Near about 1,200 billion photos were taken last year, But how many family photos did you take last summer you actually like?

Photography is about practice, the more you do it the better you get. Smartphones make things more accessible (85% are taken with these), but people still lack basic skills on how to do it. Books are hard to follow, so long term it’s better to go on one of the many photography holidays around the world and learn the techniques of great photography, but here are 3 tips in the meantime

TIP 1 - INCLUDE EVERYONE

You’re on a day trip somewhere with a great view and decide it’s the perfect spot for a family picture. You shout ‘family photo’, line everyone up and take the shot. Is it ever any good? Rarely. So what happened? Those reluctant faces and moans should tell you something. No one is comfortable. It’s too hot, they have the wrong clothes on, or plain and simple - they don’t fancy it right now. So instead of trying to paddle against the current, there are a few things you can do to get them more interested in taking a nice picture. First, let everyone know in advance you’d like to take some family photos and get their ideas. Perhaps we could do some at the beach, by the villa pool, or up in the mountains where it’s a bit cooler. Don’t expect to get overwhelming input, but at least you are including them. If they come up with a great idea, roll with it. For sure, when it comes to actually shooting the picture, they will be way more committed than they were last time. Then get them to pick what clothes they want to wear, and plan when you want to shoot it. Every input they make will give the picture more chance of being something you want to keep. And on the day - give the camera to the kids first. In fact pass it around everyone so each takes a shot of all of you (and judge later which one you frame). Making it fun is way more interesting than being lined up, bossed around and showing how uncomfortable you are.

TIP 2 - SOFT LIGHT

Most family holidays are somewhere hot and sunny. So don’t decide to take pictures in the middle of the day, when everyone is sweating (so they look ill) and generally too hot and bothered to want to spend lots of time perfecting the best shot. Go out towards dusk, when the light is lovely and soft. All the skin tones glow - so everyone looks healthy - and it’s generally a more comfortable environment. If you’re wearing your fancy clothes, you can always head to dinner afterwards to make it less of a ‘thing’. Finally, when you decide to take the shot, don’t shoot with everyone’s backs to the sun. Their faces are in shade (meaning you can’t see them). Swivel everyone around so the light is falling at 45 degrees to their face. If this means the background isn’t that nice, move on and pick another spot until it is.

TIP 3 - DON’T POSE

So you’ve got their ideas, found a location you think looks pretty cool, got your best glad rags on and gone out when the light is soft. Now what? The absolute wrong thing to do is line everyone up and ask them to say cheese. It’s just not natural. You’re almost guaranteeing that at least one person in the family will zoom in, see their eyes shut, some unflattering expression, or something else wrong and ask to delete it. The best family pictures are natural - you’ve picked a place you’re all comfortable in, so why spoil it now? If you all like the outdoors, go for a walk in the woods, and shoot the tribe mooching around. If they like the beach, find a small cove and get everyone to jump into the water at the same time - the expressions are priceless. Or if the dinner on the sunset verandah is going well, just sneak your camera out and take some shots of everyone having a good time. Because that’s what you want to capture isn’t it? A great moment. Not a line of unhappy campers.