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Every photographer must understand that of all the photographs he will click in his lifetime, family portraits are the most important.

There are two reasons, one, they can never be scheduled or pre-planned and can be possible only when fate brings the family together and two, families by the natural ebb and flow of life, live alienated lives, separated by locations, by time and by work. Capturing the family together can be one of the most priceless possessions of any family, and hence the photographer must ensure that he does justice to the emotional, practical and passionate worth that such photographs carry.

Here are some tips to ensure that you get it just right:

Shoot four or five shots for each pose. Although it is important that every member in the photographer is smiling and looking deliriously happy, the end result turns out that one of the fellows was blinking and has his eyes shut or a toddler is looking rather grumpy – something that the mother will never forgive or approve of. So recommendation no 1 is that you shoot four or five shots for each pose.

Don’t focus only the technical aspects and forget about your camera for the moment and concentrate on the family. But your expertise on the back burner and chit chat with the kiddos. Make sure everyone is looking into the camera. That no one is covering the other, or the girl’s long hair is not creating a shadow on daddy’s face. The picture, remember it’s a family photograph, should look decent and if everyone can be seen smiling and happy, that is half the battle won.

Choosing the location is very important. Level areas are by far the worst places for a family portrait and hence it is important that you select an uneven seating area. Lining them up can be very disconcerting. Put them on a staircase, matching their heights and age with their seating place. If you are clicking outside, choose rocks if you are near a beach or a hill if you are elsewhere. People posing according to their height levels will create depth and make them look like a family, rather than a forbidding corporate group.

Kids are by far the most difficult to manage and do not understand what the fuss is about and are generally fidgety and restless. Place them next to their mothers, who are most likely to take care of them properly. Keep up in an incessant banter with the children and if the session draws on longer than their patience can tolerate, give them a break and allow them to unwind by playing or having a snack. When they return recharged, they will be good for a few smiles and you will be assured some happy not jaded poses.

Tim Meyer, owner of Meyer Photography and program chair of the portrait division of photography at Brooks Institute says, “Everyone who has ever taken or posed for a family photo knows it’s a rewarding yet challenging endeavor.” Advances in digital photography have made it possible for people to take high-quality pictures. All it needed was a little planning and patience, he added.

Although it is perfectly possible for you to take family photos on your own, considering it is a once in a life-time chance and odds are that they may not be able to gather together again soon, it may be better to invest in a professional photographer. There are so many people who express regret about missed opportunities for taking that desired ‘family photograph.’ Sadly family members pass away, leave for foreign shores and kids grow up and the opportunity is lost for ever.

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