There’s really no better time to get a great family portrait than the holidays.  Everyone is together, including close family, relatives that may live far away and good friends, so how do you get one great photo of everyone together?  There are a few techniques, some traditional and some a little more creative.  I picked this tip just for Thanksgiving and for you to use next week, even if your not at home.

Traditional Group Portraits

When most of us think of a group portrait we see people lined up in rows, taller people in the back and kids in the front.  Well, this tried and true technique is so popular because it works, but there are ways to make your traditional group portrait look more professional.

Do your homework before you gather the group together:

• How many people are there?  Are you going to be in the photo?  If yes, you will need a tripod and learn how to operate you camera timer… ahead of time!
• Find a location where everyone will be able to fit comfortably.  If outside, set up a row of chairs so some can sit, others can stand behind and if needed lay an old blanket so some can sit on the ground.  If inside, find an area where you will be able to get a photograph wide enough to fit your group.  A problem can arise if you arrange everybody on the couch and you have to stand behind the TV in order to get everyone in the photo.
• Are there older people that will need to sit for the photo?  Make sure these folks are seated first and allow everyone else to arrange themselves to them.
• How will you arrange everyone?  Depending on the size of the group, there are different guidelines; up to five - one row, 6 to 11 – two rows (one standing, one sitting in chairs), 12+ - three rows or more (one standing, one sitting in chairs, the rest sitting either cross-legged or on knees on the floor.)
• Who will be in the prominent places on each side of the group?  Possibly the hosts of the gatherings?
• Plan on gathering those with the shortest attention span last, some children may be harder to keep focused than others so getting them into position after everyone else is key.

Also, plan on doing more than one photo as quickly as possible, this way you have better odds at getting everyone with their eyes open and smiling.

Creative Techniques – A Documentary Approach

If you don’t feel like clicking photos all day to document the family event, maybe elect a child or teen at the gathering to do it for you.  They can be the photojournalist, taking candids and other pictures throughout the day.  My recommendation for this is to set up your camera to avoid using flash, as this can lead to red eye, irritating grandpa and a more obvious photographer.

Film camera:

• Load the camera with 800 or, better yet, 1600 speed black and white film, 36 exposures.  Though this type of film is grainier, it gives a creative look to the pictures and, no need for flash most of the time.  Using black and white film is important as indoors there is often mixed lighting with can make your color photos have strange colors.
• If you have an AUTO exposure setting, click it on.  Also, use auto focus if you can (sometimes it doesn’t work well in low light situations.)
• Turn off the on-camera flash if you have one.  This way it won’t pop up when you won’t need it.

Digital camera:

• Change the ISO of the camera to 800 or 1600.
• If you have the option, change the color setting to black and white.  If not, I recommend changing some to black and white once you download them to the computer for a more artsy look.
• Turn on the AUTO exposure setting, use auto focus if you can (sometimes it doesn’t work well in low light situations.)  Make sure the White Balance is set to AUTO too.
• Turn off the on-camera flash if you have one.  This way it won’t pop up when you won’t need it.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and I will see you back here in two weeks.  Please post your photos, I’d love to see them.