Family memories are unforgettable and emotional. The best pictures are those that tell the viewer the participants’ thoughts as well as actions, and there are many tricks, methods and techniques to tell those stories. Here are five considerations:
Smartphone
Probably the most obvious way of capturing memories, as there is usually no paraphernalia to adjust or fit to the device unlike a DSLR. Additional zoom, telephoto, fisheye and macro lenses are available, but for family snaps you’re more likely to need selfie sticks or a tripod. For taking pictures of boisterous youngsters playing in a field or on a beach, you really need a camera with a fast shutter speed, and there are only limited options for this capability on smartphones – but it is possible.
Remember to focus on faces if possible, and be careful not to overexpose. Many incorrectly lit shots can be rescued later, but out-of focus snaps are sometimes unsalvageable.
Spontaneity
If preparing your equipment is the start of the process, and mounting the pictures on mugs, calendars, diaries and other items courtesy of companies such as Photobox is the conclusion, then the middle is the actual shot itself – the most crucial part.
It’s too easy to get everyone posed and smiling at the camera, at a child’s birthday party for example, but actually the better pictures are those captured surreptitiously.
You could just pause at a group shot, and a candle being blown out. However, what about the minute or so either side of these shots? The smiles at the mum and dad off camera; children looking at each other and laughing; relatives full of pride in the background. These are the snaps that pros look for, and with 21st century technology and a keen eye you could do the same.
Everyday events
When your children have grown up and flown the nest you’ll not only look back at the birthdays and holidays and first days at school, but the little routines and habits in their own home that shaped their personality. Photographer Jamie Davis Smith writes in the Huffington Post on the importance of listing five things that happen regularly in everyday life, and trying to grab them in a picture. You can always try again if the initial shots fail.
Experiment
Mini video cameras such as GoPros have revolutionised the type of shots that can be captured, and although they do have limitations there’s huge scope for creativity and ingenuity. For example, your son’s first ride on his new BMX could be captured simultaneously on DSLR or mobile but also a helmet-mounted camera. Maybe you could place the camera on the road and see him zoom past, or in an upstairs room to view the up-and-down nature of his rides on the nearby roads. Think creatively, plan ahead, and your videos will really stand out.
Presentation
After editing you’ll be ready to show your pictures to the world. Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and social media are obvious modes of presenting them to friends and family, but mounting a giant view of children with toothy smiles and bright eyes on a giant canvas will light up any room. If you’re planning on creating a giant picture for a front room make sure your camera is set to the highest quality and file size possible.