Turkey time is right around the corner and for most avid photographers the holiday means extra snapping. With friends and family members gathered in the same place at the same time, it stands to reason that you would want to give your camera a workout preserving cherished moments.
If you are planning to get snap happy this Thanksgiving, then consider the following tips for taking frame worthy shots of large groups:
Simple is best: Forget about contorting your family members into human pretzels to achieve a creative shot. Rather, stick with simple poses. You can design fresh shots by arranging your subjects in staggered positions either in smaller groups around props or at different height levels. The point is to keep your subjects as comfortable as possible. Forcing a person to strike a contrived pose is pointless, as their discontent will be apparent, and ultimately ruin your shot.
Reduce clutter: Your subjects can strike the most incredible pose, but if the background is cluttered or loud, then your photo will be compromised. Keep the background chaos to a minimum or eliminate it all together. If you can’t control the background, then use your camera’s zoom to fill the frame with as much of your photo subjects as possible.
Natural frames: You can freshen up a sterile family shot this Thanksgiving by taking the group outside. Photographing your family in the great outdoors is a wonderful way to use natural framing techniques. Tree branches, rocks, fences and mountain ranges can be used to frame your photo subjects without a ton of work. Employing different angles while shooting outdoors can also yield a dramatic effect. Don’t limit yourself to shooting from eye level. Instead, use a ladder or stand on a large rock or on top of a hill to capture a unique angle.
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