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Evil Erin/flickr
Family photo season is coming up, so it’s time to start scouting locations for the best family photos. After picking the perfect spot, make sure to save the memories in a custom family photobook.
Sure, poses, clothing, and themes are all important, but your family photos just won’t pop the way they should without the right backdrop. A busy background can detract from the real center of attention — your family — while the perfect background will bring out the group’s natural affection for one another, making for picture-perfect family photos.
Here are some photography experts’ tips on picking the best backdrop — both in the studio, and outside.
J.K. Califf/flickr
The studio is and always has been a classic choice for family portraits. If you love the formal, professional vibe of a professional studio shot, this might be the location for you.
Steve’s Digicams recommends simple, solid-colored backdrops, as a multicolored background will draw attention away from the subjects. If your background is made of fabric, make sure to iron and hang it a few hours before the shoot to ensure it’s unwrinkled in the photos.
You can also experiment with slightly different backdrops to make your pictures unique. Peekaboo Photos has some wonderful examples, and they even offer fun, patterned backdrops to complement their subjects.
Yogendra Joshi/flickr
Outdoor shoots are becoming increasingly popular, since nature’s neutral hues can bring out the vibrancy of your family dynamic. According to photographer Kristen Duke, staging your photos outside is both the safest and easiest option. The main challenge, though, is coordinating your kids’ bursts of energy with the best time of day for natural lighting.
An easy-going, casual feel is the goal for these types of shoots. Let the kids be a little goofy, and hit natural poses by adding curves (try a hand on the waist, a thumb on the belt, legs crossed over), and let nature help everyone relax.
Sergei Tereschenko/flickr
City backdrops can also add some popping colors to your family photos. Keep an eye out for great settings like large, solid-color vehicles, walls with colorful patterns or with single, solid colors, neutral stoops or alleyways, or anything else that sparks your curiosity.
The House of Smiths has some great examples of these backdrops to get your brain juices flowing. Step outside the box, and have some family fun!
Chasity Brighton/flickr
Instead of venturing out, why not have a photoshoot in your own home? If you don’t like your home decor or if you don’t have a home with much natural light, however, this may not be the right backdrop.
If you have furniture or wallpaper that you’re proud of, on the other hand, there’s plenty of potential for staging your shoot at home. Kristen Duke has some heartwarming examples from her own family’s bedroom.
Homes are easily overlooked as photo locations — your kitchen, backyard, and bedroom are three ideal backdrops where your family already feels comfortable. Plan some fun family activities to do together while you’re being photographed, and let the group’s personalities take over.
If you’re shooting outside, scout your own locations or ask your photographer to help you find some ideal spots. You can even take a few test shots in different locations to see how they come out.
If you and your family are looking for a photoshoot within budget, Model Mayhem and Craigslist are both great places to find experienced photographers who are looking to build their portfolios.
After you’ve captured your fantastic family against the perfect backdrop, display your pictures in a customized family photobook. Years pass and computers crash, but photobooks are forever.
Printique can help you build your family photobook or album — you choose the photos, themes, and captions, and Printique does the rest! Explore our family-themed photobook templates, and pick the one that’s right for you and your happy clan.
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