5 Digital Photography Tips - Creating Great Family Portraits

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Just about every family wants a good portrait of themselves over the years. Taking good family portraits presents a wonderful opportunity to capture the intimate relationships between all family members.

Most of the time the portrait consists of the immediate family between two and six people. Here are a few Digital Photography Tips to use when you shoot your next family photography session.

Tip #1 Make them Comfortable

It is difficult to get great expressions on faces when people are straining to maintain a certain pose. It's important to make every effort to pose the family in a way that will give you the best opportunity to capture their best 'side.'

Tip # 2 Watch your Composition

Part of the challenge of family portraits is to compose your shot in a way that will draw the viewer into and around the photograph in a pleasing way. Pose family members in triangles. The natural flow of the portrait will then allow the viewer to see each family member in an easy and progressive manner.

Tip # 3 Using Props

Using a big wing-backed chair with mom or dad sitting in the chair and the rest of the family members posed around it always makes a great shot. Using park benches, trees, rocks, fireplaces, stools and even the ground or floor are all good ideas to help you capture that unique shot. Don't be afraid to use your imagination and creativity!

Tip # 4 Dressing Similar

This should be discussed before the family shoot is to take place. It will save you a lot of headache if all the family members are dressed in complimenting styles and colors. Strips, polka dots, clashing colors and printed clothing can give you a disconcerting and uneasy feel to a photo. We want to produce a photo that will convey the harmony and love between family members and draw the viewer to the faces; not be distracted by clothing that is outlandish or clashing.

Tip # 5 Watch the Lighting

If you are shooting in a studio, make sure you have your lights set up to enable every person's face to be clearly seen. Although shadows can add intensity and interest, make sure it is balanced properly. Taking family photos outside can present a whole new set of challenges.

Shooting at the golden hour of the day (one hour before the sun goes down) is an option that will give you wonderful lighting conditions. Once again, it is of prime importance that all family member's faces can be clearly seen.

Taking family portraits can present some very interesting challenges. You, as the photographer, have the opportunity to capture the very character and intimacy of the family unit. It takes work and practice to create a stunning portrait that will become a family memory for years to come.

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Tips To Creating A Fake Fireplace

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There is a certain appeal that comes from having your very own fireplace. Just because you cannot install a real fireplace into your lounge room does not mean that you cannot have one at all. If you are willing to spend a little time and effort you can create your own fireplace.

People like having a fireplace for various reasons. Some like the perception of grandeur or style that they think it brings to their house, others like to use it as a focal or decorating point, while others see it as simply as a way of heating their home during the winter chills.

Whatever your reason for wanting a fireplace, you may not necessarily be able to have the real thing. If you don't own the property you have no say in what goes in and are stuck with whatever's already there. Sometimes all it takes is a little thinking outside the square to create a room for everyone to admire.

There are two ways of looking at fake fireplaces, those with fake fires in them and those that have the mantle and surround only with no fire. Either situation is acceptable style wise, although if you have an existing method of heating you could best use the fake fire surround to change the appearance of the current system.

Surround an Existing Heater:

If you are adding a fake surround and mantle to an existing heating system you need to ensure that it is done properly otherwise you risk making the area look uncoordinated and out of place. If you are using an existing heater the general principle is to blend and distract. This means that the surround and mantle should blend in with the rest of the room.

Consider using the same wall color, or at worst one shade darker. Where possible try to match the color of the heater paneling to create a block of color rather than distinct color patches. Limit ornamentation on the mantelpiece so as not to attract too much attention to the immediate area.

A fireplace with No Heater:

If you are not using an existing heating system there are fewer limitations. Many people choose to create a fake fireplace and use the cavity where the fire would be to display items or place a couple of pieces of wood if they want it to look authentic.

Add some secondhand bricks to the floor of the cavity to give it an authentic fireplace look. If this is your purpose for creating the surround, you want to attract attention to the area. You can be more liberal with the decoration that adorns the mantle but be sure not to overcrowd the area.

Regardless of the motive for creating a fake fireplace, you can create a simple surround with relatively little trouble and change the appearance of your room. If you choose a style that suits your needs and pay attention to detail you can have a fireplace that looks like it has always been there.

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