CVS Photo Center

Ten Family Photo-Taking Tips

Whether you’re the family photographer or someone else snaps the picture, these simple tips can help make all your family shots sharper, more beautiful, and more memorable.

1. Food and rest. The simplest rule is often forgotten—make sure your kids are not hungry or tired when you plan to take photos. Cranky, tired, hungry kids are not patient subjects!
2. Get closer. If you're photographing your children, get down to their level, even sitting on the floor if necessary. Fill the frame with their beautiful faces. Close-ups are more powerful and more memorable. If you're taking a picture of baby with an adult, try to position them so that their faces are on the same level.
3. Use props. Stuffed animals or toys can set the mood and keep the kids happy. Look for a simple, unadorned item in a color that will compliment rather than distract.
4. Watch the background. A neutral background will keep the focus on your family rather than the wallpaper or upholstery. Avoid distracting objects and look for simple, solid, neutral colors or small patterns.
5. Wear the right clothes. Much like the background, busy patterns or overly bright clothes will distract from your family’s beautiful faces. Keep clothes simple, solid-colored, and comfortable—uncomfortable kids won’t be serene subjects.
6. Look at the light. Check for distracting shadows or overly bright light. Make sure the light is not behind your subject, which creates silhouettes. Use a fill-in flash, if possible, to help balance lighting.
7. Respect the regular. Sometimes the most enduring family photos are not the posed portraits or dressed-up big events but those that capture your loved ones in their most ordinary moments—getting ready for bed, eating, playing. Try taking pictures of the things you do and enjoy every day.
8. Reduce red-eye. Make sure to use the red-eye fix in your camera, and try to avoid using the flash whenever possible.
9. Work fast and frequently. Your kids may run out of patience quickly. Learn to take lots of pictures quickly and often, and then delete, delete, delete.
10. Be prepared. Always have your camera ready to go with batteries charged so you won't miss a wonderful photo opportunity. Unexpected moments often make the best photos.