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Photo Tips & Techniques

Family Vaction Photography Tips by Dana Bowden Photographer Dana Bowden offers ten tips on what to do and what not to do to guarantee great family vacation photos Article rating: 8.02

Family vacations can be some of the most rewarding experiences to capture with your camera.  Next time you pack up the family to travel, keep in mind the following tips from our contributor Dana Boden:

1) Couple at Sunset –

This image was shot using a tripod to eliminate any camera movement due to low light level exposure.  Framing the image with the sunset in the center of the frame with the couple to one side causes the camera to expose for the sunset reflection, creating a nice silhouette of the couple.

2) Cruise Ship -

I shot this image while on a cruise in Alaska.  When we got to the port, I stayed on board a while longer and waited for this ship to come into position.  The fog rolling in made a great backdrop, and the tugboats gave the image the scale it needed.  Patience pays off when composing a photograph.

3) Family at the Beach –

This image was shot from a low angle in close to place emphasis on the woman relaxing.   Showing the other family members in the background completes the story of a well-deserved rest.  Introducing the blow-up rings as props added a new splash of color.

4) Farm –

While driving down a country road, I saw the wheat field and maneuvered around to an angle that included the barn in the shot. Once I had the right angle, I moved beyond the road and fence into the field to fill the frame with the main subject.  A well-composed shot often requires a walk-about.

5) Jamaica –

To get the right angle on this swimmer, I climbed a small hill nearby which made me unobtrusive, and gave a sense of isolation to the swimmer in the ocean.  When shooting beaches, a higher angle often shows the color of the water better because of the sun’s reflection off of the sandy bottom.

6) Old Man –

While hiking around the hills of Jamaica, I saw this man and approached to ask if I could photograph him.  Photographing the local residents when on vacation provides a good platform to interact with people, and often creates some great stories to tell later.

7) Relaxing –

By kneeling down and shooting upwards on the tree and sky, I was able to capture the mood of the moment without making the woman in the hammock uneasy about being photographed.  I made sure the flash was on to provide some needed fill light on her legs and the palm fronds.

8) Venice Beach –

As the sun was beginning to set, I saw this couple playing around near the lifeguard hut.  I moved into a position that I knew would put the sun directly behind them and waited for the sun to hit the right spot.  I used a polarizing filter over the lens to under expose the overall image and provide more contrast to the sky and foreground.

9) Family Photo –

“Don’t do” - To shoot this photo, I placed the camera on something nearby and used the self-timer feature. We were too far from the camera for the flash to illuminate the three of us, and we were off center, which didn’t allow the camera to focus on us.  By moving closer to the camera and more to the center, we would have had a great family photo!

10) Scenic –

“Don’t do” - This image is severely under exposed and out of focus.  By having too much sky in the frame, the camera set focus and exposure on the sky rather than the bridge and lighthouse.  I should have zoomed in a bit closer, and, locked focus on the lighthouse before recomposing the image to include the bridge.  It also would have helped to wait until a sailboat came closer into the frame for some scale and interest.

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	Alot of simple yet informative information. Posted by: Linda Dec 20, 2007 @ 9:23 AM EST
	Very informative. Even the "don't do's" are very helpful. Not many people take very good vacation photos. It's not enough for me to just record the trip. I want to bring something home special. Posted by: Dennis Strickland Dec 20, 2007 @ 5:16 PM EST
	Very informative.. I love my camera and take lots of pictures, but have so much to learn. This article helps greatly! I love the "do and don't do" examples. Thanks!! Posted by: Edie Dec 27, 2007 @ 8:53 PM EST
	Crystal clear information.. nice photos, excellent. Posted by: Hanis Jan 17, 2008 @ 3:16 AM EST
	nice shots! are you into art media too? just want to ask some advice from you regarding art media... here's my mail *karlisanan_26@yahoo.com thanks in advance Posted by: karl Mar 11, 2008 @ 2:39 AM EST
	I want more about the photos aperture time of exposure type of lens more technical Posted by: GEORGINA JIMENEZ Jul 25, 2008 @ 2:5 PM EST

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