3 tips for perfect holiday family photos
It’s holiday photo time. If you don’t already have that perfect family portrait, now is the time to take those holiday pictures.
When the family comes together, you’ll want that camera snapping to preserve the magic of the season for years to come. Here are some tips to help you take the best holiday pictures possible.
1. Coordinate your outfits — but not too much:
What you wear can really shape the tone and cohesiveness of a photo. Too matchy-matchy attire, like everyone wearing a red shirt and jeans, can look cheesy and amateur.
Instead, pick a few complementary colors, such as blues, white and red. Ask everyone to wear what looks best on them in any or all of those colors. The reds may be a cute accent pop color, like a bow in your daughter’s hair, or bright red patent leather shoes.
2. Pick the right background:
Winter provides a naturally crisp background for family pictures, but for the best lighting, plan your pics during the “golden hour.” This is the time just before sunset or just after sunrise, when the light is slightly redder and more complimentary.
A classic indoor background is by the tree, but make sure yours isn’t too busy or too bright. It’s easy to backlight faces against a glowing tree, so make sure you know how to adjust that on your camera — or pick a camera that has an automatic setting to adjust for backlighting.
For pro style pics, a reflector panel, placed near the subject can bounce some of the light into the darker areas to brighten up the shot. Loadstone Studio 22-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Light Multi Disc Panel Reflector, $12, Rakuten.com
3. Go automatic:
If you are new to photography, pick a digital camera that does the work for you. There are many quality options out there and exactly which camera you pick depends on your individual needs, but a common favorite dSLR is the Nikon D5300. This camera includes image stabilization and a built-in wifi, making it easy to share your photos online. Nikon D5300, $699.99, Bestbuy.com
