10 tips to be successful in unforgettable photos

Make your family meetings unforgettable with these simple techniques.

The accessories make your photos with the family more festive.

1. A photomatone

Photoatoni (like the one that Jenny Skibo Photography has used for photos above), very popular in weddings and other events, are easy to install and bring out the joy and humor of the most cipche people around you. What you need: take a photo of everyone, find a large white wall or, better still, a canvas. Bring a lighting foot, a flash or a stroboscopic light and a large umbrella to think of light (you can get a parabolic reflector of 2 meters for about € 100).

Trick : Make the accessories for eccentric parties available for your guests for more fun. Use a tripod if you also want to be in the photo or remove the tripod device and use a growing lens to adapt shooting to the number of people.

2. Individual portraits

For a variation of photomatone in a reduced version: instead of the fun and ephemeral side of the photoatone, ask everyone to take a place on a stool (the light is less aggressive because the variation of height is lower!) And to lay for a portrait. Once done, convert all the black and white photos and collect them in a book. What you need: the ideal is to have a canvas, but a white wall will make makeup if necessary. Bring a stroboscopic light or a powerful flash and medium -sized adapter.

Trick : Install your light source in height and slightly to the right or left of the subject. But the corner should not be too pronounced. In this case, you will get Rembrandt lighting.

3. A 360 dinner

Do you want to remember in detail your dinner with friends or family? Make your center a 360 camera and buy a video that will allow you to relive these moments for years. What do you need: a camera like the 360fly 4K or the Ricoh Theta S.

Trick : If you can film sparely (this is the case with Theta), place the camera on a table, hang it on a chandelier or fix it on the ceiling. For only lenses such as 360fly, you will get better results by fixing it in height.

4. An instant photographic book

Create a unique memory of your meetings by associating photos with instant development and handwritten words in an album. What you need: use a small smartphone printer (like Fujifilm Instax Share SP-2), or even better, buy an instant camera; You can’t see the photos before printing them, adding a touch of magic. Buy an empty album and pretty pens.

Trick : If you choose an instant camera, take the photos alone or ask another guest to do it. It is not easy to be successful in the frame without screen if you are also in the photo, so don’t waste the dandruff by making missed selfies.

When there is a child, ask the father and mother (or the person also present in the photo) to look at the goal of the device, so if the child looks at him for a moment, you will not miss the photo.

5. Generational groups

During family meetings, it is easy to bring together memorable groups: grandmothers, mothers and girls; All cousins; All children. Regulate your device to acquire portraits of these sub -categories. What you need: to find an illumination suitable for these photos, sometimes it is sufficient to light a flash on a hoof against a wall or a ceiling. A 50 mm lens (or equivalent) is perfect for this type of photo because it limits the distortion but remains wide enough to take photos in reduced spaces.

Trick : Use a chair to install and ask the elderly of the group to sit down while the younger generations look or find themselves around. Do not forget to solve your goal at f/5.6 maximum so that all subjects are defined. Think about the printed result when making your photo. The grandmother will surely want a photo in 20 × 27 format to be able to frame it, so it leaves enough space on the sides for the shot.

Large groups can be complicated to manage, but resist the impulse to align all in a row.

6. A mini-documentary

Use the video function of the camera to capture the mood of your guests’ moment. You ask them to sit in front of the camera and each as the same three questions. Be kitsch or add a touch of humor, ask them to make predictions or what is their most surprising memory of the year that has just flowed. What you need: the quality of your recording will be much better if you get a micro-back (there is generally for less than € 10). So you can record the sound with your smartphone or any other registration device. Install the camera on a very stable tripod.

Encourage your guests to mix funny photos and series photos.

Trick : The role of the cameraman is perfect for occupying Bougon teenagers.

7. A general panorama

Do you remember these long old photos with large groups in which everyone was aligned? They were taken with panoramic cameras. You can get the same effect by capturing bunk floors that you will meet later. What you need: take your usual device and choose a goal that limits the distortion.

Trick : Align everyone, choose the manual mode of the device, focus and deactivate the automatic focus function. Then advance the group of guests in a line as straight as possible taking many photos that overlap. Assemblies in postproduction with your favorite or use assembly software that provided with the usual image editor.

A flash is often necessary to move the photos, but your photo must be dynamic

8. An accelerated video

Create an accelerated video to tell the story of your party. You can show a pile of gifts wrapped carefully from the order to chaos, then the bright candles or an intact buffet and then the empty dishes. What you need: an on -board camera or an old smartphone with an accelerated video app (so you don’t have to put your «real» device for too long). You will also need a small flexible tripod or any other support.

Trick : Install it somewhere, start recording to forget it. If you try to play the manufacturer, the day will lose its fun and spontaneous side. However, don’t forget to take a test to make sure everything works!

9. An animal point of view

Another big idea for your ON -BOARD camera? Hanging it to your pet for a unique vision of your meeting. What you need: a well -organized animal (dogs are often the most suitable for this shot, but any quite friendly and large animal to wear a racing with an on -board camera will make makeup).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sprod2u7ulo

Trick : The animal should not transport the camera all day. Try to choose a time when someone does something that will affect the animal. For a dog who loves people, you can hang the camera when your guests arrive. If he likes food, movies during the meal.

Changing the bottom can be a good idea and each canvas can be reused for other occasions.

10. #Hashtagfamille

Keep the photos that your family shares on social networks giving a hashtag to your party. What you need: if you want to go further, print the hashtag in advance on the cards. But it is equally easy and effective to send a message to your guests or tell him in person!