1. Choose your moment!<\/strong><\/p>\nDon\u2019t try and take the picture when one of the family is juggling 14 different pans and preparing Christmas dinner. Give people some warning and don\u2019t just spring it on them.<\/p>\n
2. Take multiple frames.<\/strong><\/p>\nIn a group shot, there\u2019ll always be someone blinking or saying something, so take more than you need\u2026 can sometimes be a numbers game, and the best shot often comes when everyone thinks you\u2019ve finished shooting and you take just one more.<\/p>\n
3. Avoid having ceiling lights directly above the group.<\/strong><\/p>\nDon\u2019t do it under the kitchen spotlights. Try and position the camera just inside a big window (one ideally facing north or east if possible) so there\u2019s natural and even light on everyone\u2019s faces.<\/p>\n
4. Break up the composition.<\/strong><\/p>\nInstead of everyone just being in a single line, try to have some height variation so the faces are more grouped together. Granny in her favourite chair, others stood behind and sat on the arm of the chair, grandchildren on the floor in front or on knees perhaps.<\/p>\n
5. Make it personal.<\/strong><\/p>\nGetting to know your subjects in portraiture is absolutely key. Thankfully you know this group of people better than anyone. Use in-jokes or old stories to bring out a natural and genuine reaction rather than just telling everyone to say \u201ccheese\u201d on cue.<\/p>\n
6. Get in the picture.<\/strong><\/p>\nMost phones and cameras now enable you to trigger the shutter and take the photo from a nearby device. Set the shot up, hold the second device behind someone\u2019s back and snap away. Or if all else fails use self-timer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
O2 Priority<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0recently teamed up with\u00a0Josh Shinner<\/a><\/strong> to offer families across the country a free once-in-a-lifetime family portrait experience.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n\n
\n by Natalie key<\/span> for www.femalefirst.co.uk <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n