Father’s Day photo tips to help you get the best photos of dad
It’s Father’s Day today. Fathers are so special and deserve to be celebrated everyday.
You may have planned a day filled with activities for the special man in your life or perhaps you’ve opted for a quiet meal at home with family.
Whatever you get up to today, don’t forget to take beautiful photos of dad and your family today. And if you’re in need of a little inspiration, here are my top Father’s Day photo tips.
As a child and family photographer, I have photographed lots and lots of families.
The key to getting great photos of dad on Father’s Day is to aim for natural photos where everyone is relaxed instead of posed photos. It is not as hard as it sounds.
Read on for my top tips and tricks for awesome Father’s Day photos.
1. Don’t worry about saying ‘cheese’
I bet you were not expecting me to say that. Saying cheese has become second nature to a lot of us. We see a camera, we hear someone mutter ‘say cheese’ and we automatically clench our teeth and jaw.
On Father’s Day, break away from tradition and do things a little differently so you can get a more natural reaction. Instead of saying cheese; do a break dance, make a silly face, stick out your tongue or tell a joke. By not saying cheese, you’ll avoid cheesy grins from dad and your offsprings and get photos with natural smiles.
2. Avoid the pose
I have photographed lots and lots of families and I have come across too many dads who don’t like having their picture taken. The thought of a camera in their face automatically makes them feel uncomfortable. A way around this is to avoid the pose and aim for things to happen naturally instead of being forced. See points 4 and 5 for more on this.
3. Take a selfie with dad
Get your mobile phone out and take a self portrait with dad. This is a more relaxed and fun way to get a great shot of dad. Strike a pose, smile with your eyes, do a pout – do whatever it takes to get dad smiling. Get the kids involved too. And take your pictures in burst mode or take multiple photos at a time. This way you can choose the best of the lot to keep and discard the rest.
4. Get dad involved in activities with the kids indoors
Another great way to get fantastic images of dad this Father’s Day is to get him involved in activities with the kids indoors. Whether it’s watching TV, baking cookies, cooking a meal, playing board games, playing the X box or reading a book, this is a great way to get everyone so engrossed in activities that they won’t notice the camera. And you can use this opportunity to capture images from all angles; shoot from above, get down low and get images at the same level. Just shoot, shoot and shoot so that you can capture as many memories as possible.
5. Get dad outdoors
Get dad and the children for some outdoor fun and use that as an opportunity to photograph them while they play. Get dad to chase the kids around or ride on his shoulder. Play football, basketball or tennis. Go for a walk if necessary and get plenty of shots of dad and the little ones taking a stroll. You don’t always have to capture faces to get memorable photos. Just a back shot of dad, holding hand with the kids as they walk ahead of you could be a priceless image.
I would love to see what images you capture today. Post them on Instagram and tag @kofobaptist.