occur:
Have Fun Taking Pictures
Once you are prepared, taking pictures will be a breeze. Remember, even though you agreed to take pictures, you are a guest too. So have fun!
See you next week!
If you wish to see examples of my photography, visit my website at
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