Tips for taking better people photographs for ancestry research and storytelling.
For over 25 years, I have used the camera to capture the lives of my family and friends. The camera has been an essential tool in my professional career in public relations and advertising. I first started with a film camera and spent hundreds of excellent/fun hours developing and printing my prints in a dark room. Since the late 90s, I have used the digital camera extensively to aid in my genealogical research.
People Photographs for Ancestry Research
Table of Contents
- People Photographs for Children
- People Photographs for Babies
- People Photographs in Family Gatherings
- People Photographs for Family Portraits
- Photographs of Pets
- Additional Resources to Expand Your Knowledge
I would like to share a few of the lessons I have learned when photographing people.
Enjoy taking photographs
Don’t work too hard to position your subject, and the goal is for them to relax and fall into a natural pose. Try shooting in your subject’s favorite place, or at least a comfortable place. Meaningful props–like a trophy, a musical instrument, or even a fish–can add interest.
Take close “tight” photos of your subject. Fill the camera’s LCD display with your subject to create pictures with a more significant impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
Take candid pictures
Ignore the impulse to have subjects pose by staring at the camera. Take a variety of shots. Take candid photos of subjects working, playing, leaning against a railing, chatting, or relaxing.
Use natural light. Cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people. Bright sun makes people squint, and it throws harsh shadows on their faces. On overcast days the soft light flatters faces. Indoors, try turning off the flash and use the light coming in from a window to give your subject a soft appearance.
Avoid harsh shadows
Avoid harsh facial shadows by using the soft lighting of a cloudy day or a shady area. On sunny days, if your camera has several flash modes, select fill flash. This will fire the flash even in bright sunlight, and this “fills” the shadows on nearby subjects, creating more flattering portraits in direct sunlight. Check your camera’s manual.
People Photographs for Children
For over 40 years, I have used the camera to capture the lives of my family and friends. The camera has been an essential tool in my professional career in public relations and advertising. I first started with a film camera and spent hundreds of excellent/fun hours developing and printing my prints in a dark room. Since the late 90s, I have used the digital camera extensively to aid in my genealogical research.
The following are some of the lessons I have learned when photographing children.
Make picture-taking a part of your everyday life with children. Children are constantly climbing, building, exploring, and trying new things.
Begin a photo tradition. Take pictures regularly so that you, your family, and friends can see how much your child has changed. Initiate one of the following ideas:
- Capture your child set off for the first day of school each year.
- Mark your child’s growth against a tree–then take note as your child and the tree grows.
- Every Father’s Day, surround grandfather with all the grandkids.
Be patient
Don’t expect to get the perfect shot immediately. Sit back and wait for the right moment, then shoot quickly.
Shoot at eye level
Eye-to-eye contact is as engaging in a picture as in real life. Try sitting on the ground and snapping some photos from the child’s perspective. Expressions will look more natural, your flash photos will be more evenly lit from nose to toe, and the background will probably look a lot better, too. This also works great for pets!
Take candid pictures
Ignore the impulse for subjects to pose by staring at the camera. Variety is important. Take candid shots to show them working, playing, leaning against a railing, chatting, or relaxing.
Include friends in your pictures
Remember to include your kids’ friends in some of your pictures. In years to come, these pictures will remind them of happy times and the bonds that were so strong. “Look! That was right after Carrie tried to cut her hair!” “Whatever happened to Tyler?” “I wonder what we were giggling about.”
Get close
Fill the camera’s LCD display with your subject to create pictures with a more significant impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
Let kids record their world
It’s a whole new world when seen through a child’s eyes. One time use cameras and digital cameras provide easy ways to let kids take pictures of each other and capture what’s important to them.
Place your subject off-center
Placing your subject to one side of the frame can make the composition more interesting and dynamic.
People Photographs for Babies
For over 40 years, I have used the camera to capture the lives of my family and friends. The camera has been an essential tool in my professional career in public relations and advertising. I first started with a film camera and spent hundreds of excellent/fun hours developing and printing my prints in a dark room. Since the late 90s, I have used the digital camera extensively to aid my genealogical research.
I would like to share a few lessons I have learned when photographing babies.
Take pictures frequently
Catch each step of baby’s development—the first smile, the first bath, the first tooth, the first step. Babies change rapidly; make sure you capture all the milestones before they become history. Show a day in the life of the baby. Track your child for one whole day from the morning’s waking stretch to the evening’s yawns. You’ll have a series you’ll cherish for years to come.
Capture feelings
Capture all the emotions—a smirk, a frown, a wail—not just the pretty smiles. Babies are uninhibited and uncensored; show it in your pictures.
Get close
Fill the camera’s LCD with your subject to create pictures with a more significant impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
Try different angles
Start by shooting at the baby’s eye level. Prop the baby on someone’s shoulder. Line up several wee ones on the sofa. Try something different—stand on a (sturdy!) chair and shoot down at the baby in the crib.
Include other people in pictures
Capture others with the baby—big sister feeding the baby or grandpa dancing with his baby granddaughter. Introduce two babies to each other and catch that instant bonding in their eyes.
Use a simple background
An uncluttered background focuses attention on the subject, resulting in a more robust picture. Place your subject against a plain, non-distracting background. Alternatively, sometimes just moving yourself (and the camera) a few feet one way or the other can eliminate distractions from view.
Use natural light
Cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people. Bright sun makes people squint, and it throws harsh shadows on their faces. On overcast days, the soft light flatters faces. Indoors, try turning off the flash and using the light from a window to give the subject a soft appearance.
People Photographs in Family Gatherings
For over 40 years, I have used the camera to capture the lives of my family and friends. The camera has been an essential tool in my professional career in public relations and advertising. I first started with a film camera and spent hundreds of excellent/fun hours developing and printing my prints in a dark room. Since the late 90s, I have used the digital camera extensively to aid in my genealogical research.
I want to share a few of the lessons I have learned when photographing family gatherings.
Family gatherings can include funerals, reunions, weddings, events, holiday gatherings, or special occasions (e.g., anniversaries, birthdays, award ceremonies). Each provides a unique opportunity to take photos of the newest arrival, family friends, individuals, couples, cousins, brothers and sisters, generations of families and any unique combination you desire.
Capture the emotion
With every special occasion comes some unforgettable emotion. Capture those spontaneous giggles, hugs, tears and surprises that will crop up when you don’t expect them. Be ready to shoot!
Show the candles aglow
For those “candle holidays” like birthdays, Christmas and Hanukkah, consider capturing the special glow that only a lit candle can provide. To do this, turn off your flash and hold your camera very steady by bracing it on a railing, tabletop or door frame.
Avoid red-eye when using flash
Of course, you can always use picture-editing software to eliminate red-eye. One great way to avoid red-eye is to have your subject look over your shoulder instead of directly into the camera. Turning all the lights on in the room is helpful as well. Make sure you use your camera’s red-eye reduction feature if you have one available.
Stay within the flash range
Make sure to check the flash range of your camera:
- Subjects too close to the flash will appear washed out.
- If they are out of range, they will be too dark.
The typical digital flash range is between six and ten feet; a film camera has a flash range of up to fifteen feet. Install fresh batteries and have an extra set ready (recharged). Weak batteries will give you dark photographs.
Avoid flash reflections
When you have a mirror and window in the background of a flash photograph, count on the reflection ruining your photograph. If a reflective background is unavoidable, stand diagonally from the subject of your photograph to reduce the glare of the flash.
Use natural light
Cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people. Bright sun makes people squint, and it throws harsh shadows on their faces. On overcast days the soft light flatters faces. Indoors, try turning off the flash and use the light coming in from a window to give your subject a soft appearance. Hold your camera extra steady or use a tripod.
Get close
Don’t be afraid to get close to your subject. Too much background can clutter the photograph and take the focus off the subject. Close-up night-time scenes will be brighter, and detail will be much sharper with a close-in shot.
Ask family to gather in groups
Don’t be timid in asking persons to gather and take photos; it may be the only chance you get to take that photo. Get permission to take people’s photos. Encourage individuals to be in a photo even when they don’t want to.
Use your zoom
When you use the zoom, you can be inconspicuous and find special moments.
Tell a story of the event. Take pictures of the event as it unfolds. Take a picture of grandma as she gets out of the car, participates in the festivities with family and friends, and her final departure; these pictures can provide a timeline of events that will be a family treasure. Take photos of children playing Frisbee or playing Monopoly.
Use a simple background
Remember that a lot of stuff in the background can clutter your shot and alter the focus of your picture. Try and put the subject of your photograph in front of something plain and uncluttered. Nobody wants to see dad with a potted plant or light post growing out of the top of his head. If this is impossible, reposition yourself to get distracting background objects out of view.
Take candid shots
Resist the temptation to pose everyone perfectly for photographs. Candid shots often capture the people’s personalities and give a better representation of the event. Variety creates a lot of visual interest, so mix your photographs for the best possible results.
Provide one-time-use cameras
Remember that everyone has a different point of view. Provide several one-time-use cameras for everyone to use. You will find a variety of types of pictures (and vantage points) that will give a wonderful collection of photos to choose from when you begin to put together an album of the event.
Put yourself in the picture
Hand your camera to someone else to take pictures of you with friends and family. Please return the favor by taking a snapshot of your photographer with their camera.
People Photographs for Family Portraits
Grouping subjects together in exciting and fun arrangements makes for memorable photos. Also, allow everyone to get comfortable before you start shooting, and waiting for them to talk or tell a story can do the trick. If shooting a big group, consider creating two or three small clusters of people within the frame. A couple of loose groupings of three people each work nicely.
Choose the right clothes
Have your subjects dress in clothes that work well together—such as pieces in the same color palette—but are not the same. Subtle patterns can add interest to the shot.
Fill the frame. Don’t let a cluttered background ruin your photo. Zoom in to ensure your family takes up the full picture frame. Cropping in close will also produce a photo that shows excellent detail on people’s faces.
Shoot subjects at eye level
Positioning your camera slightly below your subjects’ eye level will create a more personal photo.
Try extreme angles. Take family photos from exciting vantage points to create images that surprise and please the eye.
Get close up
Use your camera’s Macro mode to fill the camera’s viewfinder and explore the finer details of the faces of your loved ones. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
Photographs of Pets
Dog lovers, cat lovers, and even lizard lovers know their pet has a unique personality that you can capture in pictures.
Be patient
Keep picture-taking sessions short and your voice calm. Try to take pictures during natural activities rather than direct your pet during this new activity called picture taking.
Use props to focus attention
If your pet isn’t a willing poser, use a flower, a toy, or a small snack to get its attention.
Shoot at eye level
Eye-to-eye contact is as engaging with a pet as with a person. So get down on your pet’s level to create warm and intimate pictures.
Get close
Fill the camera’s viewfinder or LCD display with your subject to create pictures with greater impact. Step in close or use your camera’s zoom to emphasize what is important and exclude the rest. Check the manual for your camera’s closest focusing distance.
Show your pet in action
Animals love to run and play, so take pictures of them on the go to show their joy. Use a high-speed (400 or 800) film to stop the action. Plan the shot for the action to happen in one spot and focus on that spot.
Take lots of pictures
Take lots of pictures to increase your chance of capturing just the right moment. Even the pros take lots of pictures and think nothing of shooting a whole roll just to get that one great shot.
Additional Resources to Expand Your Knowledge
Consider expanding your knowledge beyond taking photographs for storytelling and ancestry research.
- Complete Historical and Genealogy Field Trip Research Guide
- Travel Packing List for Ancestry Research Field Trips
- Use Your Camera to Document and Photograph Ancestry Research
- How to Photograph the Cemetery for Ancestry Research
- How to Take Better Photographs for Ancestry Research
- How to Take Better Travel Photographs
- How to Take Better Close-up Photographs
- How to Take Better Outdoor Photographs
- How to Take Better People Photographs
- How to Use Photographs to Trace Ancestors
- How to Google Ancestor Photographs
- Travel Photography Tips
