How to get the BEST family photos for summer vacation

special guest blog contributor: Tamieka Smith Photography

Spring break is done in Northern Virginia, but now is the time when many families are considering and preparing for summer vacation and what to do with their children and hopefully keep them well entertain.  Many parents schedule summer vacations and of course as parents we want to photograph every moment.  It’s the best time to record your kids playing freely and enjoying themselves during the summer.  Unfortunately, the lighting is not always the best when we’re attempting to take pictures of our children or when we want to do a family selfie.  Here are a few tips to get the best family vacation photos.  

1.  Avoid Back Light

Have you ever taken a picture with the person’s back facing the window?  The light behind the subject will cast a shadow making them hard to see.  The best way to correct this is to have the person face the window.  This will put the light on their face instead of their back.  This is true for a room light as well.  Although sometimes those pictures can come out cool.

2.  Best Light (Optimal Light Conditions)

The best time of the day to take pictures outside is immediately after sunrise or before sunset.  This is due to the optimal lighting conditions.  Taking pictures in the shade will also give your pictures wonderful color and you’ll also avoid the annoying squinted face.  

3.  Focus on your child

Living so close to Washington DC and all the different monuments and museums that are readily available.  It’s easy to just tell our children to stand in front of the monument and as parents we want to get the monument and our child in the picture.  However, I encourage parents to get down to your child’s eye level and experiment with different angles instead of wide-open overhead angles only.

4.  Photo the moment

Does your child have a favorite way to stand?  If so, break away from the posed picture and photograph that funny stance.  You may be surprised how the picture turns out.  A great idea is taking a picture of your child trying a new food or drink; walking on sand for the first time or taking a plane ride.

5.  The Best Mode

Oh, my goodness it’s so hard to take pictures of kids with your cell phone especially if their moving.  Have you ever taken a photo and it dark and blurry?  Me too.  Moving around is their job, so it may be difficult to get a picture of young kids standing still.  Therefore, the best camera mode is to use “action” or “sport mode”.  This will help the speed of your camera by increase the shutter speed to freeze fast action.  Think of your shutter speed as your eyes blinking.   

6.  Don’t just photograph the destination; capture your family

Taking pictures of your family enjoying the vacation will be the best and most interesting photos of your vacation.  These are the pictures that will make you smile, cry, and/or laugh.  Not the picture of the scenery of your vacation location.  It fun to take pictures of your favorite Disney Character.  However, the picture of your family members enjoying the go carts at Disney will be more valuable to you.  

7.  Give everyone a camera

One thing I like to do is give my kids a camera.  You’ll receive a totally different aspect of your vacation.  Giving your kids a camera will also keep them busy and entertained.  You’ll also see a different version of your family vacation.  A disposable camera or an inexpensive digital camera is a great way to keep the expense low.  

Moms, although you’re typically the one photographing your family’s summer vacation, make sure you get in some of the pictures as well.  I often forget to do this myself and when we come home from vacation, I’m in a limited number of pictures.  If you ask a stranger to take pictures of your family while on vacation, ask them to take more than one or two pictures (preferably four).  Doing this helps ensure you have at least one picture where everyone has their eyes open, looking at the camera, and smiling.  These tips will help tell the story of your family’s vacation experience.  Have fun on your summer vacation.

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