iPhones and other smartphones give all of us the ability to take high quality pictures and edit them in seconds. With this power, many people opt to take their own family photos rather than hire a professional photographer. It certainly is cheaper, right! True, but there are plenty of reasons why you should hire a professional photographer, rather than leave it to your iPhone. And one of the reasons to hire a professional is that they know the best locations!
Location and scenery are so important for getting the right tone and mood for your family photographs. Let’s explore some great outdoor and indoor locations for family photographs.
Outdoor
When you’re taking outdoor photos, lighting is so important. Therefore, the time of day and weather are important. Whatever venue you choose, you want to avoid direct sunlight which can create halos, shadows, and squinting. If the sun is bright, make sure to find a shaded place to be photographed.
Some great options for outdoor family photos are wide open spaces like green fields with tall grass or trees, which provide a really nice backdrop. Or you could find a pretty shoreline, with a backdrop of sand and sea. These simple backgrounds won’t be too busy, so the focus will stay where it should be—on you and your family.
Indoor
Some people love to have nature in the background of their family photographs. But nature can be unpredictable. Rain, sunshine, wind—nature doesn’t run according to your photography shoot. So maybe you’d like to try indoor family photographs. These can look just as stunning as an outdoor location.
If you’re looking for photographs taken in your home, almost any room can work as long as it’s big enough, not too busy, and has adequate lighting. For example, you could gather together on the couch with the children and pets, and get a great shot. If you want something different, you could have photos taken around the dinner table, in your pajamas in the bedroom, and even in the bathroom—if there’s enough space.
Photography studio rentals
But if you don’t want to use your home for your family photographs, you can always rent space at a local photography studio. This is a great option for a number of reasons. When you rent space at a photography studio, you don’t have to worry about weather or lighting. Studios are designed to produce the best lighting for photographs. And photography studios typically have a variety of settings and props, so you can get a lot of different settings in one place, which cuts down the travel time.
For example, FreeFall Studio in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, offers studio space for rent for custom-staged photo shoots. They make their custom sets available, but you can also bring your own props and equipment. The possibilities are endless, and you can leave the studio with creative, unique family photos that no other family has.