Family portraits are a timeless tradition that allows families to capture and remember special moments in time. When it comes to large families, getting everyone in the same place at the same time can be a challenge. It’s important to plan ahead and come up with creative ideas to ensure a successful and memorable photo shoot. If you need some large family portrait ideas, then here are a few ideas to consider.
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What can I do with large family portraits?
A few things to do with your large family portraits:
Put them in glass and hang them in your living room or hallway.
Use the portraits for personalized holiday cards and send them to your family members.
Keep them as family heirlooms.
Plan Your Photo Session
The first step in planning a large family portrait is finding a photographer who is experienced in working with large groups. It’s essential to choose someone who is patient, organized, and able to capture everyone’s unique personalities in the photos. I suggest the photographers to first understand the purpose of the shoot. It makes the clients comfortable with photographers and this becomes easier for us to take planned portraits easily.
Use Natural Light
Natural light is a beautiful and flattering way to light a large family portrait. Consider taking your photograph outdoors during the golden hours, the hour before sunset, and the hour after sunrise. If you are taking a photograph indoors, try to position your family near a large window or use a reflector to bounce natural light onto the subjects. This works great for me as the subjects give a warm tone effect.
Portrait photography aims at capturing the personality, character, and emotions. It can either be candid or artistic. Portrait photography requires more than just the ability to understand your camera settings, lighting, and composition.
You must also possess the ability to connect with your subjects and capture their unique qualities. So, it is a difficult but rewarding genre of photography.
Click Below to read a comprehensive guide to learning and mastering the art of portrait photography.
Pick a Useful Location
The location of your large family portrait can set the tone and theme of the photo. Consider choosing a location that has special meaning to your family, such as a family vacation spot or the place where your parents got married. This can add sentimental value to the portrait and make it even more meaningful. This will depend on your family size and personal style, but some popular options include outdoor parks, beaches, or even your own backyard.
Coordinate Outfits
When it comes to large family portraits, coordinating outfits can help create visually appealing frames. Consider choosing a color scheme or theme, such as all wearing shades of blue or dressing in formal attire. It’s also a good idea to have everyone dress in similar styles, such as all wearing dresses or all wearing jeans and a casual shirt.
Get Creative with Poses
While traditional poses can be beautiful in large family portraits, don’t be afraid to get creative and have fun with your poses. Consider incorporating activities or hobbies into the photograph or trying out more candid or relaxed poses. Telling a family to pose in different styles will allow you to have good control over the photo session. You can get the angles you want. You can also consider snapping candid shots of the family interacting and having fun or try out unique poses such as standing in a circle or forming a heart shape with the bodies.
One popular option is to create a pyramid shape with the tallest family members standing in the back and the shortest in the front. You can also create a circle or semicircle with everyone facing inwards, or even try a more casual group hug or cuddle.
The Family Tree
Another fun idea for a large family portrait is to create a “family tree” style shot. This involves arranging your family members in a way where the oldest members are at the bottom and all the youngsters are at the top. If your family has multiple generations, consider setting up a “generation shot” to capture the legacy of your family. This can involve arranging everyone in a line, with the oldest generation at the front and the youngest at the back.
This type of portrait highlights the continuity of your family and can be a meaningful and sentimental way to showcase your loved ones.
Incorporate Pets
Pets are often considered part of the family, and they can be a part of your large family portrait. So don’t forget to include them in the large family portrait. Consider having everyone pose with their pets or incorporating them into the photo in a creative way, such as having them sit on someone’s lap or posing with them on a blanket.
Use Props
Props and outfits can add interest and personality to your large family portrait. Consider incorporating props that reflect your family’s interests or hobbies, such as musical instruments, sports equipment, or even a favorite family pet. If you have a large extended family, you might also consider coordinating outfits in a color scheme or theme. Props can add a fun and creative element to large family portraits.
Consider bringing along items such as blankets, signs, or hats to add some personality to the photo. Just be sure to keep the props minimal, so they don’t distract from the focus of the photo.
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Take Multiple Shots
It’s always a good idea to take multiple shots of the large family portrait to ensure you get a variety of images to choose from. Consider taking posed and candid shots, as well as close-ups and wide shots. This will give you more options to choose from when selecting the final image. By choosing a meaningful location, coordinating outfits, considering different groupings, and other such things, you can create beautiful and unique large family portraits that you’ll look at for years to come.