When we’re not styling fun or dramatic portraits in our studio, we meet our clients on-location all over North Georgia for custom-designed photoshoots as unique as they are. But as the holiday season is upon us and families are busy celebrating together, we can’t be in every home at once. No need to panic! With these tips you can capture the season’s memories with your own camera and ensure that every special moment is memorialized.
1. Plan ahead
Before your house is full of family and friends, take some time to decide what pictures are important to you. If you’re after a group shot, figure out where you want people to gather. Nothing is quite as frustrating as fifteen people giving their opinions all at once. If you have a plan, you can call the shots and get the photo you want.
Now is also the time to charge your camera battery, empty your memory card and pull your tripod out from wherever it’s collecting dust. With a little prep, the photos will go quickly leaving plenty of time for eating, drinking, and general merriment.
2. Look for Natural Light
When you look back at your photos from Thanksgiving, the last thing you want to worry about is having to edit them to make them look presentable. Open the blinds, pull back the curtains and find ways to make your pictures shine without the assistance of flash. Indoor lighting can create a strange artificial cast on your photos. Natural light, whether through the windows or outside, uninhibited, is your best bet for clear, bright images.
The good news is, if you do end up with photos that have a weird green tinge, we can help! Our photoshop experts can perfect your favorite images from the day. If you want to take it one step further, we can turn those shots that make you smile into actual works of art. With Bryan’s artistic background and skill, a beloved Thanksgiving memory can be a treasured family heirloom.
3. Get Shots of the Details
You’ll likely remember who was there and what you ate, but the intricate details will become hazy as time goes on. Look for little moments and details you want to remember: the way you decorate your front door, the placecards at the table, a close up of your little one grasping their fork. It might seem silly now, but when you look back in five or ten years, you’ll be glad that you have shots that paint a picture of the day.
These detail shots are perfect to include in an abstract art piece or a framed collage. Bring us your favorite detail shots and we can combine them to create a unique piece of art that is as meaningful as it is irreplaceable.
4. Take Plenty of Candids
Have you spent an inordinate amount of time on Pinterest preparing for this holiday season? You’ve likely pinned a slew of family photo ideas and are eager to replicate them. There’s nothing wrong with trying to take your own group pictures, but don’t forget to capture an abundance of candids as well. They might not necessarily be the shots that end up framed on your wall, but they will make you smile, laugh, and maybe even cry as you relive the sweet moments of the day.
5. Set the Scene
Naturally, you’ll want to get a few pictures of the spread on the table with the family seated, ready to dig in. You’ve spent hours curating the perfect meal, why not memorialize it? Remember to grab a few pics behind the scenes as well. Imagine how fun it will be and look back to see your son bonding with his grandmother as she teaches him the right way to make a pie. You’ll certainly enjoy the trip down memory lane, laughing at the fumbles and fouls from the family football game. It’s the moments that don’t seem camera worthy that will end up being the most beloved.
6. Clear out distractions
Take a look at what is in the frame before you snap the photo. Dirty dishes piled in the sink, an overflowing trash can, and a jumble of grocery bags will draw attention from the subject in your photos. You don’t have to obsessively clean all day to avoid unsightly additions in your photos. Just take a minute to see what’s there and rearrange your photo accordingly. Can someone stand in front of the trash can? Maybe you can readjust your position to cut out the distractions entirely. The more time you spend prepping before you take the photo, will save you from having to edit it afterwards.
7. Add Angles
One benefit of high quality cameras on cell phones is the ability to point and shoot at a moment’s notice. This is great for capturing fleeting moments, like your nephew’s first steps or your daughter scoring a goal, but it can also result in your images looking boring and predictable. Mix up the angles in your photos to get some eye-catching shots. You can stand on a chair to get an aerial view of your table. Try a shot of everyone’s feet lined up as they sit and chat on the couch. Let yourself have fun as you look for creative ways to capture the day and you’ll end up with images that reflect that.
8. Focus on What You’re Thankful For
The whole point of Thanksgiving is taking stock of the things in your life that matter most to you and the pictures you take should show that. There will be new things that come along every year that stand out in your mind as blessings echoing that particular time in your life. But many of the things that fill your heart with joy and gratitude will stay the same: your family, friends, and loved ones. Be thoughtful as you take images of those people and moments that you want to remember forever.
9. Prioritize the Moment
Ultimately, a photo shouldn’t take priority over the moment itself. Remember to set the camera down and be present for the important things. You’ll still have your posed group shots and images that set the scene of the day, whether it’s the family watching the football game or your carefully staged decorations. But when a spontaneous event presents itself, don’t be afraid to leave your phone in your pocket and just enjoy it as it’s happening.
10. Schedule a Professional Family Session
When the leftovers are secured in the fridge and the food coma has set in, you’ll have an album worth of photos of your fun-filled holiday. Now that the chaos has passed, it’s time to schedule your professional portraits. These tips will certainly help your amateur shots of Thanksgiving be more enjoyable to look at, but nothing can replace a professional portrait session. Try to schedule your session while you still have family in town and get the benefit of stunning artwork that incorporates your full family gathering.