Why take family portraits outdoors? Besides having a beautiful and fun background, photographing outside provides the chance to use natural lighting. If you are a professional photographer or serious enthusiast then you know that the external flash, studio lights and reflectors work to mimic the beauty of natural light.

If you are new to photography and have a digital compact and built in flash, then taking your family portraits outdoors is the best way to get professional quality portraits that you'll want to proudly display in a picture frame in your home.

The Best Natural Lighting for Outdoor Family Portraits

Not all outdoor lighting is good. The worst time of day to take outdoor family portraits is mid day. The best times of day are what many photographers refer to as the "Golden Hours," the hour before sunset and after dawn when the light is softest and the shadows least harsh. The closer to these time frames you can take the portrait, the better.

Another good option is to wait for a cloudy day when there is bright overcast light. This provides enough bright light and is the kind of softness professional photographers spend money on soft boxes to get. If the timing doesn't work out for any of the above, find shade that isn't too dark.

Outdoor Portrait Settings

The obvious choice and perhaps the perfect choice is the family's backyard. Or you could take your family portraits outdoors at a place the family enjoys like a park. If you go away from home, look for locations and times of the day when the area is the least crowded.

You should also consider using a family activity or a hobby as a potential setting. If the family loves horses, a green pasture with horses in the background and the family posed in front could work well. If the family sails think about using the boat's deck as a setting.

Speaking of boats, a word of caution: if you decide to take any family portraits outdoors at places such as the sea, beach or snow, here are some things that can help: Select the beach mode on a digital compact, or if you use a DSLR or SLR, use a polarizing filter. This will help decrease the glare. Set the flash to "On" instead of "Automatic" to help reduce shadows on the family. Don't position the family where they will be facing the sun otherwise they'll be squinting.

As with any picture, be sure to hide or remove clutter in the background. Do you want to use the natural outdoor lighting but want a plain background? Tack a piece of fabric to a fence. Check for things like lawn sprinklers or anything behind the family that may be distracting like a lamp post.

If you want to diminish the overall background, use the Portrait mode or set your Aperture Priority for a smaller depth of field.

On the other hand, you may want to pose the family so that yard features such as a beautiful tree or garden cottage are part of the picture. Just be sure to compose the shot with the focus on the family. And, whatever background you choose, select a picture frame that complements your portrait. For example, if you setting is at the Museum of Modern Art, you probably want to go with a more modern metal picture frame than an old fashioned antique looking frame.

Whether you are taking family portraits outdoors for others or your own family, use these portrait tips and you'll be sure to take a portrait that will be proudly displayed in a wood picture frame on the family wall.

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