Family Photography Ideas
Taking Candid Pictures at Family Events

These family photography ideas will help you take wonderful candid pictures at your next family event. Getting together with your family can be great fun. It is good to have pictures of these times to keep precious memories.

Recently, I traveled to Florida to see my family. My husband and I live in the United Kingdom so we don't get to see my side of the family very often. We had a barbecue at my sister's house and I used the opportunity to snap some photos. Here are some tips that will help you get great pictures at your next family barbecue, party, or whatever events you have in your family.

Have Your Camera With You

Most times it's easier to leave the house without your camera. When I went to this family event, I nearly forgot to bring my camera with me. If you think carrying your DSLR to these events is too cumbersome you should have a compact camera that takes good enough photos to carry with you. You never know which family events will provide you with the ideal opportunities to get family pictures that will provide you with treasured memories in the future.

Let Them Get Comfortable

When you first get your camera out people will have a variety of reactions. Some, like my son, want more than anything to get in front of the camera.

Others, like my mother, are more reluctant.

Walk around taking pictures and let people react as they will. Just let them get used to the idea that you're taking pictures.

Hang Back

Once people get used to seeing you wandering around with your camera they'll start to relax. That's when you can hang back and start getting some good candid shots. I like to used a zoom lens so I don't have to be too close to my subjects when I'm photographing them. If you're using a zoom lens you can take pictures of people without them even noticing.

Photograph Relationships

Move around the event and notice people interacting with each other. Try to take pictures of family members interacting. Capture lively conversations and embraces. Get pictures of people smiling at each other. You don't have to use posed pictures to capture family relationships. Some of the best examples of the love family members have for each other can be seen in candid moments.

Don't Forget Rules of Composition

When using these family photography ideas to take pictures at your family event don't forget the basic rules of composition. Always notice your foreground and background. If you can, try to frame individuals through the crowd. My family is quite small so this is difficult for me to do, but if you are a member of a large family you can use other bodies in the crowd to frame out your subject.

If the background in your photograph is too cluttered looking you can use aperture to blur the background and isolate your subject. The smaller the f-stop number you set your camera to the larger the opening in the lens will be. A large opening in your lens will give your picture a shallow depth of field blurring the background making it look more abstract.

If you liked these family photography ideas for taking candid pictures check out our other digital photography tutorials.