Jason Weingart
Lifestyle
9 Tips for Taking Better Family Pictures in Bluebonnets
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1. Be prepared and dress accordingly.
Photo: Facebook/Savannah Weingart
Fully charge your camera’s batteries and ensure your memory card is clear. Spring in Texas can be very warm, so be sure your subjects are comfortable. Stay hydrated. Color coordinate outfits. Avoid wearing anything too distracting like shirts with large logos.
2. Avoid shooting in the middle of the day.
Photo: Jason Weingart
Mid-day sun casts unflattering, contrasty light, casting harsh shadows on your subject. Try to shoot early or late in the day when the sun is low in the sky. The best light for photography is about 30 minutes after sunrise and 30 minutes before sunset. These times are called the “golden hour.”
3. Be sure everyone is in a good mood.
Photo: Jason Weingart
Take the kids when they are well rested. Give them a good meal before their photo session. Cranky, crying children (and husbands) are an extremely difficult subject for even the most seasoned photographer.
4. Avoid squinting.
Photo: Jason Weingart
Shoot when there are clouds in the sky. This will make it easier for your subjects to keep those eyes wide and bright. Try to position them, so the sun is off to the side or slightly behind them. If there are shadows on your subject’s face, use your camera’s flash to add a little fill light.
5. Get the right angle.
Photo: Jason Weingart
Position your subject and yourself so you are shooting your pictures at their eye level. Try to be slightly above the tops of the bluebonnets, which will give a lot of depth to your image and make the bluebonnets in the foreground look extra big!
6. Get closer to your subject.
Photo: Facebook/Savannah Weingart
The most important thing is the people in the picture. Try to keep them relatively large in the frame. Use your camera’s zoom to accomplish this. You want your focal length to be between 50mm-100mm. This flattens out features and captures your subject in a more flattering manner.
