Family Portrait Ideas and Poses

Part II - Triangular Compositions

Family portrait ideas are easy to find once you start thinking in terms of design and composition. In particular, geometric shapes are especially pleasing to the eye as they create a sense of harmony and unity, as you can see from this series of photos based on a triangle.

The first shot is just two people, mother and baby but note that the baby is not really contributing much to the triangular composition and that it comes mostly from the way the mother has positioned her knees. So you can see that one person on their own can create a triangular composition.

The most important point of the triangle is the apex and placing the baby's head high up next to the mother's has led to a strong and captivating composition.

This triangular form is very stable, as there is equal weight to all three sides as the apex of the triangle is almost directly above the middle of the base.

However, in the photograph below we find a different kind of triangle, more like a right-angled triangle if you like. This gives a sense of flowing movement from the father's head, through the mother's and baby's, which is heightened by the arms of both mother and father.

The mothers arms resting on top of the father's also give a nice intimate feel and with the baby snuggly placed in the centre there is a wonderful feeling of security and peace to the whole composition.

Obviously, you need three points in a composition to form a triangle but you will always have a result that is dynamic. This is because the eye of the viewer tends to move back and forth along the lines of the triangle.

You will also find that the eye is caught within the lines and does not wander outside the picture. Compositions where there are lines that lead the eye out of the picture are perceived as visually weak by the viewer.

If all three points of the triangle are in focus, and share the same contrast and color, there will be equal weight to each of them.

If we wanted to make a photograph with one flower standing out from two others, we could use a triangular composition but make the two in the background less sharp.

But with people we normally find all the faces of interest so it is important that sharpness for example is identical for all of the subjects. So make sure your faces are all on the same plane and then focus on the eyes of one of them.

The final photograph uses an inverted triangle again, similar to the one above but this time the whole shape is slightly at an angle to the viewer.

The resulting composition has more movement in it and seems less formal. By turning mum's head towards dad's for the kiss and waiting for the baby to look up, the photographer has captured a lovely shot that surely will end up framed and on display for friends and family to compliment.

If you are looking for more family portrait ideas and poses for children of all age groups, from newborns through preteens, The Master Posing Guide for Children's Portrait Photography may be just what you need.

Posing options are organized around the logical age groupings of babies, toddlers, children, and groups, and an investigation of the impact of the color, texture, and shape of the posing prop on the image is included, as are ways to effectively use the parent as a prop for babies who are too young to support a pose.

Strategies for working with on-the-go children are detailed, such as having attention-getting playthings on hand that engage subjects, add dimension to the portrait, and ensure a better-posed image.

Interactive games that capture and hold the attention of toddlers are described, and ideas for earning the trust of this subject group are also covered. Photographers will benefit from advice for working through tantrums, tears, and willful independence-skills that, while not in the realm of posing education, have a positive impact on the photographer's ability to capture the desired pose.

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If you are looking more for family portrait ideas specifically related to lighting or the technical aspects of family potraiture, then I recommmend The Best of Family Portrait Photography which is packed with great advice on:

» focal length, perspective, and maximizing the potential of digital equipment - highlights the technical aspects of family portraiture

» group posing - strategies showing how best to flatter each subject and convey a sense of family unity

» lighting, the backbone of portraiture, and the manipulation of shadows and highlights - instructs photographers on how to create mood and interest in a variety of lighting scenarios, both indoors and out

» specifics on adjusting body lines, colors, and shapes, working with young children, and creating a comfortable atmosphere to ensure that you capture the unique personality of each family with dynamic and attractive images

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All images on this page by Vera Kratochvil

Follow the link to go to Family Portrait Ideas Part I.