Snag the Brightest Smiles with these Family Photo Tips
The holidays are a special time of year, and photos capture those important family moments. If you are hesitant to smile due to embarrassing cosmetic issues, the holiday season offers a great time to schedule a teeth whitening treatment or veneer placement. If you have teenagers, they may be self-conscious about misaligned teeth. Invisalign treatments are a great orthodontic option for kids and adults. No matter what your restorative or cosmetic needs are, Dr. Erik Swanson delivers dental care in a dedicated, personal, and friendly manner.
Once you have the confidence that a bright and attractive smile affords, you can apply these easy tips to ensure that your family photos are as memorable as the holiday season.
Make Your Family Photos Stress-Free
Having the entire family freeze for several minutes while you try to capture a photo may not be the most productive way to capture joy in their faces. Rather than stressing, go for candid shots that capture the kids playing or laughing with relatives. What used to be considered “outtakes” are increasingly par for the course for family portraits. Keep the mood light, and let the kids know that every photo does not need to be perfect.
Don’t Force Smiles
One surefire way to ensure that smiles come off looking forced is to request or demand a smile. Natural smiles happen spontaneously. Try to avoid the old “say cheese” method. Instead, find creative ways to tell jokes or to allow for silly moments.
Don’t Photograph on Empty Stomachs
Kids become cranky when they’re hungry. Want to know a secret? So do adults. Before you go out to the park or botanic gardens to photograph the family, make sure everyone is well-rested and well-fed. That one step will ensure that you have one less battle to fight when you start snagging photos.
Natural Beats Posed Anytime
Highly staged photos don’t always deliver the best photographic results. Instead of having the whole family stare in one direction, allow for some freedom. Action shots or allowing family members to smile at each other can deliver naturally looking images that don’t look forced. Be creative and don’t forget to have fun.
Chase the Kids Around
If your kids are young enough to enjoy a good game of chase, let them try to catch mom or dad. Small activities keep kids from becoming bored. Intermittent activities in between photo shoots can be a great way to keep their spirits up too.
Other Fun Game Ideas
According to YouTube, Try Not To Laugh challenges are popular among youngsters. Have some go-to jokes ready and challenge your kids to not laugh when you tell them the one-liners. This game usually ends with bursts of laughter. Jokes are always a good mood lifter. Here’s a classic. Why should you never give a bear a TV remote? Because he will keep pressing the “paws” button.
Most photographers have these tips in their back pocket. Remember that not all professional photographers specialize in family portraits. Ask around for recommendations, and look at the photographer’s website to see if they can capture the style and mood you are looking for.
Ensure that Your Smile is Photo-Ready this Fall
If it’s been a few years since your last teeth whitening treatment or if you are finally ready to reward yourself with Invisalign treatments, Dr. Swanson and our expert team of dental professionals are ready to deliver your photo-ready smile. Couple that dental cleaning or cosmetic treatment with these photography tips, and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful photos that you can treasure for years to come. To schedule your next visit to our office, contact our office online or call (559) 732-4543.