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This is the time of year when it’s time to start thinking about Christmas cards and family photos.
You may not feel like you have great photography skills, so it may be tempting to hire a photographer. However, you can totally shoot some great photos by yourself if you just keep in mind a few things. Ask a close friend or extended family member to hold the phone or camera, and you can get professional photos with these frugal family photo tips.
Even if you don’t send Christmas cards, having at least a yearly family photo is priceless when the kids all grow up!!
Frugal Family Photo Ideas
In order to get the best family photos, you’ll need to consider where to take the pictures, how to position everyone, what everyone should wear, and when to take the pictures.
Where should you take family photos?
Outdoors is usually a good option as natural light is easier to work with. Think about simple backdrops that will provide some visual interest.
Depending on the season and where you live, pictures in a flower field, cornfield, or pumpkin patch could be a good option. There is a farm near us that has a huge patch of sunflowers every year, and many people venture there for family photos. Professional photographers have to pay money to reserve a spot for multiple photo sessions, but if it’s just you and your family, there is no fee. Ask around and see if that is an option in your area.
Life rule: Never just wander into other peoples property or fields, always ask permission.
You don’t have to travel somewhere for a good picture. Look around outside your home and see if a picture on the front or back porch, or in front of your garden, would be suitable for a family photo. I love this option if you have young kids, because you are close to snacks and toys if you need to take a break from taking pictures!
The back of a truck is a popular spot for family photos. It provides a nice backdrop without a lot of accessories. If you don’t have a truck, ask around and see if you can borrow one for a morning!
The beach is a classic place for family photos. It provides a neutral background, so the people in the photos will really stand out. You can also find a similar look in a wooded area along a trail.
How should everyone get into the picture?
There are lots of simple and fun ways to post for a family photo. You can take them facing the camera and smiling, or you can says a silly word and have the picture taken when everyone is laughing.
You can have everyone lay on the ground (on a blanket) and look up at the camera. This perspective change is really fun when there are multiple people in the picture.
You can also keep it simple, by having everyone stand in a line horizontally.
If you’re taking a picture of people with very different heights, line them up according to height vertically to add a nice diagonal line to the photograph.
A great and simple option for pictures with young kids, especially babies, is on a large bed.
When should you take family photos?
You may have heard of the phrase “golden hour.” This is the term for the last hour before sunset and the first hour after sunrise.
Obviously, depending on what time of year it is and where you live, this could happen any time between 5-8 am or 5-8 pm. These are the best times to get the most natural looking outdoor light. If you can, try to take your family photos during one of these timeframes!
What should we wear in family photos?
No colors are really off limits, as for certain settings some colors might work better. When I am choosing colors for family photos, I usually pick one pattern that someone will wear and then choose colors for everyone else around that pattern.
For example, if you have one daughter wearing a flowered dress with orange and yellow flowers, choose orange or yellow shirts for her brothers. Don’t get too crazy—neutrals are never a bad idea and can keep the color palette from getting too complicated.
A few more tips
If you don’t have anyone to take the pictures for you, get a phone or camera tripod with a remote trigger. You can get everyone in place, then just press the button and have a few seconds to get yourself in the right spot.
Have you ever heard the saying, “The perfect is the enemy of the good”? If you find yourself out and about and have the opportunity to take a family photo spontaneously, go for it! Some of our most cherished family photos were not planned ahead of time. It doesn’t matter if your clothes match perfectly. What you want is a picture of your family in that particular season of life!
