We’ve all struggled with family photos over the years. Whether it’s difficulty scheduling the session, the young ones aren’t cooperating, or the result isn’t as good as it could have been because you chose the wrong setting on your camera, there are many reasons why the family photo process leaves much to be desired. 

Since the perfect family photo is the one that showcases your whole family’s story without all the chaos, that usually means hiring a professional photographer. But let’s be honest, professional photographers cost big money. So for a do-it-yourselfer like you and me, doing family pictures yourself is the way to go. 

Sit back, relax, and read these 3 pieces of advice for capturing natural, fun and candid photos of your family, whether it be for family photos or passport photos.

Setup a Tripod & Remote 

Sure you can try finding a level to place your camera on or try improvising instead of using a tripod, but in reality, it’s a lot easier to just use a tripod. Options like MeFOTO RoadTrip are ideal as they are light, fold down small, and come with a carrying case. In addition, see if your camera has built-in WiFi. If it does, you might be able to use your smartphone as a remote to adjust settings, do a live preview, and remotely trigger the camera’s shutter. The other option for camera remotes is a radio transmitter like the Vello ShutterBoss; these can plug directly into the camera depending on what brand you own. 

Get a High-Quality Lens 

Equipping your camera with the right lens definitely helps! For family pictures, there are a few lens options you can reach for, but the final choice will depend on the number of members in the shoot and the focal length. But what is focal length, exactly? It is an optical length that describes the shape of a lens. Understanding focus length helps photographers of all skills determine how to use a lens for a range of photographic applications. For instance, it makes sense to invest in a short focal length (wide-angle lens) if you have a large family as it offers a wider angle or field of view. On the other hand, an all-in-one lens might be a better fit for beginners. It is capable of capturing normal, wide angle, long, short and even macro focal length images.

Mix & Match Outfits

When it comes to your family’s outfits, classic doesn’t have to be boring. There are several ways to have fun with outfit ideas for the family photo without going over the top. Get started by picking a color scheme. Do you want to portray your creative side with unique textures or color combinations? Or, are you aiming to achieve a stylish, simple look, such as a white t-shirt and jean? Whatever outfits you choose, experiment with the theme by mixing and matching. For example, you could assign one color to the girls one to the boys. If your girl is a little tomboy, don’t force her to wear a fairy dress. For the best result, let each person’s personality shine through.

We all love seeing pictures of our families hanged up in our homes, and if you are able to shoot the photos yourself, as you’d imagine them to be taken, it will feel much better seen them than if they were taken by a photographer.