Tips for family photographs

By Rex Dolby

Often family and friends who can’t get home at other times of the year will make it for Thanksgiving. Here’s the chance to record them as they have changed and grown since the last time you saw them. Consider pictures as they enter the house and are greeted, converse with others, gather around the table, or are a part of a formal group photo. A good place to assemble a group could be in front of a fireplace, or on open stairways. If those options aren’t viable, move some furniture to create a space.

If you’re shooting a large group at the table, turn on plenty of lights to help illuminate the area and check that your white balance is set for incandescent lighting. While taking pictures of folks around the table or the kid’s table, time them so your subjects are not about to chomp down on a fork full of goodies or have cups or glasses in front of their faces. If the dining room has a large mirror, see if you can position yourself so that you can get the faces of those with their backs to the camera in the mirror. Be aware of the flash angle however, so the flash doesn’t bounce back at the camera and spoil the picture.

Preparations for the meal, place settings and decorations, and even the guys sound asleep before the game is over will all add to the memories of the day’s activities.

We hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. The club’s next meeting will be on December 8, 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center, 643 S. Washington St., Van Wert.