There is no keepsake more treasured than a great family photo. And you don't have to be a professional photographer to create family photos that look natural; you just have to follow a few simple rules. These tips will help you get pictures that truly capture your family's personality.
The relaxed family portrait
You don't have to arrange your family in a straight line—experiment with positioning them more naturally.
Family photos should convey love and emotion, not awkwardness. Here are some ways to put your subjects at ease:
Get them talking or telling stories.
Photograph them in a familiar environment where they feel at ease.
Position people naturally; forego contrived arrangements. Try arranging people at different height levels or in groupings.
Don't arrange your family at all. Capture action shots of the kids playing on the lawn together, for example. It shows them doing what they love best.
Keep the focus on your family—not their outfits. Dress in clothes that work well together, but aren't too "matchy-matchy."
Gone are the days when a family portrait meant dressing up the whole clan up in stiff, uncomfortable clothing and sitting at the photographer's studio. Keep clothes and backgrounds simple.
Photograph your family against a solid-color background. This could be a brightly colored wall, or an expanse of grass or sky.
Dress in clothes that are in the same color palette—but are not exactly the same.
A casual snapshot of a child and his grandfather, cropped in close, like above, could become a treasured family heirloom.
The HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer is small enough to keep right on the kitchen counter.
Start customs with your families that are centered on taking photos.
Every day is a photo opportunity. It doesn't have to be a complicated process. Just take a simple snapshot. You'll treasure these casual photos for years to come.
Create your own family photo days. Shoot portraits of each family member on the same day each year. Or pick one day every month to do a quick photo shoot.
Spend time together looking at photos after vacations or celebrations, putting your favorite images into photo albums and scrapbooks.
You'll take and print more photos if your camera and printer are within easy reach. The HP Photosmart A646 Compact Photo Printer has an extra-large touchscreen that makes it easy for everyone in the family to use.
Once you get your camera's timer set, move quickly to get into the shot.
If you’re trying to photograph the entire family without the help of another family member or a friend, you’ll need to employ one of these tactics to capture the entire clan:
Set the camera on a tripod.
Use a timer.
Set the camera on continuous shooting mode; the more pictures the better.
Have a plan for how you'll fit into the scene before you set up the camera.
You can create a photo card for any holiday or event—or send one just because.
With a little planning, you can take photos that fit the style of your photo card perfectly.
Let your creativity flow when taking family photos for photo cards. You'll find dozens of free photo card designs at the HP Creative Studio.
Here are some tips for creating unique family photo cards.
Have each family member hold pieces of paper with letters written on them that, all together, spell a word. A family of four can show their "LOVE." Just the two of you? A simple "Hi" will do.
Match the style of the photo (background scene, wardrobe colors, etc.) to your chosen card design.
Get creative with the HP A646 Compact Photo Printer. Add frames, captions, and over 300 other built-in effects. The printer even comes with photo card templates for instant greetings.
The HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One features an extra-large TouchSmart touchscreen that you can use to easily improve photos—without a PC.
Many HP printers will automatically improve your photos before printing.
HP photo printers and All-in-Ones offer a number of unique features that fix photo flaws, so you can effortlessly produce beautiful family photo prints for sharing and framing.
Many HP Printers and All-in-Ones, such as the HP Photosmart Premium All-in-One and the HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web All-in-One, offer red-eye removal and cropping without the use of a PC. Instant Photo Fix, a feature available on select HP Photosmart All-in-Ones, automatically improves your photos in a variety of ways, including:
For family photo prints your children can enjoy decades from now, be sure to use high-quality HP photo paper and original HP ink that will resist fading.
Because of its special coating HP Premium Plus Photo Paper, has exceptional fade resistance that can help your photos last for generations.
Learn more about how to print photos that won't fade.
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