Add one more to the shot...

I am getting more and more request for large family portraits these days, which is awesome of course but also a little nerve racking.  The thought of getting 5 people to all look at the camera and giddily smile is a walk in the park compared to groups of ten or more... let me tell you!  But as I do more of these I realize it really isn't all that bad and I have a few tricks to share with you all.  So when you meet up with the whole family this summer for a reunion and want to get that perfect family photo give these tricks a try.

1.  Get cozy!  Get the family positioned and be sure to squeeze in tight and relax.
2.  Stand above! - Get a stool or a bench for the photographer to stand on.
3. Play the blink game! - Tell everyone to blink or close their eyes, when you say stop they are to open wide and give you the best smile ever.  (snap a few shots real quick when you say stop)
4. Nail the first few shots! - Before you begin formally taking the picture take a few sample shots to make sure your lighting and focus are on point.  When shooting large groups I always notice that my first few shots are typically the best, everyone is engaged and smiling.  After a few seconds folks get restless and you can miss the opportunity.
5.  Have fun! - Get the family to say Cheese Burger or Donkey instead of just the plain old say cheese... it gets the crowd laughing and having fun and this especially helps with kids!
6. Relax! - Remember sometimes you just won't get every person looking directly in the camera (especially kids!) but pick out the shots that work the best and make them work.

I hope these tips help you out this summer!